Numerical Analysis in Geotechnics – NAG2015, 20 August 2015, Hanoi

Consolidation analysis of Vietnam soft marine clay by finite

difference method with application of constant rate of strain
consolidation test

Cong-Oanh Nguyen
SIWRR and Posco Engineering Co. Ltd, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. E-mail: nguyencongoanh@yahoo.com
Thanh Thi Tran
SIWRR, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. E-mail: tranthithanh345@gmail.com
Van-Tram Dao Thi
Transportation College 3, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. E-mail: pcc_vantram@yahoo.com.vn

Keywords: Consolidation, CRS test, FDM, PVD, Settlement, Un-drained shear strength

ABSTRACT: Vietnam locates in soft Holocene ground area with great thickness, so geotechnical
engineers always face challenges in dealing with soft ground treatment methods. Among those,
preloading method by surcharge and/or vacuum assisted with prefabricated vertical drain (PVD) is often
used to accelerate consolidation of the ground, and to reduce post-construction settlement before applying
operation load throughout lifetime of the projects. Therefore, the paper is focused on using finite
difference method (FDM) and constant rate of strain (CRS) consolidation test results to analyze the
consolidation of a case study of soft marine clay found in South of Vietnam under surcharge preloading
assisted with PVD. The approach aims at numerical solution of multi-layer model of soft clay a FDM
procedure coded by the authors. Moreover, the authors determine stress-strain relation and parameters of
the soft marine soil for the analysis with application of constant rate of strain consolidation tests carried
out at the strain rate of 0.02%/min. The results of the analyses show good consistency between calculated
and monitored data in settlement, dissipation of excess pore water pressure and un-drained strength gain
of the investigated soft clay deposit. Therefore, finite difference method (FDM) with multi-layer
consideration and CRS consolidation test results are applicable to the estimation of settlement of soft
clays improved by PVD method in Vietnam.

soft Holocene soil deposit which is in Mekong

1. INTRODUCTION
In recent years, construction on soft soil has been
widely carried out over the Southern part of
Vietnam. Mostly, the soft soils found in these
construction projects have been improved by
vertical drains and surcharge preloading method.
Therefore, it is still a challenge for geotechnical
engineers to estimate the correct settlement of the
soft clays under surcharge load. This paper
examines the results of a series of consolidation
analyses using a Finite Difference Method
procedure coded by the authors. The subsoil is
divided into sub-layers to incorporate the change in
compressibility and consolidation characteristics
over the clay thickness. Input parameters of the
Delta are determined with application of CRS test
on undisturbed samples collected by piston sampler
technique.
The chosen case study is Saigon Premier
Container Terminal project, which is around 25 km
from South West of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
In general, for the container yard area the
requirement is under a design net operating load of
40 kPa, the target end of construction (residual)
settlement of less than 5% of estimated total
settlement. Due to the presence of thick and highly
compressible soft marine clay deposit at the site
(between 30 and 35 meters in thickness), the
widely popular construction technique using
preloading method in combination with
prefabricated vertical drain was employed for
ground improvement. Because the area is close to 2. UNDISTURBED SAMPLING AND TESTING
the shore line of Soai Rap River estuary, surcharge
Reliability of consolidation yield stress ’y,
sand is filled by both hydraulic method and dump
compression indices Cc1, Cc2, Cr and coefficient of
trucks.
consolidation cv, ch values is dependent on the
Figure 1 shows the location map, layout plan of
quality of undisturbed samples. Some authors
the whole site and arrangement of monitoring
(Tanaka, Sharma et al. 1996), (Tanaka 2000)
instruments including 2 settlement plates, 1
investigated the quality of soil samples retrieved by
extensometer lot, 1 piezometer lot, 3 CPTU test
various types of samplers and concluded that
points in tender stage, and 1 group of CPTU and
stationary piston sampler provide the good quality
FVT before surcharge removal for the investigated
for samples.
area, Phase II (2-2).

Figure 1 Location map (Google map), layout plant and investigated zone phase II (2-2)

LL, PL & wc (%) y'(kPa) Void ratio e0 Cc1, Cc2 & Cr cv (cm2 /d)
25 50 75 100 0 200 400 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 10 100
Premilinary fill

1
0
3
5
Elevation (m)

-10 9
10

-20 14
Extensometer E09
Piezometer P10

17
wc
LL 19
PL Cc1
-30 v0' Cc2
w'o filled sand Cr
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

Figure 2 Profile of soft clay properties at various depths

Table 1 Compressibility and consolidation properties of sub-layers
Sample Ho 'v0 e0 'y 'b Cr Cc1 Cc2 cv(NC) Cv(OC)
(depth) (cm) (kPa) (kPa) (kPa) (cm /d) (cm2/d)
2

1(3.95) 300 13.22 1.676 65 (50) 400 0.12 0.75 (1.40) 0.75 15 150
3(6.95) 300 28.28 2.195 99 (70) 250 0.15 1.50 1.00 35 350
5(9.90) 500 43.18 1.968 81 140 0.30 1.70 0.90 38 380
9(15.8) 400 73.78 1.966 132 230 0.25 1.90 1.00 30 300
10(17.45) 600 82.36 2.020 165 320 0.25 2.70 1.00 17 170
14(23.45) 400 114.36 1.854 226 370 0.30 1.90 0.90 19 190
17(27.95) 300 139.16 1.585 218 450 0.30 1.40 0.75 20 200
19(30.95) 200 156.52 1.449 251 500 0.25 1.20 0.70 40 400
Note: Numbers in brackets are used for Model-2 in consolidation analysis at settlement plate SP18
2 sub-layers from the top of soft marine clay as
It was revealed that in the Mekong delta region,
soft clay samples retrieved by Shelby thin wall presented in Figure 2(c). Unloading-reloading
index Cr ranges from 0.10 to 0.30, Cc1 from 0.50 to
tube shows un-acceptable quality for determine
consolidation characteristics. On the review of 1.00 and Cc2 larger than 1.00. The figure also
shows soil parameters determined from CRS test
more than thirty soil investigation reports for
Mekong delta region, (Bui 2003) found that the results as the consolidation yield stress, the vertical
coefficients of consolidation of sub-layers of the
yield stress (or pre-consolidation pressure) is
smaller than over burdened pressure and is not soft soil.
The effective over-burdened stress of intact soil
increasing with depth, thus OCRs were less than
unity. From the change of void ratio by is estimated without considering the load of
recompression to in-situ over-burdened stress, he reclaimed fill because this layer of had not
consolidated the clay deposit thoroughly. The
attributed the above phenomenon to sample
disturbance. The disturbance might by caused by Holocene clay is still in lightly over-consolidated
state with OCR ranging from 1.50 to 4.90. This
sampling technique and other processes.
A comparison of samples taken by both piston proves that the undisturbed samples are in good
quality enough for the engineering purposes.
sampler and Shelby sampler, and a comprehensive
study on the soil characteristics of soft clay in Consolidation yield stresses determined by both
CRS and CPTU in form of Eq. 1 as indicated in
Mekong Delta has been previously conducted
(Takemura, Watabe et al. 2007). That study Figure 2(b) are found to be consistent to one
another.
reported that mechanical properties of Mekong
Delta clay have not been well studied due to 1
sample disturbance.  ' y  (qT   v 0 ) (1)
3
In this study, all the samples were collected by
hydraulic piston sampler to unsure the quality of Figure 3 and Figure 4 shows the CRS test results
samples for laboratory tests. For the determination on 22 samples at various depths for the soft
of consolidation characteristics of the soft soil, Holocene clay. It is clear that the soil
CRS tests are employed. This is because CRS tests compressibility varies with stress level with the S-
can shorten the testing time and testing data are of shape of e-log’v curves, so it can be an error for
continuous strain-time relation. Therefore, it is the consolidation analysis if a constant
easier to determine required consolidation compressibility index is used. Therefore, the
parameters for soft clays. authors will apply three compressibility values at
three different stages of loading. The first value Cr
3. GROUND PROFILE AND DESIGN SOIL is used for unloading and reloading or over
PARAMETERS consolidated stage; the second Cc1 is used for
normally consolidated between ’y to ’p where
Figure 2(a) shows natural water content wc, liquid
there is a reduction in compressibility; the third Cc2
limit LL and plastic limit PL for the site. It is
is used for normally consolidated stage with stress
obviously that the clay is very soft with natural
water content is almost close or larger than liquid level larger than ’p as found in Figure 5.
limit. Furthermore, the void ratio ranges from 1 to Moreover, in this typical CRS result, the vertical
2 for the first 7 sub-layers and close to 1 for the last coefficient of consolidation in normally
consolidated state is fluctuated around a constant stage. So, cv(OC)=10cv(NC). The horizontal
value which is defined as cv(NC). coefficient of consolidation for this soft marine
clay is chosen to be as much as 3-5 times of the
101 102 103
2.4 vertical coefficient of consolidation which is
determined by CRS test results. Detailed FDM
2 analyses are performed in the next part of this
paper.
Void ratio, e

1.6
With the variation of soft soil properties over
depth, average values of those parameters should
1.2
not be used for the whole deposit. In order to
0.8 consider the changes in over-burdened stresses,
yield stresses and other consolidation
0.4 characteristics as well as nonlinearity, the soft clay
'v (kPa) stratum is divided into 8 sub-layers as indicated in
Figure 2. Representative values of compressibility
Figure 3 e-log’v by CRS tests on 22 samples at various and consolidation parameters for consolidation
depths of the soft clay deposit
analyses are chosen and tabulated in Table 1. The
total thickness of soft clay in this area is ranging
101 102 103
from 29 to 35 meters underplayed by sandy soil
which works as bottom drainage boundary for
103 prefabricated vertical drain.
cv(cm2/d)

4. MONITORING INSTRUMENTS
102 The monitoring instrumentation consists of 4
observation wells (Ob.01 to Ob.04) used for
measuring ground steady state ground water level,
101 40 surface settlement plates, 19 monitoring groups
with one pore water pressure transducer
'v(kPa) (piezometer) lot and one magnetic multi-level
settlement lot (extensometer) for each group. They
Figure 4. cv-log’v by CRS tests on 22 samples at
various depths of the soft clay deposit were used for the assessment of behavior of soft
marine clay under preload fill for the whole project.
101 102 103
In this study, only one zone called phase II (2-2)
2.4 is considered for the consolidation analysis by a
2 slope Cr finite difference code developed by the authors.
Void ratio, e

1.6 The investigated zone of reclamation and ground

improvement has one water observation well, two
1.2
Slope Cc2 surface settlement plates SP18, SP19, one
0.8
v0'

extensometer lot E09, and one piezometer lot P10

y '
p '

Slope Cc1
0.4 as indicated in the figure to evaluate the
consolidation of soft ground. SP18 and SP19 were
103 cv(OC) installed at the elevation of +4.650m Chart Datum
cv(cm2/d)

~10cv(NC) Level (mCD), E09 includes one magnetic plate at

102 cv(NC) +5.347m; three magnetic spiders at 0.057m, -
9.872m and -19.887m; three pore water pressure
101 transducers at +0.000m, -10.000m and -20.000m.
Layout of settlement plates, piezometers and
'v(kPa) extensometers for phase II (2-2) is presented in
Figure 5. Conceptual determinations of parameters Figure 1, elevation arrangement of 3 pore water
pressure transducers and 3 magnetic spiders as well
Furthermore, the vertical coefficient of as a magnetic plate can be found in Figure 2(e).
consolidation in over-consolidated stage is almost Observation well Ob.04 was installed out of the
10 times as much as that in normally consolidated surcharge area so it was not affected by the
surcharge stress increase; then water level at these final settlement under surcharge load for this case
wells is used to evaluate the dissipation of excess is 337cm.
pore water pressure. t=0 on 04/Nov/2006
Phase II (2-2), SP19 Model-1
5. CONSOLIDATION ANALYSIS 10

Elevation (m)
8
5.1 Calculation method and software
6
This method is used for reclamation area where the
loading is uniformly loaded in a wide spread zone. 4
Measured(SP19)
A unit cell around a vertical drain is considered as 0 Measured(E09+45cm)

Settlement (cm)
a drainage boundary in the coupled consolidation Calculated (c h=3c v)
100 Calculated (c h=4c v)
calculation as soon as it is installed in the ground. Calculated (c h=5c v)
Finite Difference procedure called CONSOPRO 200
Version 1.0 is developed and coded by the authors 300
based on the general consolidation equation, SF =337cm
dealing with the axi-symmetric meshing. The 400
120 240 360 480 600 720 840
procedure allows up to 20 subsoil layers and 50 Elapsed time (days)
loading stages in the calculation. Figure 6 Settlement by FDM calculation at SP19
Coupled consolidation calculation is considered
E09 (Model-1, c h=3c v)
with the Finite Difference Method (FDM). The 10
results include settlement for subsoil layers,
Elevation (m)
effective stresses for each layer as well as vertical 8
strain for each layer over each time step. 6 Measured (E09)
Calculated by FDM (E09)
5.2 Settlement Behavior 4
0 +5m to +0m
Original ground elevation is at +3.00m (mCD). A
reclamation fill of 1.6m was carried out during the -20m to bottom
Settlement (cm)

first land preparation. PVDs were installed 100 -10m to -20m

hydraulically with 150cm pitch down to the bottom
of soft marine clay layer at time of 221 days and
261 days for SP18 and SP19 respectively. Drainage
layer of 50cm by coarse sand was filled after the
reclamation work was done; then twelve layers of
50cm of surcharge sand were filled accordingly.
Besides that, PVC perforated pipe wrapped around
by geo-textile fabric and water collection wells
were installed to assist the water squeezing process
during surcharge preloading.
As indicated in Figure 6 the settlement at plate
SP19 and E09 is almost the same in margin as long
as E09 data are shifted by 45cm as correction. This
is because E09 is close to, but installed 245 days
after SP19.
A series of FDM analyses are performed with
the determined parameters and various values of ch.
The calculation results show that with the range of
ch=(3-5)cv, ch=3cvgives best fit result compared to
the monitored data. Therefore, soil parameters for
these two instruments are the same. The soil model
for SP19 and E09 is named as Model-1.
The FDM analysis result shows good agreement
between measured and calculated settlement vs.
time for the two above mentioned instruments. The
+0m to -10m
200
300
240 300 360 420 480 540 600 660 720
Elapsed time (days)
Figure 7 Measured and calculated data at E09
Figure 7 plots detailed calculated results by FDM
at E09 for sub-layers. The settlement from +5m to
+0m; +0m to -10m; -10m to -20m; and -20m to the
bottom of soft marine clay are presented in the
figure as dotted lines. The total settlement at the
magnetic plate is the continuous line. The
calculated and measured data are well consistent
and plotted in the same graphs.
Figure 6 and Figure 8 show the monitored data of
plate SP18 is larger than those at SP19 and E09. At
t=600d, the settlement at SP18 is 350cm while it is
around 300cm at SP19 and E09. Based comparison
of CPTu-27 at SP18 and CPTu-28 at SP19 and E09
in Figure 10, it can be concluded that the top two
sub-layers at SP18 are softer than those at SP19
and E09.
 04/Nov/2006 Excess pore water pressure is around 45 kPa for
Phase II (2-2), SP18 Model-2, , c h=3cv
10 the first two piezometer tips on top and it reduces
Elevation (m)
to around 30 kPa for the bottom piezometer.
8
Dissipation rate of excess pore water pressure is
6 well consistent to one another for both measured
and calculated data at P10. Measured data from
4
0 Measured(SP18) time of 570 days are a bit smaller than calculated
Calculated Model-2 values due to recent reduction in water level;
Settlement (cm)

100 therefore it causes the decrease in excess pore

water pressure.
200

300 5.4 Strength Gain

SF =379cm
400 s u (kPa)
120 240 360 480 600 720 840 0 20 40 60 80 100
Elapsed time (days) 5
Figure 8 Settlement by FDM calculation at SP18 CPTu-27 in Tender
0
Therefore, modification of yield stress for the two
sub-layers is done accordingly for SP18. The new -5
soil model for SP18 is Model-2 with a reduction in
yield stress by 15kPa for the first sub-layer and -10

Elevation (m)
29kPa for the second sub-layer. With the new CPTu-28 in Tender
parameters as indicated in bracket in Table 1, FDM -15
analysis shows well consistent results with the
-20
measured data. The final settlement for SP18 is
379cm.
-25
(qT - v0)/18 (CPTu, in Tender)
5.3 Dissipation of Excess Pore Water Pressure (qT - v0)/12 (E09, 20 June 2008)
-30
by FDM analysis
Piezometer P10 is installed close to E09 and SP19, FVT (12 June 2008)
so Model-1 is used in the FDM analysis of pore -35 VST-11 (05 May 2008)
water pressure dissipation at P10. Figure 9 shows Figure 10 Strength gain by field tests and calculated by
good agreement between measured and calculated FDM
excess pore water pressure dissipated vs. time. Figure 10 presents the un-drained shear strength
P10 (Model-1, c h=3cv) gain measured by field tests and calculated by
10
FDM. Cone factors Nkt are 18 and 12 respectively
Elevation (m)

8 for for CPTu done in Tender stage and before

surcharge removal. These Nkt are determined based
6 Measured
Calculated by FDM on un-drained shear strength tested by FVT. The
4 difference in cone factors is due to the different
60 cone types and manufacturers. As indicated in the
u (kPa) u (kPa) u (kPa)

P10-1
30 figure, the strength gain is 19kPa as average value
0 for the entire Holocene clay deposit. Furthermore,
60 the plot also shows the consistency between
P10-2
30 measured and calculated un-drained strength gain.
0
60 6. CONCLUSION
P10-3
30 Soil parameters determined from CRS test results
0 give good consistency for the settlement analysis in
240 300 360 420 480 540 600 660 720
both settlement and pore water pressure dissipation.
Elapsed time (day)
Direct application of CRS test results into the
Figure 9 Measured and calculated data at P10 consolidation analysis of Holocene soft clay gives
well agreement resulted between measured and
calculated data for surface settlement plates,
extensometer, piezometer as well as un-drained
strength gain.
For this Holocene deposit, horizontal coefficient
of consolidation is as much as three times of
vertical value determined by CRS test results
ch=3cv. The vertical coefficient of consolidation in
over-consolidated stage is almost 10 times as much
as that in normally consolidated stage
cv(OC)=10cv(NC).
Consolidation analyses by FDM with
consideration of multi-subsoil layers to incorporate
the changes in soil parameters in the soft clay
stratum can give good results in comparison
between calculated and field monitored data.

7. REFERENCE
Bui, T. M. (2003). Initial Evaluation of
Consolidation Characteristics of Mekong Soft
Clay and Their Use in Engineering Practice.
Hanoi Engineering Geology Workshop. Ha Noi:
1-13.
Takemura, J., Y. Watabe, et al. (2007).
Characterization of alluvial deposits in Mekong
Delta. Characterisation and Engineering
Properties of Natural Soils, Taylor & Francis
Group, London. 1: 1805-1829.
Tanaka, H. (2000). "Sample quality of cohesive
soils: Lessons from three sites, Ariake,
Bothkennar and Drammen." Soils and
Foundations 40(4): 57-74.
Tanaka, H., P. Sharma, et al. (1996). "Comparative
study on sample quality using several types of
samplers." Soils and Foundations 35(2): 57-68.