FACULTY OF CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL

ENGINEERING
DEPT.OF GEOTECHNICAL AND
TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY

REPORT
SUBJECT CODE
TEST CODE & TITLE

MG001 - CONSOLIDATION TEST

COURSE CODE
TESTING DATE
STUDENT NAME
GROUP
1.
2.
GROUP MEMBER NAMES

3.
4.
5.

LECTURER/ INSTRUCTOR/ TUTOR

NAME
REPORT RECEIVED DATE
MARKS

EXAMINER COMMENT

ATTENDANCE/ DISCIPLINE
& INVOLVEMENT

/15%

DATA ANALYSIS

/20%

RESULT

/20%

DISCUSSION

/25%

CONCLUSION

/20%

TOTAL

/100%
RECEIVED STAMP

STUDENT CODE OF ETHIC

(SCE)
DEPT. OF GEOTECHNICAL AND TRANSPOTATION ENGINEERING
FACULTY OF CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

I, hereby confess that I have prepared this report on my own effort. I also admit not
to receive or give any help during the preparation of this report and pledge
that everything mentioned in the report is true.

_________________
Student Signature

Name

Matric No. :
Date

FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG.

DEPARTMENT: GEOTECHNICAL AND
TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING
TEST TITLE : CONSOLIDATION TEST

(MARINE CLAY AND PEAT SOIL)

PAGE NO.:
EDITION:
REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE
DATE:
AMENDMENT
DATE:

1.0 OBJECTIVE
TO DETERMINE THE CONSOLIDATION CHARACTERISTICS OF SOILS OF LOW
PERMEABILITY
2.0 LEARNING OUTCOME
At the end of this experiment, students are able to:
Conduct one dimensional consolidation test
Identify the factors causes soil consolidation
Determine the consolidation parameters (cv, mv, Cc and Pc)

1/8

5/12/07
5/12/07

3.0 THEORY
When a fully saturated soil is subjected to a compressive stress, its volume tends to decrease. The
decreasing of its volume is due to compression of the solid grains and escape of water from the voids.
In a free drainage soil such as saturated sand the escape of water can take place rapidly. But in clay,
due to low permeability, the movement of water occurs very much slowly and therefore, considerable
time may be required for excess water to be squeezed out to permeable boundaries.
Settlement is the direct result of the decrease in soil volume and consolidation is the rate of volume
decrease with time. The consolidation test is use to estimate the amount of settlement and time of
consolidation. From this test some consolidation parameters such as coefficient of consolidation (c v),
coefficient of volume compressibility (mv), compression index (Cc), preconsolidation pressure (Pc) can
be determined.
There are two methods for determining the coefficient of consolidation:
(i)
Casagrande or log (time) or 50% consolidation
(ii)
Taylor or time or 90% consolidation
The coefficient of consolidation can be determined by this equation,

cv

Tv H 2
t

(3.1)

Where, cv = coefficient of consolidation (m2/year)

Tv = Time factor
H = Maximum length of drainage path (m)
t = Time to achieve 50% or 90% consolidation (year or minute)

FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG.

DEPARTMENT: GEOTECHNICAL AND
TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING
TEST TITLE : CONSOLIDATION TEST

(MARINE CLAY AND PEAT SOIL)

PAGE NO.:
EDITION:

2/8

REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE
DATE:
AMENDMENT
DATE:

5/12/07
5/12/07

Figure 3.1: Settlement versus log Time

Figure 3.2: Settlement versus square root time

FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG.

DEPARTMENT: GEOTECHNICAL AND
TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING
TEST TITLE : CONSOLIDATION TEST

PAGE NO.:
EDITION:

3/8

REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE
DATE:

5/12/07

(MARINE CLAY AND PEAT SOIL)

AMENDMENT
DATE:

5/12/07

4.0 TEST EQUIPMENTS

1. Consolidation apparatus
- Consolidation ring
- Corrossion-resistant porous plate
- Consolidation cell
- Dial Gauge
- Loading device
2. Balance readable to 0.1g
3. Vernier caliper
4. Stop-clock readable to 1 s
5.0 PROCEDURES
1.

Measure the internal diameter (D) and the height of the ring, using internal vernier
calipers.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Weight the ring to the nearest 0.01g (mR).

Cutting the specimen and trimming into ring.
Determine the initial moisture content from trimming soil.
Determine the weight of ring and specimen (m 1)
Determine the mass of bulk specimen (m) to the nearest 0.01g using this equation
m = m1 mR

7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.

Place the consolidation ring and specimen (cutting edge uppermost) centrally on the
porous disc.
Fit the ring retainer and cell body and then place the upper porous disc centrally on top
of the specimen.
Place the consolidation cell centrally in position on the platform of the machine base.
Lift the end of the beam to allow the loading yoke to be raised to the vertical position
and adjust the loading stem by screwing it downwards until the end engages closely in the
recess on the top of the loading cap
Attach the compression dial gauge to the arm on the support post.
Add weight (2.5 kg) carefully to the load hanger
Add water at room temperature to the cell and make sure that the specimen and upper
porous disc are completely submerged.
Wind down the beam support and at the same time start the clock.
Observe the compression gauge readings and the clock, and record the readings on a
consolidation test form at the selected time intervals.
Plot the readings of the compression against time to a logarithmic scale and against
square-root-time.

FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG.

DEPARTMENT: GEOTECHNICAL AND
TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING

PAGE NO.:
EDITION:

4/8

REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE
DATE:
AMENDMENT
DATE:

TEST TITLE : CONSOLIDATION TEST

(MARINE CLAY AND PEAT SOIL)

5/12/07
5/12/07

6.0 CALCULATION EXAMPLE

Date started: 9/7/07
Soil Type: Silty clay

Sample No.: A1 - 1
Cell No: 4

BEFORE TEST
Moisture content from trimming: 22.9
Weight of ring : 439.35
Weight of sample + ring: 260.43
Weight of sample : 178.92
Weight of dry sample: 145.35
Weight of initial moisture: 33.57
Initial moisture content: 23.1

Initial void ratio,

(%)
(g)
(g)
(g)
(g)
(g)
(%)

S.G. (Assumed) : 2.7

Diameter of ring : 74.9
Area of ring: 4406
Thickness of ring: 20.1
Volume of ring : 88.56
Density, : 2.02
Dry density, d : 1.64

(mm)
(mm2)
(mm)
(mm3)
(Mg/m 3)
(Mg/m3)

Gs
1 = 0.622
d
SETTLEMENT READINGS

Elapse time
hr
min
sec
0
10
20
30
40
50
1
2
4
8
15
30
1
2
4
8
24

Time
(min)
0
0.17
0.33
0.50
0.67
0.83
1
2
4
8
15
30
60
120
240
480
1440

time
0
0.41
0.57
0.71
0.82
0.91
1.00
1.41
2.00
2.83
3.87
5.48

Clock
time

Gauge
reading

8.00 am

0
21
23
25
29
35
41
49
58
66
75
86
95
107
115
124
126

8.01 am
8.02 am
8.04 am
8.08 am
8.15 am
8.30 am
9.00 am
10.00am
12.00 pm
4.00 pm
8.00 am

Cumulative
compression, H
(mm)
0
21 x 0.002 = 0.04
23 x 0.002 = 0.05
25 x 0.002 = 0.05
29 x 0.002 = 0.06
35 x 0.002 = 0.07
41 x 0.002 = 0.08
49 x 0.002 = 0.10
58 x 0.002 = 0.12
66 x 0.002 = 0.13
75 x 0.002 = 0.15
86 x 0.002 = 0.17
95 x 0.002 = 0.19
107 x 0.002 = 0.21
115 x 0.002 = 0.23
124 x 0.002 = 0.25
126 x 0.002 = 0.25

FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG.

DEPARTMENT: GEOTECHNICAL AND
TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING

PAGE NO.:
EDITION:
REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE
DATE:
AMENDMENT
DATE:

TEST TITLE : CONSOLIDATION TEST

(MARINE CLAY AND PEAT SOIL)

5/8

5/12/07
5/12/07

7.0 RESULTS
CONSOLIDATION TEST CALCULATION SHEET
Date started:_________________
Soil Type: __________________

Sample No.: _______________

Cell No: ________________

BEFORE TEST
Moisture content from trimming: _______(%)
Weight of ring : ___________________ (g)
Weight of sample + ring: ____________ (g)
Weight of sample : _______________ (g)
Weight of dry sample: _______________(g)
Weight of initial moisture: ____________(g)
Initial moisture content: ______________(%)
Initial void ratio,

S.G. (Assumed) : 2.7

Diameter of ring : _______________(mm)
Area of ring: ___________________(mm2)
Thickness of ring: _______________(mm)
Volume of ring : _________________(mm3)
Density, : _____________________(Mg/m3)
Dry density, d : _________________ (Mg/m 3)

Gs
1 = ____________
d
SETTLEMENT READINGS

hr

Elapse time
min
sec
0
10
20
30
40
50
1
2
4
8
15
30

1
2
4
8
24

Time
(min)

time

Clock
time

Gauge
reading

Cumulative
compression
, H (mm)

FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG.

DEPARTMENT: GEOTECHNICAL AND
TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING
TEST TITLE : CONSOLIDATION TEST

(MARINE CLAY AND PEAT SOIL)

8.0 CALCULATIONS

PAGE NO.:
EDITION:

6/8

REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE
DATE:
AMENDMENT
DATE:

5/12/07
5/12/07

FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG.

DEPARTMENT: GEOTECHNICAL AND
TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING
TEST TITLE : CONSOLIDATION TEST

(MARINE CLAY AND PEAT SOIL)

9.0 DISCUSSIONS

10.0 CONCLUSIONS

PAGE NO.:
EDITION:

7/8

REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE
DATE:
AMENDMENT
DATE:

5/12/07
5/12/07

FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG.

DEPARTMENT: GEOTECHNICAL AND
TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING

PAGE NO.:
EDITION:
REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE
DATE:
AMENDMENT
DATE:

TEST TITLE : CONSOLIDATION TEST

11.0 OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS 1
1. From your experimental data, determine the coefficient of consolidation, c v (m2/year) using
Casagrande Method. Please comment your answer.
2. Clay samples collected from 5 metres deep in Batu Pahat has a unit weight () of 18 kN/m3.
The following data were recorded during an oedometer test.
Effective Stress (kN/m2)
Void ratio (e)

25
0.85

50
0.82

100
0.71

200
0.57

400
0.43

800
0.3

200
0.4

50
0.5

(i) Plot the graph of void ratio against effective stress on semi-log graph and determine the
compression index (Cc), Preconsolidation pressure (Pc) and coefficient of volume
compressibility (mv).
(ii) Define whether the soil is normally consolidated or over consolidated.
QUESTIONS 2
1. From the experimental data , determine the coefficient of consolidation, c v (m2/year) using
Taylor Method. Please comment your answer.
2. Clay samples collected from 10 metres deep in Parit Raja has a unit weight () of 20 kN/m3.
The following data were recorded during an oedometer test.
Effective Stress (kN/m2)
Void ratio (e)

50
0.95

100
0.92

200
0.81

400
0.67

800
0.53

1600
0.4

400
0.5

100
0.6

(i) Plot the graph of void ratio against effective stress on semi-log graph and determine the
compression index (Cc), Preconsolidation pressure (Pc) and coefficient of volume
compressibility (mv).
(ii) Define whether the soil is normally consolidated or over consolidated.