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HERIOT - WATT UNIVERSITY

School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society


Foundation Engineering
CLASS EXAMPLE

The following results were obtained from an oedometer test on a clay sample for a pressure
increment of 150-250kN/m2.

Time (min)

Sample Thickness
(mm)

19.000

18.908

18.857

18.805

18.760

18.665

16

18.567

25

18.478

36

18.419

49

18.391

64

18.377

Determine:
(a) The coefficient of consolidation and the coefficient of permeability
assuming a void ratio at the beginning and end of the test to be
0.85 and 0.75 respectively
(b)The time required for a layer of this clay, 12m thick and drained at
the top surface only, to reach 80% primary consolidation.

(c) The excess pore-water-pressure at mid-depth after 10 years and the


consolidation settlement at this time.

100
80
U%
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90

60

Ulayer

40
20
0

0.2

0.4

Time Factor, T

0.6
cv t

H2
d

T
0.008
0.031
0.071
0.126
0.197
0.287
0.403
0.567
0.848

0.8

1.0

(Time)

19.0

18.955 0
19.0

18.9

18.9

Sample Thickness (mm)

18.8

18.8

18.7

18.7

18.6

18.6

18.5

18.5

18.4

18.4

18.3

18.3

Assumed20
origin

1/2

(mins.

Time (minutes)

40

60

80
1/2
6.65 mins.

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