CONSOLIDATION TEST ON SOIL BY CONSOLIDOMETER OR OEDOMETER

Consolidation Test is used to determine the rate and magnitude of settlement in soils. The
settlement values obtained by this test are due to primary consolidation only which is 90% of
the total consolidation. The results of consolidation test are very much helpful in the design
of foundations.

Apparatus Required for Consolidation Test

1. Consolidometer or oedometer
o Consolidation ring
o Two porous stones
o Two filter papers
o Loading pad
2. Dial gauge (accuracy of 0.002mm)
3. Stop watch
4. Knife or spatula or fine metal wires
5. Weighing balance (accuracy of 0.01g)
6. Vernier calipers
7. Oven
8. Water reservoir

Fig 1: Parts of Consolidometer

Consolidation Test Procedure

Test procedure for consolidation test of soil contains following steps:

1. First step is to collect the soil specimen using consolidation metal ring. The ring
should be clean and dried and its weight, inner diameter and height are measured
using weighing balance and calipers respectively.
2. Now press the metal ring into the soil sample using hands and it is taken out with soil
specimen.
3. The soil specimen should project about 10 mm on either side of metal ring.
4. Now trim the excess soil content on top and bottom of the rings using Knife or spatula
or fine metal wires. This excess soil can be used to measure the water content of soil
sample.
5. Make sure that the ring should not contain any soil on its outer part and weight the
metal ring with soil specimen.
6. Take two porous stones and saturate them by boiling (15 minutes) or by submerging
(4 to 8 hours) in distilled water.
7. Assemble the consolidometer. Place the parts of consolidometer from bottom to top in
the order beginning with bottom porous stone, filter paper, specimen ring, filter paper
and top porous stone.

Fig 2: Arrangement of Consolidometer Parts

8. Place the loading pad on the top porous stone and lock the consolidometer using metal
screws provided.
9. Mount the whole assembly on the loading frame and center it such that the load
applied is axial.
10. Arrange the dial gauge in a position in such a way that it should allow sufficient space
for swelling of soil specimen.
 Fig 3: Dial Gauge Position

11. Water reservoir is connected to the mounted assembly to saturate the soil. The water
level in the water reservoir should be of same level as the soil specimen.
12. Now apply the initial trail load which should not allow any swelling in the soil. In
general 5 kN/m2 initial load applied for ordinary soils and 2.5 kN/m2 is applied for
very soft soils.
13. Leave the load until there is no change in dial gauge reading or for 24 hours and note
down the final reading of dial gauge for initial load.
14. First load increment of 10 kN/m2 is applied and start the stop watch immediately and
note down the readings of dial gauge at various time intervals. In general, readings are
taken at 0.25, 1, 2.5, 4, 6.25, 9, 16, 25, 30 minutes, 1, 2, 4, 8, 24 hrs.
15. In general primary consolidation of soil (90% of consolidation) is reached within 24
hours. Hence readings are noted up to 24 hours.
 Fig 4: Applying Loads on Consolidometers

16. Next apply the second load increment of 20 kN/m2 and repeat same procedure as said
in 14 th step.
17. Similarly apply the load increments 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 kN/m2 and repeat the
same procedure and note down the readings.
18. When values of last load increment are noted, now reduce the load to ¼ of the last
load value and leave it for 24 hours. At this point note down the dial gauge reading.
Reduce the load again and again and repeat the procedure until the load gets 10
kN/m2. At every point note down the final gauge readings.
19. Now remove the assembly from loading frame and dismantle it.
20. Take out the specimen ring and wipe out the excess water and Weigh the specimen
ring and note down.
21. Finally Put the specimen in oven and determine the dry weight of specimen.

Observations for Consolidation Test of Soil

Observation of consolidation test are

• Height of ring =
• Diameter of ring =
• Area of ring =
• Volume of ring =
• Weight of ring =
• Specific Gravity of Solids, G =
• Weight of ring + soil specimen =
• Initial water content =
• Initial height of specimen, H =
• Final Water Content =
• Final weight of soil specimen =
 Table 1: Dial gauge readings for different loads at different times

Intensity of load (kN/m2)

Horizontal 10 20 50 100 200 400 800
Time Interval (vertical)
0 minutes
0.25 minutes
1.0 minutes
2.5 minutes
4 minutes
6.25 minutes
9 minutes
16 minutes
25 minutes
30 minutes
1 hour
2 hours
4 hours
8 hours
24 hours

Calculations for Consolidation Test of Soil

Height of solids,

Height Voids, Hv = H – Hs

Void ratio, e = Hv/Hs

Table 2: Void ratio calculation for different pressure intensities

Intensity
Initial Dial Final Dial Specimen Height of Height of Void Ratio,
Pressure (
Reading Reading height, H solids, Hs voids, Hv e
kN/m2)
10
20
50
100
200
400
800
Graphs to be Plotted
• Dial gauge reading Vs. logarithmic of time – to determine the coefficient of

consolidation (Cv).
• Dial gauge reading Vs. square root of time – to determine the coefficient of

consolidation (Cv).

Fig 5: Dial gauge Vs Time and Void Ratio Vs Effective Stress Graphs

• Final void ratio Vs. Effective stress – to determine coefficient of compressibility (av)

and coefficient of volume change (mv).

• Final void ration Vs logarithmic of effective stress – To determine Compression Index

(Cc).
 Fig 6: Void Ratio Vs logarithmic Effective Stress Graphs

Results of Consolidation Test of Soil

Consolidation Test of soils gives the following Results

• Coefficient of compressibility (av) =

• Coefficient of volume change (mv) =
• Compression Index (Cc) =
• Coefficient of consolidation (Cv) =