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Consolidation Test PDF
Consolidation Test PDF
(SCE)
DEPARTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND GEOMATIC 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 : …………………………………………
Date : …………………………………………
FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG. PAGE NO.: 1/8
DEPARTMENT: INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDITION:
GEOMATIC ENGINEERING REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE
3/01/12
TEST TITLE : CONSOLIDATION TEST DATE:
AMENDMENT
3/01/12
DATE:
1.0 OBJECTIVE
TO DETERMINE THE CONSOLIDATION CHARACTERISTICS OF SOILS OF LOW
PERMEABILITY
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 (cv),
coefficient of volume compressibility (mv), compression index (Cc), preconsolidation pressure (Pc) can
be determined.
Tv H 2
cv (3.1)
t
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. PAGE NO.: 2/8
DEPARTMENT: INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDITION:
GEOMATIC ENGINEERING REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE
3/01/12
TEST TITLE : CONSOLIDATION TEST DATE:
AMENDMENT
3/01/12
DATE:
5
Settlement (mm)
10
15
20
x
25 1.15x
2
1
30
Time (minute)
0.1 1 t50 10 100 1000 10000
0% consolidation line
0
20 δ
δ
40
Settlement (mm)
A
60 50% consolidation line
80
B = 4A
100
120 100% consolidation line
140
160
1. Consolidation apparatus
- Consolidation ring
- Corrosion-resistant porous plate
- Consolidation cell
- Dial Gauge
- Loading device
5.0 PROCEDURES
1. Measure the internal diameter (D) and the height of the ring, using internal vernier calipers.
2. Weight the ring to the nearest 0.01g (mR).
3. Cutting the specimen and trimming into ring.
4. Determine the initial moisture content from trimming soil.
5. Determine the weight of ring and specimen (m1)
6. Determine the mass of bulk specimen (m) to the nearest 0.01g using this equation
m = m1 – mR
7. Place the consolidation ring and specimen (cutting edge uppermost) centrally on the porous
disc.
8. Fit the ring retainer and cell body and then place the upper porous disc centrally on top of the
specimen.
9. Place the consolidation cell centrally in position on the platform of the machine base.
10. 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
11. Attach the compression dial gauge to the arm on the support post.
12. Add weight (2.5 kg) carefully to the load hanger
13. Add water at room temperature to the cell and make sure that the specimen and upper porous
disc are completely submerged.
14. Wind down the beam support and at the same time start the clock.
15. Observe the compression gauge readings and the clock, and record the readings on a
consolidation test form at the selected time intervals.
16. Plot the readings of the compression against time to a logarithmic scale and against square-
root-time.
FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG. PAGE NO.: 4/8
DEPARTMENT: INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDITION:
GEOMATIC ENGINEERING REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE
3/01/12
TEST TITLE : CONSOLIDATION TEST DATE:
AMENDMENT
3/01/12
DATE:
BEFORE TEST
Gs
Initial void ratio, 1 = 0.622
d
SETTLEMENT READINGS
Elapse time Cumulative
Time Clock Gauge
hr min sec √ time compression, H
(min) time reading
(mm)
0 0 0 8.00 am 0 0
10 0.17 0.41 21 21 x 0.002 = 0.04
20 0.33 0.57 23 23 x 0.002 = 0.05
30 0.50 0.71 25 25 x 0.002 = 0.05
40 0.67 0.82 29 29 x 0.002 = 0.06
50 0.83 0.91 35 35 x 0.002 = 0.07
1 1 1.00 8.01 am 41 41 x 0.002 = 0.08
2 2 1.41 8.02 am 49 49 x 0.002 = 0.10
4 4 2.00 8.04 am 58 58 x 0.002 = 0.12
8 8 2.83 8.08 am 66 66 x 0.002 = 0.13
15 15 3.87 8.15 am 75 75 x 0.002 = 0.15
30 30 5.48 8.30 am 86 86 x 0.002 = 0.17
1 60 9.00 am 95 95 x 0.002 = 0.19
2 120 10.00am 107 107 x 0.002 = 0.21
4 240 12.00 pm 115 115 x 0.002 = 0.23
8 480 4.00 pm 124 124 x 0.002 = 0.25
24 1440 8.00 am 126 126 x 0.002 = 0.25
FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG. PAGE NO.: 5/8
DEPARTMENT: INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDITION:
GEOMATIC ENGINEERING REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE
3/01/12
TEST TITLE : CONSOLIDATION TEST DATE:
AMENDMENT
3/01/12
DATE:
7.0 RESULTS
BEFORE TEST
SETTLEMENT READINGS
8.0 CALCULATIONS
FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG. PAGE NO.: 7/8
DEPARTMENT: INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDITION:
GEOMATIC ENGINEERING REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE
3/01/12
TEST TITLE : CONSOLIDATION TEST DATE:
AMENDMENT
3/01/12
DATE:
9.0 DISCUSSIONS
10.0 CONCLUSIONS
FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG. PAGE NO.: 8/8
DEPARTMENT: INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDITION:
GEOMATIC ENGINEERING REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE
3/01/12
TEST TITLE : CONSOLIDATION TEST DATE:
AMENDMENT
3/01/12
DATE:
11.0 QUESTION 1
a) From your experimental data, determine the coefficient of consolidation, cv (m2/year) using
Casagrande Method. Please comment your answer.
b) Clay samples collected at depth of 5 meters at Batu Pahat has a unit weight () of 18 kN/m3.
The following data were recorded during an oedometer test.
(i) Plot the graph of void ratio against effective stress on semi-log graph and determine the
compression index (Cc) and preconsolidation pressure (Pc).
QUESTIONS 2
a) From the experimental data , determine the coefficient of consolidation, cv (m2/year) using
Taylor Method. Please comment your answer.
b) 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) 50 100 200 400 800 1600 400 100
Void ratio (e) 0.95 0.92 0.81 0.67 0.53 0.4 0.5 0.6
(i) Plot the graph of void ratio against effective stress on semi-log graph and determine the
compression index (Cc) and preconsolidation pressure (Pc).