HOW TO USE THIS TEMPLATE

FIRST, SET THE WORKBOOK UP FOR YOUR USE:

1) Add headers and footers if required.
How? Select the sheet you want to add the headers or footers to, then on the Insert tab of the Excel
toolbar, click Header & Footer . Insert text or images as required.

2) Check the page breaks on each worksheet (the position of the breaks depends on the printer settings -
doing this will ensure that the pages print correctly):
- Setup: Vertical break between columns J & K; horizontal breaks between rows 45 & 46.
- Calibration: Vertical breaks between columns J & K; horizontal breaks between rows 45 & 46.
- Stage data: Vertical breaks between columns J & K, T & U; horizontal breaks between rows 45 & 46, 77 &
78, 109 & 110.
- Preconsolidation: Vertical breaks between columns J & K; horizontal breaks between rows 45 & 46.
- Test report: Vertical breaks between columns J & K, T & U, AD & AE, AN & AO; horizontal breaks
between rows 45 & 46, 83 & 84.
How? Select the sheet you want to look at, then on the View tab of the Excel toolbar, select Page Break
Preview . Make sure the blue lines are positioned as listed above. If they are in the wrong place, move
them to the correct position using the mouse. Select Normal to return to the normal view.

3) Save the template with a name of your choice. This will be your master copy and should be read-only.
After you have saved the template, close it by selecting File / Exit from the Excel toolbar.
THEN, TO PROCESS A TEST:
Open your blank master template, as created above, and follow the instructions on the pages below. (It
may be easier to print them out.) Follow the flow chart and refer to the numbered notes for further
information on each step. (Text in blue denotes cell entries, green denotes sheet names and orange
denotes button names. You can use the buttons beside each step to show you where to enter the data.)
There are some general notes about the template on the last pages of this help sheet. Please read these
notes and familiarise yourself with the template before you start to use it for 'real' tests.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ENTERING TEST DATA

ENTER PROJECT, TEST &

SPECIMEN DETAILS1

ENTER RING AND SPECIMEN

MEASUREMENTS2

ENTER INITIAL WATER CONTENTS3

ENTER LOADING SCHEDULE4

ENTER INITIAL READINGS5

ENTER CALIBRATION DATA6

ENTER CHANNEL DETAILS7

LOAD DATA8

CALCULATE t50's and/or t90's9

CALCULATE PRECONSOLIDATION

PRESSURE10

ENTER FINAL MOISTURE

CONTENT11

CHECK REPORT, PRINT12 and

SAVE FILE13
 Notes
On the Setup worksheet, enter: project location & reference; borehole number; specimen number,
depth and description; preparation method; and specific gravity. Some of the specimen details are
entered using drop-down lists. The contents of the lists reflect the setup options given in ASTM D
1 2435 : Clause 13. Click on the cell, then use the arrow and select your choice from the list.
Where filter paper discs are used, tick the filter paper option box. Select the test method used for
the pressure increments (see ASTM D 2435 Clause 11.5).
On the Setup worksheet, enter ring diameter, ring mass, initial mass of ring plus specimen and
2
specimen height.
On the Setup worksheet, enter the trimmings water content masses. (There is space to enter
3 three water content determinations; an average will be taken to determine the water content for
the test report.)
On the Setup worksheet, enter the vertical stresses used for the loading / unloading schedule and
4
the lever arm ratio of the test apparatus. The masses required for each stage will be calculated.
On the Setup worksheet, enter the initial zero reading of the transducer and the load required to
prevent swelling (swelling pressure), if applicable. (If no swelling pressure was measured, enter
N/A or similar in the cell - whatever you enter will appear on the Test report.) Enter the final
5 transducer reading taken after inundation and any application of load to prevent swelling.
Any change between the two transducer readings will be calculated as a change in specimen
height.
On the Calibration worksheet, enter the transdcucer reading taken to measure the machine
deformation in mm for each load applied.
6 The cumulative correction will be taken off the total height change at each stage of the test,
wherever the correction exceeds 5% of the measured deformation and in all tests where filter
paper is used.
On the Setup worksheet, enter the channel number which was used to log the transducer readings
7
and select the zero position of the transducer in the data acquisition section.
Press the LOAD DATA button and you will be asked whether you want to load the stage data. Click
'Yes' and then 'OK' and a standard 'open file' dialogue box will open. Select your first data file
(only Geodatalog files will be shown) and click on 'Open'. The data will be loaded into the
worksheet for the first stage. You will then be asked if you want to load another stage - if you click
8 'No', the loading will stop and you can proceed to step 9. If you do want to load more stages, click
'Yes' and you will be asked to find the file for the next stage - locate the file as before and it will be
loaded into the next stage. The process will continue until you click 'No' or until all 25 stages are
full.
 Review the data and the plots on each stage worksheet and calculate the t50 and/or t90 values.
To calculate the t50 on-screen, click the t50 button underneath the log time plot and three lines
will be drawn on the plot. Use the buttons that appear on the left-hand side of the plot to move
the lines as necessary to calculate t50 (indicated on the plot as a blue circle with the t50 value).
When the lines have been positioned satisfactorily, click the ACCEPT t50 VALUE button. The t50
value will be entered on the worksheet so that the coefficient of consolidation can be calculated
and the d100 value will be entered for calculating the end-of-primary consolidation values.
To calculate the t90 on-screen, click the t90 button underneath the root time plot and three lines
will be drawn on the plot. Use the buttons that appear on the left-hand side of the plot to move
9
Line B into the correct position. Then use the buttons for Line E to move it onto the point where
the dotted red line (Line C) crosses the data curve. The t90 will be calculated at this point
(indicated on the plot by the t90 value above Line E). When the lines have been positioned
satisfactorily, click the ACCEPT t90 VALUE button and the value will be entered on the worksheet.
(If after positioning the lines you decide not to use the t50 or t90 from the plot, or you don't want
to see the calculation lines on the plot, click the REMOVE LINES button. If after accepting the value
you want to re-position the lines and re-calculate, press the t50 or t90 button again; adjust the
lines as necessary and press the ACCEPT t** VALUE button - the new value will then be entered on
the worksheet.)
On the Preconsolidation worksheet, select which set of data you want to use for the plot.
To calculate the preconsolidation pressure on-screen, click the DRAW EVALUATION LINES button
next to the plot and four lines will be drawn on the plot. Use the NEXT and PREVIOUS buttons to
select which data point has the maximum curvature. Line C and Line F can then be adjusted, if
necessary, using the other buttons. When the lines have been positioned satisfactorily, click the
10
USE PRECONSOLIDATION VALUE button and the value will be entered on the Test Report
worksheet, in cell E14.
If you calculate the preconsolidation pressure by hand, it should be entered on the Test Report
manually.
On the Setup worksheet, select whether the whole specimen or a part of it was used for the final
11 water content, and then enter the masses.
On the Test report worksheet, select the test condition from the options listed and enter any
comments or variations from the test procedure. Choose the time-fitting method that you want to
12 be used to calculate the reported cv values, from the drop down menu in cells G47:I47.

The report (and any other parts of the workbook) can then be printed by using the options in the
printing section of the Setup worksheet.
On the main Excel toolbar, select File / Save As and save the template with a name and location of
13 your choice. The file type ‘Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (.xlsm)’ must always be used when
saving the template.
 General notes
Setup worksheet
The 'Filter paper used?' option box controls how the calibration corrections are applied to the
measured vertical deformations during the test: if the box is ticked, the corrections will be applied
to every stage; if it is not ticked, the correction will only be applied where that correction exceeds
5% of the measured deformation. (See ASTM D2435 Clause 8.)
The'Method of testing' option controls whether or not any end of primary consolidation data is
calculated - the data is only available if test method B is used (See ASTM D 2435 Clause 11.5.)
Where the entire specimen can be dried at the end of the test (recommended), 'Whole specimen'
should be selected from the final measurement options, and the wet and dry mass of the specimen
in the ring can then be entered. If part of the specimen is needed for other testing, then 'Partial
specimen' should be selected. The final wet weight of the specimen in the ring can then be entered,
along with the water content masses for the partial specimen.
Stage data worksheets
The workbook can process up to 25 stages with up to 3 load/unload sequences - if you need more
than this, contact Controls to discuss your requirements.
The load data function is only for use with the Wykeham Farrance Geodatalog logger. If the data
was recorded by any other means, it can be typed in by hand or copied and pasted into the relevant
columns from another application, as you wish. Use keys CTRL+v to paste the data without affecting
the worksheet formatting.
The stage data is entered in the first 4 columns of each stage worksheet.
Time logged by the Wykeham Farrance Geodatalog is elapsed time in minutes. If you have taken
readings by hand, you can enter the date (dd/mm/yy) and the time (hh:mm:ss) for each reading in
the first two columns of each stage sheet and the root time will be calculated and shown in the fifth
column. In this case, the elapsed time will be calulated for the charts but will not be shown on the
data worksheets.
If your data has not been recorded by the Geodatalog, you must make sure that the first reading of
each stage is the initial reading i.e. taken at an elapsed time of 0 minutes. This is to ensure that the
change in height calculations are correct. (The Geodatalog automatically records an initial reading
at 0 minutes.)
The number of readings is limited to 96 for each stage.
The plots for each stage are on the page to the right of the data (columns K to T). Plots shown are
Time (mins) (on a log scale) vs Transducer reading (mm) and Time (root mins) vs Transducer reading
(mm).
The scales of the plots can be changed by using the buttons underneath each plot. Clicking the
RESET button will put both scales back to auto-scale.
When the data for each stage is loaded into the template, it will be pasted into the next blank stage.
For this reason it is very important to start a new test with a blank template.
If the stage data is to be deleted or significantly altered, the t50 and / or t90 functions must be
turned off first (by clicking the REMOVE LINES button).
The on-screen t50 and t90 calculation functions are intended only as an aid to help calculate t50 and
t90 more quickly and easily. The lines will be drawn automatically on the data curve but it is the
user's responsibilty to ensure that they are moved into the correct positions.
The on-screen t50 and t90 calculation functions will only work for loading stages. If you require a cv
value to be calculated for an unloading stage, you must calculate and enter it by hand.
The on-screen t50 function will only be available if the data curve is a suitable shape (see ASTM D
2435 FIG. 2 for an example). If you require a cv value for a curve that the on-screen function cannot
use, you must calculate and enter t50 by hand.
When the t50 button is pressed, the following will be drawn on the log-time plot to allow the t50 to
be calculated:
Line C (a green line) is drawn through the final linear portion of the curve. Its position can be
adjusted using the four buttons in the Line C area of the t50 adjustments panel.
Line D (a blue line) is placed approximately in line with the steepest linear portion of the curve. The
intersection of this line with Line C represents the deformation (d100) corresponding to 100%
primary consolidation. Its position can be adjusted using the four buttons in the Line D area of the
t50 adjustments panel.

Point F (a red dot) is the selected point in time, t1, on the curve, used to calculate the deformation
(d0) representing 0% primary consolidation. A dash below it represents the deformation at t2 (four
times t1); a dash above it is located at an increment of deformation equal to that between times t1
and t2 and represents d0. Point F can be moved left and right along the data curve using the two
buttons in the Point F area of the t50 adjustments panel.

See ASTM D 2435 Clause 12.3.1 for a detailed explanation of the t50 calculation procedure.
When the t90 button is pressed, the following lines will be drawn on the root-time plot to allow the
t90 to be calculated:
Line B (a solid red line) represents an extension of the initial linear portion of the curve to time = 0
minutes (d0). Its position can be adjusted using the four buttons in the Line B area of the t90
adjustments panel.
Line C (a dotted red line) is drawn through the d0 point which at all points has abscissa 1.15 times
larger than those on Line B. This line moves with line B.
Line E (a solid blue line) is drawn to cross the early portion of the curve and must be moved to the
point where the Line C crosses the data curve. The time at this point is t90 . The position of the line
can be adjusted using the two buttons in the Line E area of the t90 adjustments panel.
See ASTM D 2435 Clause 12.3.2 for a detailed explanation of the t90 calculation procedure.
The coefficient of secondary compression (Csec) can be calculated, if required (it is not required by
the standard), by doing the following:
Click the δHs button underneath the T50 plot. A solid red line will be drawn through the final linear
portion of the curve, extended to cover one complete log cycle. The beginning and end of the log
cycle is marked by crosses.
The difference in displacement readings between the beginning and end of the log cycle will be
calculated to give δHs.
The position of the line can be adjusted using the UP and DOWN buttons on the δHs adjustments
panel. When the lines have been positioned satisfactorily, click the ACCEPT δHs VALUE button and
the value will be entered on the worksheet. The Csec value will then be calculated using the δHs
value.

(If after positioning the lines you decide not to use the value from the plot, or you don't want to see
the calculation line on the plot, click the REMOVE LINES button. If after accepting the value you
want to re-position the lines and re-calculate, press the δHs button again and repeat the procedure
above.)

This function will only work for loading stages.

Coefficient of volume compressibility (mv) is calculated for loading stages only (cell J41). This value
is not required by the ASTM standard, but you can add it to the test report, if required - see
Optional extras below.
Preconsolidation worksheet
The plot for determining the preconsolidation pressure can be drawn using vertical strain or void
data corresponding to either the end of the increment or, for test method B only, the end-of-
primary consolidation. The type of plot is selected using the plot options at the top of the
worksheet.

The scales of the plot can be changed by using the buttons underneath the plot. Clicking the RESET
button will put both scales back to auto-scale.
The on-screen preconsolidation pressure calculation functions are intended only as an aid to help
calculate the value more quickly and easily. The lines will be drawn automatically on the data curve
but it is the user's responsibilty to ensure that they are moved into the correct positions.
If the preconsolidation pressure cannot be calculated using the on-screen functions, it should be
calculated by hand and entered in cell E14 on the Test report.
When the DRAW EVALUATION LINES button is pressed, the following will be drawn on the plot to
allow the preconsolidation pressure to be calculated:
Point B (a red dot) indicates the data point that is selected as the point of maximum curvature on
the consolidation curve. Alternative points along the curve can be selected using the two buttons in
the Point B area of the adjustments panel.
Line C (a green line) is drawn approximately at a tangent to the curve at Point B. The slope of the
line can be adjusted up and down using the two buttons in the Line C area of the adjustments panel.
Line D (a red line) is a horizontal line drawn through Point B.
Line E (a black line) bisects the angle between lines C and D*.
Line F (a blue line) is drawn through the end linear portion of the curve. The position of the line can
be adjusted using the four buttons in the Line F area of the adjustments panel.
Point G (a blue dot) indicates the point of intersection between lines E and F. The vertical effective
stress at Point G equals the preconsolidation pressure.
See ASTM D 2435 Clause 12.4.6 for a detailed explanation of the preconsolidation pressure
calculation procedure.
* The functions of Line E and its intersection with Line F are calculated using an Excel unit of
measurement that refers to the height and width of the plot area. Line E is represented on the plot
as a result of these calculations. When viewed on screen or printed, Line E may appear to be slightly
mis-positioned when measured with a protractor, due to differences in screen resolutions, printer
settings and printer drivers.
Test report worksheet
The test report contains all the information, data and plots required by the ASTM standard.
Plots shown are Void ratio and Vertical strain (%) against Vertical effective stress (kPa), Average void
ratio and Average vertical strain (%) against Coefficient of consolidation (mm2/sec), and Coefficicient
of consolidation (mm2/sec) against Average vertical effective stress (kPa).
The scales of the plots can be changed by using the buttons underneath each plot. Clicking the
RESET button will put both scales back to auto-scale.
Optional extras
A plot of Constrained modulus (1/mv)* against Average applied pressure (kPa) is offered as an extra
(it is not required by the standard). To view the plot, tick the box in cell L30 on the Setup
worksheet.

Coefficient of volume compressibility (mv)*, constrained modulus (1/mv)* and coefficient of

secondary compression (Csec)* can be added to the results table of the test report by ticking the
appropriate boxes in cells L31 and L33 on the Setup worksheet.

* Since these calculations are beyond the scope of the ASTM D 2435, the formulas are taken from
BS 1377-5:1990.
The data can be plotted as points only or as points joined with a straight line. Use the options to the
right of the plot to choose the format you require.