GEOTECHNICAL LABS 2014

CONSOLIDATION TEST
DETERMINATION OF ONE DIMENSIONAL CONSOLIDATION PROPERTIES

ODOMETER TEST
INTRODUCTION
This method covers the determination of the magnitude and rate of consolidation of a
saturated or near saturated soil sample in the form of a disc confined laterally, subjected to
vertical axial pressure and allowed to drain freely from top and bottom surfaces.
THEORY
When a saturated clay-water system is subjected to an external pressure, the pressure
applied is initially taken by the water in the pores resulting thereby in an excess pore water
pressure. If drainage is permitted, the resulting hydraulic gradients initiate a flow of water
out of the clay mass and the mass begins to compress. A portion of the applied stress is
transferred to the soil skeleton which in turn causes a reduction in the in the excess pore
pressure. This process involving a gradual compression occurring simultaneously with flow
of water out of the mass and with a gradual transfer of the applied pressure from the pore
water to the soil skeleton is called consolidation .
The total compression of a saturated soil under excess effective pressure may be considered
as the sum of
1. Immediate consolidation,
2. Primary consolidation, and
3. Secondary consolidation.
St=si+sp+ss
The portion of the settlement of a structure which occurs more or less simultaneously with
the applied loads is referred to as the initial or immediate settlement. This settlement is due
to the immediate compression of the soil layer under undrained condition and is calculated
by assuming the soil mass to behave as an elastic soil.
If the rate of compression of the soil layer is controlled solely by the resistance of the flow of
water under the induced hydraulic gradients, the process is referred to as primary
consolidation.
The portion of the settlement that is due to the primary consolidation is called primary
consolidation settlement or compression. At the present time the only theory of practical
value for estimating time-dependent settlement due to volume changes, that is under
primary consolidation is the one-dimensional theory.
The third part of the settlement is due to secondary consolidation or compression of the
clay layer. This compression is supposed to start after the primary consolidation ceases,
that is after the excess pore water pressure approaches zero. It is often assumed that
secondary compression proceeds linearly with the logarithm of time. However, a

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satisfactory treatment of this phenomenon has not been formulated for computing
settlement under this category.
The process opposite to consolidation is called swelling which involves an increase in the
water content due an increase in the voids.

In this method the procedure depends on the soil specification classification

Fine silts and clays are classified as type A soils, and coarse soils with numerous inclusions
such as small stones which break or deform badly on extrusion from the sample tube are
classified as type B soils.
APPARATUS
1. Fixed ring type apparatus: with metal consolidation ring, bottom and top porous plates,
consolidation cell, micro-meter dial gauge and a rigid device for supporting the
consolidation cell.
2. Apparatus for preparation and testing specimens:
A jack and frame to extrude soil from sampling tube, a jig to hold the consolidation ring, a
sharp thin palette/ blade, wire saws, metal straight edges, flat glass plate, vernier callipers,
tins for moisture content, filter papers, stop watch, tap water, thermometer, a watch glass
and specific gravity apparatus.
PROCEDURE
1. SPECIMEN PREPARATION
A short length of the soil sample was extruded from sample tube by means of the jack and
frame and examined for soil type.
A consolidation ring of suitable dimensions and the watch glass were cleaned, dried and
weighed. The ring was lubricated with grease.
2. SAMPLE
A representative sample for testing was extruded from the sample tube and cut off carefully
to ensure the two plane surfaces of the disc of soil were parallel to each other.
The thickness of the soil disc was a little greater than the height of the consolidation ring.
Using the consolidation ring as the template, the disc was trimmed until it could just slid
into the ring with the last fraction of soil being pared away by the cutting edge of the ring as
it was pushed into the ring carefully. Any voids created were filled with the parings. The

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projecting bottom and top edges were then trimmed using the sharp edge to achieve level
flash surfaces.
Loss of moisture and soil grains was avoided at all stages.
A sample of the same soil sample was set aside for specific gravity test.
The thickness of the consolidation specimen was measured and the cell placed in a metal
tray and weighed.
3. ASSEMBLY OF APPARATUS AND TEST PROCEDURE
The dry bottom porous plate was centred in the consolidation cell and the ring complete
with the specimen placed centrally on top of it with a filter paper against each face of the
specimen. The top porous plate and the loading cap were then placed centrally on top.
The consolidation cell complete with specimen was then placed in the bed of the loading
apparatus. The counterbalanced loading beam was adjusted carefully into a loading position
with the appropriate load transmitting member in contact with the loading cap.
The gauge was clamped into position to record the relative movement between the base of
the consolidation cell and the loading cap.

The OEDOMETER
Loads were applied in sequence of 50, 100, 200, 400 kN/m2
The initial pressure for each loading was applied and the compression observed to ensure it
was large enough to prevent swelling.
The compression readings in the intervals were observed at sequence 0,0.25, 0.5,
1,2.25,4.00,6.25,9.00,12.25,16.00,20.25,25,36,49,64,81,100minutes and then up to 24 hrs,
time sufficient for full consolidation.

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The gauge reading, time and

were recorded to facilitate the plotting of the readings.

After each application of loading, the consolidation cell was filled with water to allow for
swelling and saturation of specimen before increasing the pressure to the next higher value
in the sequence.
After the sample had fully consolidated under the full load increment, the pressure was
released and the sample moisture content recorded.
RESULTS
TYPE OF SOIL : Red coffee soil
SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF SOIL: 2.66
Sample thickness :19mm
Moisture content at end of test:
Wet soil= 136g
Dry soil =100g
Moisture content= 36%
The results of the test
Time in time
log time 50kN/m2
100kN/m2
200kN/m2
400kN/m2
min
min
0
0 #NUM!
2800
2302
2155
1983
0.25
0.5 -0.60206
2725
2210
2055
1866
1
1
0
2700
2198
2045
1854
2.25
1.5 0.352183
2570
2192
2037
1846
4
2
0.60206
2360
2188
2031
1844
6.25
2.5
0.79588
2335
2185
2028
1838
9
3 0.954243
2330
2183
2026
1835
12.25
3.5 1.088136
2323
2180
2024
1833
16
4
1.20412
2320
2178
2020
1830
20.25
4.5 1.306425
2317
2176
2018
1829
25
5
1.39794
2314
2174
2016
1827
36
6 1.556303
2311
2171
2015
1825
49
7 1.690196
2308
2168
2012
1820
64
8
1.80618
2306
2165
2010
1818
81
9 1.908485
2304
2163
2008
1816
100
10
2
2303
2161
2006
1815

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1440

37.94733

3.158362

2302

2155

1983

1810

ANALYSIS
GRAPHs OF VOID RATIO AGAINST PRESSURE
The pressure void ratio curve can be obtained if the void ratio at the end of each increment
of load is determined.
A typical void ration pressure curve resembles the one shown below

PHASE DIAGRAM

Compressibility characteristics

Water content at end of test, w =36%

Void ratio at end of test =e1=wGs(assuming saturation =100%
Thickness of specimen at start of test= h0=19mm
Change of thickness during test, dH= 1.98mm
Void ratio at start of test=e0=e1+de, de is change in void ratio
Where de = dH (

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In the test
e1= 0.36x2.66
=0.9576
de = 1.98x(

de= 0.2277
e0=0.9576+0.2277
=1.185
de= 0.103dH
ANALYSIS: COMPRESSIBILITY CHARACTERISTICS

Pressure
(kN/m2)

dial gauge
reading
24hr

0
50
100
200

log
pressure

2800
2302

0
1.69897

2155
1983

2
2.30103

change
dH in
height

400
1810
2.60206
1.VOID RATIO AGAINST PRESSURE CURVE

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Total
thickness de
e = e0chang of sample
de
e in
mm
dH
0
0
19
0
1.185
0.996 0.996
18.004 0.10258 1.08241
8
2
0.294
1.29
17.71 0.13287 1.05213
0.344 1.634
17.366 0.16830 1.01669
2
8
0.346
1.98
17.02 0.20394 0.98106

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1.4
1.2

void ratio,e

1
0.8
void ratiopressure
curve

0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0

100

200
300
Pressure
in kN/m^2

400

500

2.VOID RATIO AGAIST LOG PRESSURE

1.4

1.2

VOID RATIO, e

0.8
void ratio
against log p

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0

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0.5

LOG PRESSURE
1.5

2.5

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DISCUSSION OF COMPRESSIBILITY CHARACTERISTICS
A typical curves for void ratio against pressure and log pressure resemble the one below:

Void ratio pressure curve

void ratio log pressure curve

From the curves it can be deduced that the voids in any soil sample reduce with increased
pressure loading on the soil sample.
The voids at any given pressure in the regime of loading can therefore be deduced.

COEFFICIENT OF CONSOLIDATION
1. Square root of time fitting method.
Curves for individual load increments were as plotted.
50 kN /m2 CURVE

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3000

gauge reading

2500
2000
50 kN/m^2 pressure

1500

Linear (50 kN/m^2

pressure)

1000
500
0
0

10

12

root time

2. 100kN/m2 CURVE
2320
2300
2280

gauge reading

2260
2240
2220

100kN/m^2
Linear (100kN/m^2)

2200
2180
2160
2140
2120
0

10

12

root time

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3 200kN/m2 curve
2180
2160
2140

gauge reading

2120
2100
2080
100kN/m^2

2060

Linear (100kN/m^2)

2040
2020
2000
1980
1960
0

6
root time

10

12

4.400kN/m2 curve
2000

gauge reading

1950

1900
400kN/m^2
Linear (400kN/m^2)
1850

1800

1750
0

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root6time

10

12

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METHOD TWO: LOG T FITTING METHOD
1.50 kN/m2 PRESSURE

2750
2700
2650

gauge reading

2600
2550
50 kn pressure

2500
2450
2400
2350
2300
2250
0

0.5

1.5 log t

2.5

3.5

2.100kN/m2 pressure

2205
2200
2195

gauge reading

2190
2185
2180
2175
100kN
pressure

2170
2165
2160
2155
2150

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0
0.5

1.5
log t

2.5

3.5

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3. 200 kN/m2 pressure loading

2050
2040

gauge reading

2030
2020
2010
200kn pressure

2000
1990
1980
1970
0

log time

4.400kN/m2 pressure load

1860
1855
1850

gauge reading

1845
1840
1835
1830

400 pressure

1825
1820
1815
1810
1805
0

log t

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ANALYSIS OF THE GRAPHS USING ROOT TIME FITTING METHOD
AND LOG TIME FITTING METHOD
Values read from the above tables
PRESSURE RANGE
INITIAL COMPRESSION GAUGE READING
FINAL COMPRESSION GAUGE READING
THICKNESS OF SPECIMEN BEFORE INCREMENT IS
APPLIED
CHANGE OF THICKNESS OF SPECIMEN
FINAL THICKNESS OF SPECIMEN (H1-dH)
AVERAGE THICKNESS OF SPECIMEN 0.5(H1+Hf)
TIME FITTING METHOD
CORRECTED INITIAL COMPRESSION GAUGE
READING
COMPRESSION GAUGE READING AT 90%
CONSOLIDATION
EQUIVALENT TIME FOR d90 FROM CURVE
COEFFICIENT OF CONSOLIDATION
(0.111H^2/t90)M^2PER YEAR
(d0-ds) in mm
10(ds-d90)/9 in mm
INITIAL COMPRESSION RATIO(A/dH)
PRIMARY COMPRESSION RATIO(B/dH)
SECONDARY COMPRESSION RATIO(1-(o+P))

LOG t FITTING METHOD

COMPRESSION GAUGE READING AT ARBTRARY TIME
t
COMPRESSION GAUGE READING AT 4 t
CORRECTED COMPRESSION GAUGE READING(2d1d2)
COMPRESSION GAUGE READING AT
100%CONSOLIDATION
MEAN COMPRESSION GAUGE READING
0.5(ds+d100)
EQUIVALENT TIME FOR d50 FROM CURVE
COEFFICIENT OF CONSOLIDATION= 0.026H^2/t50
m^2/year
d0-ds
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KN/m2
d0
df
H1
in mm
dH
Hf
H in mm

50
2800
2302
19

100
2302
2155
18.004

200
2155
1983
17.71

400
1983
1810
17.366

0.996
18.004
18.502

0.294
17.71
17.857

0.344
17.366
17.538

0.346
17.02
17.193

ds

2590

2217

2065

1877

d90

2300

2216

2060

1876

t90
Cv

49
0.000775

44.89
0.000788

43.56
0.000784

46.24
0.00071

A
B
o
p
s

0.42
0.644444
0.421687
0.647033
-0.06872

0.17
0.002222
0.578231
0.007559
0.41421

0.18
0.011111
0.523256
0.0323
0.444444

0.212
0.002222
0.612717
0.006423
0.380861

d1

2450

2190

2033

1845

d2
Ds

2300
2600

2161
2219

2006
2060

1815
1875

d100

2300

2161

2012

1816

d50

2450

2190

2036

1845.5

t50
Cv
A

0.5
0.5
0.4
0.4
0.0077801 0.0076581 0.0079993 0.0079214
0.4

0.166

0.19
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ds-d100
INITIAL COMPRESSION RATIO A/dH
PRIMARY COMPRESSION RATIO B/dH
SECONDARY COMPRESSION RATIO 1-(o-p)

B
Ro
Rp
Rs

0.6
0.401606
0.60241
1.200803

0.116
0.564626
0.394558
0.829932

0.096
0.552326
0.27907
0.726744

ANALYSES discussion
The coefficient of consolidation, cv generally decreases as the liquid limit of soil increases.
The two methods above are commonly used for determining this coefficient for each load
increment from one dimension consolidation tests.
The forms of theoretical and experimental curves are as shown below

1.Root time fitting method

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0.118
0.624277
0.34104
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2. Log Time fitting method

Hence from these curves, initial, primary and secondary consolidation can be derived
as well as the consolidation coefficients for a given soil at given loadings.
Compression ratios can also be deduced as on the table.

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From above the ranges of consolidation coefficients for different soil types is given.
From the experimental results, the soil was red earth.
CONCLUSION
The soil can be classified as red earth.
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