Soil Mechanics Solved Examples - Consolidation

After this detailed example, you will be able to:

• determine the stress history of a soil profile in terms of the state of consolidation (NC soil versus OC soil);

• determine the margin of consolidation and the over-consolidation ratio OCR.

After this detailed example, you will be able to:

• determine the total consolidation settlement due to placement of a fill material;

• examine the consolidation of sand compared with clay.

After this detailed example, you will be able to:

• determine the total consolidation settlement of 2 different clay layers loaded by a fill material using consolidation test results;

• determine whether each clay is either normally consolidated or over-consolidated;

• use the proper settlement formulas.

After this detailed example, you will be able to:

• plot the e-log p' curve from a set of data of vertical stress versus sample height;

• determine the compression index Cc of the given soil.

After this detailed example, you will be able to:

• determine the coefficient of consolidation (cv) using time-settlement data;

• determine the coefficient of volume compressibility (mv) for a pressure increment using the time settlement data;

• determine the coefficient of permeability (k) from the time-settlement data.

After this detailed example, you will be able to:

• use data from a soil profile and associated e-log p' curve to determine the consolidation settlement under a loaded footing;

• determine the time to 70% consolidation.

After this detailed example, you will be able to:

• solve a consolidation problem involving vertical sand drains (or equivalent);

• determine the time to 90% consolidation for a clay site treated with vertical sand drains and loaded with a fill surcharge;

• solve for the combined vertical and radial drainage to satisfy a specific degree of consolidation.

After this detailed example, you will be able to:

• determine the void ratio from laboratory consolidation test results (stress versus sample height)

• plot e-log p' curve using the consolidation data;

• determine the settlement resulting from a given pressure increment;

• determine the secondary consolidation settlement after a certain time.

After this detailed example, you will be able to:

• process data involving piezometric measurements due to consolidation;

• determine the degree of consolidation from water height in a piezometer by loading;

• determine the stress increase at a point using piezometer data at another point;

• differentiate between the average degree of consolidation and the degree of consolidation at a point;

• apply the general consolidation equation involving Fourier series.