Professional Documents
Culture Documents
TMH-6 - ST10
TMH-6 - ST10
SCOPE
This method covers the determination of the rate and magnitude of consolidation of a soil specimen after being saturated. The specimen is in the form of a
disc. restrained laterally, and loaded and freely drained axially.
2
2.1
APPARATUS
A metal consolidation ring, preferably of high-grade stainless steel, non-corrosive in relation to the soil tested. The inner surface must be highly polished or
be coated with a low-friction material. The ring must be provided with a cutting
edge to facilitate preparation of the specimen. The thickness of the ring must be
such that it ri gidly confines the sample laterally under the greatest load applied
during testing, with a change in diameter not exceeding 0,03 per cent. The inside diameter of the ring should be at least 6 mm smaller than the diameter of
the undisturbed sample to be tested to allow for at least 3 mm of material to be
trimmed away (see 3.1) (Figure ST10il).
Porous plates for placing on tt1e top and bottom surfaces of the test specimen,
e.g, si'liered fused aluminium oxide, silicon carbide or sintered metal which is
not attacked by the soil or soil moisture. They must be of suitable porosity so
that the soil will Mot extrude into the pores.
The diameter of the top porous plate must be 0,02 to 0,05 mm less than that of
the ring, A chamfer on the upper edge is an advantage to minimize the danger
of binding, should tilting occur.
The diameter of the bottom plate must be large enough to support the ring and
specimen adequately.
The plates must be sufficiently thick to prevent breaking, usually 6 to 13 mm
thick,
A consolidation cell made of suitable non-corrosive material, within which tt1e
test specimen assembly is placed. The cell must be capable of being filled with
water to a level higher than tt1e top of the upper porous plate (Figure ST10/1).
Extensiometer: a dial gauge or other measuring device to measure changes in
thickness of the specimen throughout the test, accurate to 0,002 mm.
A loading device for applying vertical loads to the specimen with a rigid bed for
supporting the consolidation cell. The device must be capable of maintaining
specified loads for long periods of time with an accuracy of 1 per cent of the applied load and must permit application of a given load increment Within a period
of two seconds without impact. The apparatus must be capable of accommodating a. compreSSion of at least 75 per cent of the specimen thickness.
The force applied to the test specimen must be applied centrally to a loading
cap covering the top porous plate through some form of spherical seating.
A moisture room or plastic bags tor storing samples.
2.2
2,3
2.4
2.5
2.6
Special methOds
Ora TMH6, Pretoria, South Africa, 1984
51
2.7
2.8
2.9
2.10
2.11
2.12
2.13
2.14
A spatUla 150 mm long with a sharp, straight edge for trimming the sample.
A balance to weigh up to 1 000 g, accurate to 0, 19.
A drying oven capable of maintaining a temperature of 105 to 110C.
A timing device or stop watch readable to one second.
Means of measuring the height of the test specimen or depth of the consolida
lion ring to an accuracy of 0,1 mm.
A trimming bench (for use with block samples).
Filter paper, e.g. Whatman No 54 (or similar). One paper must be cut 10 the
size of the inner diameter of the sample ring and another to the outer diameter.
A watch glass. 100 mm in dj~meter or other container for moisture content de~
terminations.
METHOD
3.1
3.2
3.3
~bIy of .pparatu.
Wet the porous plates by placing them in a saucer of water so that not more
than haH of the depth of the plates is submerged. Center the bottom plate in the
consolidation ceU and place the ring. complete with specimen, centrally on top
of the porous plate with a fitter paper against the top and bottom faces of the
specimen. Then place the top porous plate and loading cap centrally on top of
the specimen.
Special methods
52
Place the consolidation cell in position on the bed of the loading apparatus and
carefully bring the counterbalanced loading beam to a level position with the
appropriate load-:transmit1ing member in contact with the loading cap.
Clamp the dial gauge into position for recording the movement between the
base of the consolidation cell and the loading cap. The pointer of the gauge
should be arranged at such a position in its range of travel as to allow for a
small amount of swelling of the specimen. the remainder of the range of travel
being taken to allow for compression.
3.4
ding procedure
Apply an initial pressure to the specimen, depending upon the ty~ } of soil and
equivalent to the estimated effective overburden pressure. The initial pressure
should be large enough to prevent swelling of the specimen but should not
compress the soil. For stiff soils a pressure of 50 kPa should be enough,
whereas a pressure as low as 10 kPa may be necessary for soft, sensitive
soils.
Fill the cell with distilled water at room temperature as soon as the initial pressure has been applied and take the dial gauge reading or set the gauge to zero
(see 5.3). Start the stop watch and take dial gauge readings after 0; 0. 1; 0,25;
0,5; 1; 2; 4; 8; 15 and 30 minutes; 1; 2 ; 4; 8; 24, etc. hours. Continue with the
readings until the slope of the characteristic secondary portion of the compression versus log-of-time plot is apparent (or the compression versus square root
of time) (see 5.4).
Allow the specimen to consolidate at the specific loading to at least 90 per cent
of consolidation. i.e. until too is reached (see 4.4.1).
A!ternatively apply 6, 12. 25, 50. 100 and 200 per cent of the maximum field
load and take the dia! gauge readings for each load as described above. loading should be increased until a linear plot of the curve of compression versus
log of pressure (or versus log of time) becomes a straight line and at least until
twice the anticipated stress due to overburden and structllre combined is
reached.
3.5
Unloading procedure
On completion of the compression gauge readings under the maximum applied
pressure, remove the load from the test specimen and remove the consolidation cell from the apparatus. Remove the ring with specimen and filter papers
and weigh these. Dry them in an oven at 105 to 110 C to constant mass and
reweigh to determine the moisture content
4
4.1
4.2
CALCULATIONS
Calculate the initial moisture content of the specimen and its moisture content
after consolidation to the nearest 0.1 per cent.
Calculate the apparent relative density of the materia! (see TMH1, Method
A12T).
4.3
Compressibility characteria11ca
The compressibility characteristicS may be illustrated by plotting the compression of the specimen as the ordinate on a linear scale and the corresponding
applied pressure, p, in kPa, as the abscissa on a logarithmic scakl.
Special methods
Draft TMH6. Pretoria. South Africa. 1984
53
e=-Ha
where
H
Ho=---Gs.d.. x A
where
Ms
G,
""
d..
==
dH
dp
where
dp
dH
H
:;-
=-
=
=
1000
100 kPa
change in thickness corresponding to -the increment of 100 kPa
thickness of the specimen under the present effective overburden
pressure.
M.,;;::;;_._-
dp 1 +eo
where
dp
100 kPa
de
eo
:;;;
54
The coefficient of volume compressibility may be calculated similarly, if required, for any pressure increment.
4.4
Consolidation coefficient
The consolldation coeffICient may be determined by using 1hefollowing two
methods. Only one method need be used if it has been found to be satisfactory.
4.4.1
TFF!
C,.
=-
where
C.
0,111 H2
=
tsc
(m 2 per year)
where
H : : : average thickness for the load increment in mm
~ = time for 90 per cent consolidation in minutes (see 5.5),
4.4.2
Special methods
Ora:ft TMH6. Pretoria. Sooth Africa, 1964
55
where
H ;:;
4.5
H changes:)
Compression ratlos
Calculate the initial compression ratio, rn. and the secondary compressiQn ratio.
r~, asfoHows:
4.5.1
45.2
10 (d~ - d~)
9(d., - d,)
"' - - -
do - d,
ds
d,DO
rp:::: - - -
d" - d,
f , ::::
1 -- (ro
+ To)
where
correctea zero point
compression gauge reading at 90 per cent primary compression
by square-root fittmg method
d, OO
df
4.6
Report the identification and descriptIon of the sample and state whether it is
undisturbed. remoulded . compacted or otherwise prepared.
Report the initial moisture content, initial wet bulk density and the apparent relative density of the solids.
Report the results as the plot between compression (or strain) or voids ratio
and the logarithm of the applied pressure.
Report the compression ratios, and the consolidation coefficient, Cv, in m 2 per
year with each plotted time--compression curve.
Special methods
56
NOTES
5,1
5.2
If the sample continues to swell after water has been added under the initial
pressure, the next highest pressure should be used as the initial pressure. The
next load should be applied in time to prevent loss of material should the porous plate be lifted above the top of the cutting ring. Expansive (and dispersive)
soils are likely to slake on contact with water.
5.3
If the thickness versus square root of time is plotted. use time intervals with
easily obtainable square roots like 0,09; 0,25; 0,49; 1; 4; g, 16: 36; 49 min.: 1;
4; 9 hours. etc.
5.4
5.5
In the calculation of C the drainage path was taken as half the sample thick
ness. The formulae may differ from those used by other authors for this reason
and because ot metrication of the units .
if other consolidation times, e.q. he or teo, are used, the correct time factors
HZ
should be obtained from the literature. The drainage path correction, 22 . may
then also be omitted.
REFERENCES
1.
2.
Special methods
[)fat! TMH6. PretOiia. South Africa, 1984
57
CONSOLIDATIONI ~~:==:tS:
RING
(SAMPLE RING)
FIGURE ST10f1
SOIL
SPECIMEN
Special methods
58
I
IW
-...'"
;,
r::
E
'if
~
u:
::e
:E
i=
I-
I.J..
II..
C
N
~
C,!)
I--
..:.
0
0
0
0
It
II:I
ILl
II:
It
<t
Q ::>
0
(f)
UJ
a(/)
::>
a-
-....
t/)
a:
CI
:::)
u::
0
IX
W
N
......~
W
l-
t)
I.iJ
It
It
0
t)
(WWI SONlav~
30nv!)
SpeCIal methods
59
o~O~EetEJ iE~6
o,IO r---
........ ~
l.n
!!
z0
-1-+-+1 I ! I :I
ho :
~O,30
~
w 0,35
~
2rl~~
i'
O,!5!5f
~
~
0,601
I
I
100.}
I I I I ! III
lit t ! I II
8:T~
> :!.
::r
18
SECONDS
m
~i
il l -,", -'
"
!,
I
t -1-+
PRIM~RY
I I!
I I!
304260
----J
>4
'
--
8 10
I: --I . -',----.~.
I
'--"
Tl ME - lOG
,---
--tnt ++l+-+- -i
4()
60
eo 100
SCALE
I
I
-1-'- I
,!
12
HOURS '--'
MINUTES
--.
I I -I ' I '. i
20
- +-.--+- --- -
COMPRES],O;; - -
Ii
.~
=ttl'
I ' 1111 I 1-
'\
4'
~.
II
~ ~
+-
-+-H-t I
!
'
,--t-r-t--i-'-+
t
!
---- - - l - - . -
I I
._+-+----t
;
'-to.
7~,~;:~..
0,50t-1--+--+-+
-,
I :! f! i I
~'-r ! ' !! i . ,
+-- .._- -fI I I !! I
i I
--+.--t- i - i --- --'. --t---I-._._.. l
.. ~J I
!!-..
- -=1' ___- -..
I Ii
~ 0,,,,,",
o j4~1-1-
i'
!
1
l-t-I ..
I
--
".
0,25 I
r-.~
eE O,20f--'
I !- + -
.........
0,15
I
II!
+1.+_- -J-.+
-++ U ' !
I
'
O,O!
Z4
I
t
48
- --..J