NPTEL- Advanced Geotechnical Engineering

Module 5
Lecture 31
Consolidation-5
Topics

1.1.10 Secondary Consolidation

1.1.11 Constant Rate-of-Strain consolidation Tests
Coefficient of consolidation
Interpretation of experimental results

1.1.10 Secondary Consolidation

Several investigations have been carried out for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of secondary
consolidation. The magnitude of secondary consolidation is often defined by

/
= log (87)
2 log 1

Where is the coefficient of secondary consolidation.

In order to study the effect of remolding and preloading on secondary compression, Mesri (1973) conducted
a series of one-dimensional consolidation tests on organic Paulding clay. Figure 5.37 shows the results in
the form of a plot of /( log ) . with load increment ratios of 1 and with only sufficient time allowed
for excess pore water pressure dissipation. Under the final pressure, secondary compression was observed
for a period of 6 months. The following conclusions can be drawn from the results of these tests:

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Figure 5.42 Coefficient of secondary compression for organic Paulding clay. (Note:1 / 2 = 47.9/3 )
(Redrawn after G. Mesri, Coefficient of Secondary Compression, J. Soil Mech. Found. Div., ASCE, vol. 99,
no.SM1, 1973)

1. For sedimented (undisturbed) soils, /( log ) decreases with the increase of the final
consolidation pressure.
2. Remolding of clays creates a more dispersed fabric. This results in a decrease of the coefficient of
secondary consolidation at lower consolidation pressures as compared to that for undisturbed
samples. However, it increases with consolidation pressure to a maximum value and then decreases
finally merging with the values for normally consolidated undisturbed samples.
3. Precompressed clays show a smaller value of coefficient of secondary consolidation. The degree of
reduction appears to be a function of the degree of precompression.

1.1.11 Constant Rate-of-Strain consolidation Tests

The standard one-dimensional consolidation test procedure is time-consuming. Recently, at least two other
one-dimensional consolidation test procedure have been developed which are much faster but yet give
reasonably good results. The methods are (1) the constant rate-of-strain consolidation test and (2) the
constant-gradient consolidation test. The fundaments of these test procedures are described in this and the
next sections.

The constant rate-of-strain method was developed by smith and Wahls (1969). A soil specimen is taken in a
fixed-ring consolidometer and saturated. For conducting the test, drainage is permitted at the top of the
sample, but not at the bottom. A continuously increasing load is applied to the top of the specimen so as to

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produce a constant rate of compressive strain, and the excess pore water pressure (generated by the
continuously increasing stress at the top) is measured. Figure 5. 43 shows a schematic diagram of the
laboratory test setup.

Theory. The mathematical derivations developed by Smith and Wahls for obtaining the void ratio-effective
pressure relationship and the corresponding coefficient of consolidation are given below.

The basic equation for continuity of flow through a soil element is given as
2 1+
= 1+
2

The coefficient of permeability at a given time is a function of the average void ratio in the specimen. The
average void ratio is, however, continuously changing due to the constant rate of strain. Thus,

= = () (88)

The average void ratio is given by

1
= 0

Where (= ) is the sample thickness.

In the constant rate-of-stain type of test, the rate of change of volume is constant, or

= (89)

Where

= volume of specimen

= area of cross section of specimen

= constant rate of deformation of upper surface

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Figure 5. 43 Schematic diagram for laboratory test setup for controlled rate-of-strain type of test (After
Smith and Wahls, 1969)

The rate of change of average void ratio can be given by

1 1
= = = (90)

Where r is a constant

Based on the definition of and equation (88), we can write

(,) = + (91)

Where

(,) = void ratio at depth and time t

= initial void ratio at beginning of test

= a function of depth only

The function is difficult to determine. We will assume it to be a linear function of the form

0.5
1

Where b is a constant, substitution of this into equation (91) gives

0.5
(,) = 1 (92)

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Let us consider the possible range of variation of / as given in equation (92):

1. If / = 0.
(,) = (93)
This indicates that the void is constant with depth and changes with time only. In reality, this is not
the case.
2. If / = 2 the void ratio at the base of the sample, i.e., at z = H, becomes
(,) = (94)
This means that the void ratio at the base does not change with time at all, which is not realistic.

So the value of / is somewhere between 0 and 2 and may be taken as about 1.

Assuming / 0 and using the definition of void ratio as given by equation (92), we can integrate
equation (9) to obtain an equation for the excess pore water pressure. The boundary conditions are: at
= 0, = 0 (at any time); and at = , / = 0 (at any time). Thus, o

1+ 2 (1+ ) 1+ 1+
= + 2 1 + 1 + (1 + ) (95)
( ) ( )

1
Where = 1 2 (96)

1
= 1 + 2 (97)

Equation (95) is very complicated. Without loosing a great deal of accuracy, it is possible to obtain a simpler
form of expression for u by assuming that the term 1 + (note that this is not a function of z). so, from
equations (9) and (92),

2 0.5
= 1 (98)
2 (1+ )

Using the boundary condition = 0 at z = 0 and u/ t = 0 at z = H, equation (98) can be integrated to

yield

2 2 3
= 6 (99)
(1+ ) 2 4

The pore pressure at the base of specimen can be obtained by substituting z = H in equation (99)
2 1 1
= = (1+

12 (100)
) 2

The average effective stress corresponding to a given value of = can be obtained by writing

= = (101)
=

Where

= average effective stress on specimen at any time

= total stress on sample

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= corresponding average pore water pressure

1

0
= (102)
= =

Substitution of equations (99) and (1000 into equation (102) and further simplification gives
1 1
( /)
= 31241 ( /) (103)
= 2 12

Note that for / = 0, /= = 0.667; / = 1, /= = 0.700. Hence, for 0 / 1,

the values of /= does not change significantly. So, form equations (101) and (103),
1 1
(/)
= 3 24
1 1 = (104)
(/)
2 12

Coefficient of consolidation

The coefficient of consolidation was defined previously as

(1+)
=

We can assume1 + 1 + , and from equation (100)

2 1 1
= (1+ ) 12 (105)
= 2

Substitution of thee into the expression for gives

2 1 1
= 12 (106)
= 2

Interpretation of experimental results

The following information can be obtained from a constant rate-of-strain consolidation test:

1. Initial height of sample, .

2. .
3. .
4. .
5. A continuous record of = .
6. A corresponding record of (total stress applied at the top of the specimen).

The plot of . can be obtained in the following manner:

1. Calculate = / .
2. Assume / 1.
3. For a given value of = , the value of is known (at time t from the start of the test), and so
canbe calculated from equation (104).
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4. Calculate = and then the change in void ratio that has taken place curing time t.

= (1 + )

Where is the initial height of the sample.
5. The corresponding void ratio (at time t) is = .
6. After obtaining a number of points of and the corresponding e, plot the graph of . log .
7. For a given value of and e, the coefficient of consolidation can be calculated by using
equation (106). (Note that H in equation (106) is equal to .

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