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BGE Module-5

The document discusses consolidation of soil and related concepts. It defines consolidation as the process where gradual reduction in soil volume occurs due to expulsion of pore water under loading. Fine-grained soils experience more consolidation effects compared to sand. The mass-spring analogy is used to demonstrate the mechanics of consolidation. Key compressibility properties like compression index, coefficient of volume compressibility, and coefficient of consolidation are also defined.

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1JT19CV013 Medhesh
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72 views

BGE Module-5

The document discusses consolidation of soil and related concepts. It defines consolidation as the process where gradual reduction in soil volume occurs due to expulsion of pore water under loading. Fine-grained soils experience more consolidation effects compared to sand. The mass-spring analogy is used to demonstrate the mechanics of consolidation. Key compressibility properties like compression index, coefficient of volume compressibility, and coefficient of consolidation are also defined.

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1JT19CV013 Medhesh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MODULE- 5

CONSOLIDATION OF SOIL

BASIC GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING(18CV54)

ground

Presented By
Ganesh C R
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
JYOTHY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Consolidation of Soil

• Consolidation is defined as the process in which gradual reduction in volume of soil


mass occurs under substantial loading and is primarily due to expulsion of pore
water.

• In sand almost full consolidation takes pace as load is being applied and after effects
are much smaller, but in fine grained soils after effects are more. That is why
consolidation is mainly concerned with compressibility of fine grained soil.

• In the analysis of this process both water and soil particles are assumed to be
relatively incompressible so that the decrease in volume is entirely due to the change
in relative positions o soil particles.
Consolidation of Soil
Mass Spring Analogy
Mass Spring Analogy

• Terzaghi demonstrated the mechanics of consolidation by piston and spring analogy.


• A saturated soil mass is taken in a cylinder. Soil mass consists of soil particles
forming the skeleton of soil and voids filled with water.
• The skeleton formed of soil particles can be assumed to be replaced by number of
springs and the water filling.
• The compressive stress is caused by load applied on piston placed on the top of the
spring.
• An outlet with value is provided to control the drainage of water from out of the
cylinder.
• Let Zo – Length of spring under pressure of say 10 units as shown in fig (a). Let the
length decrease to Z1, when the pressure is increased by say 2 units as sown in fig
(b).
• In fig c, d, e and f , spring with piston is shown placed in a container filled with
water.
• In fig (c), the valve is opened but no drainage takes place as the entire pressure of 10
Mass Spring Analogy

• Units is borne by the springs and the pressure in water is zero.


For soil mass, by spring analogy
σ = σ’ +u’
σ – Total stress
σ’ – Effective stress
u – Excess pore water pressure
• In fig (d) addition pressure of 2 units acts and the value is closed. Because water is
incompressible, the springs are prevented from undergoing any further compression
and therefore the additional pressure will have to be borne by water.
by analogy, σ = σ’ +u’
12 =10+2
• In fig (e) the valve is partly open and as the water starts flowing out transferring the
additional pressure from water to spring commences and at any intermediate stage
σ = σ’ +u
12=(10+δ σ’ ) + (2- δ σ’ )
Mass Spring Analogy

• In fig (f) the value is shown fully open and rate of drainage of water increases and
finally the drainage stops when all the additional pressure is transferred from water
to spring. This is similar to the condition when excess pore water pressure has fully
dissipated in the case of soil mass.
σ = σ’ +u’
• The piston and spring analogy helps a beginner in understanding the process of
primary consolidation.
• It is clear from the analogy model that in case of saturated soil mass subjected to an
initial pressure σ and when no drainage is occurring

σ = σ’ +u
u – pore water pressure under static condition.
Consolidation test
Compressibility Properties

Coefficient of compression/ Compression index (Cc) :

It is the slope of the normal consolidation line in a plot of void ratio-logarithm of


effective stress (e - logσ´). It is given by
Compressibility Properties
Compressibility Properties
Compressibility Properties

Co-efficient of volume compressibility (mv)


It is the ratio of change in volume of a soil per unit initial volume due to unit increase in
effective stress and is given by

or
Effect of stress history

Based on the stress history (preconsolidation pressure) soils are classified as


1. Normally Consolidated Soils
2. Over Consolidated Soils
3. Under Consolidated Soils

1. Normally Consolidated Soils:


It is a soil deposit that has never subjected to a vertical effective stress greater
than the present vertical stress.
2. Under Consolidated Soils :
A soil deposit that has not consolidated under the present overburden pressure
(effective stress) is called Under Consolidated Soil. These soils are susceptible to larger
deformation and cause distress in buildings built on these deposits.
3. Over Consolidated Soils:
It is a soil deposit that has been subjected to vertical effective stress greater than the
present vertical effective stress.
Over Consolidation Ratio (OCR)

It is the defined as the ratio of preconsolidation pressure to the present vertical effective
stress.

This is indicative of the position of soil away from the normal consolidated line
OCR =1 Normally consolidated Soils
Note: 1. Soils having higher OCR are less compressible
2. They show elastic behavior to certain extent

Coefficient of consolidation (Cv) :

Determination of coefficient of consolidation (Cv) from laboratory data:


1. Logarithm of time method
2. Square root of time method
Logarithm of Time method
Logarithm of Time method

1. Plot the dial reading of compression for a given pressure increment versus time to log scale as
shown in fig.

2. Plot two points P and Q on the upper portion of the consolidation curve (say compression line)
corresponding to time t1 and t2 such that t2=4t1

3. Let x be the difference in dial reading between P and Q. locate R at a vertical distance x above
point P

4. Draw a horizontal line RS the dial reading corresponding to this line is d0 which corresponds
with 0% consolidation.

5. Project the straight line portion of primary and secondary consolidation to intersect at point T.
The dial reading corresponding to T is d100 and this corresponds to 100% consolidation.
Logarithm of Time method

6. Determine the point V on the consolidation curve which corresponds to the dial reading of .

The time corresponding to point V is t50 i.e time for 50% consolidation.
Square root of Time method
Square root of Time method

1. Plot the dial reading and square root of time i.e √T for a pressure increment as shown in fig.

2. Draw a tangent PQ to the initial portion of the plot as shown in fig.

3. Draw a line PR such that OR=1.15OQ.

4. The intersection of the line PR with the second portion of the curve i.e point S is marked.

5. The time corresponding to point S represent √t90 (Square root of time for 90% consolidation)
Pre-consolidation Pressure

It is the maximum effective stress experienced by a soil in its stress history (past existence)
Pre-consolidation Pressure

Step 1. Conduct an oedometer test on the undisturbed soil sample obtained from the
field.
Step 2. Plot e - log σ´ plot as shown. The equilibrium void ratio at the end of each of the
pressure increments are used in obtaining e - log σ´ plot.
Step 3. Select the point of maximum curvature (Point A) on the e - log σ´ curve
Step 4. Draw a tangent at the point of maximum curvature (Point A)
Step 5. Draw a horizontal line AC
Step 6. Draw the bisector line AD between the tangent and horizontal line
Step 7. Extend the normally consolidated line to intersect the bisector line at ‘O’
Step 8. The vertical effective stress corresponding to point of intersection (O) is the
preconsolidation pressure (σ´pc)

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