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 “Soil Mechanics arrived at the borderline

between science and art. …”

 “Unfortunately, soils are made by nature and

not by man, and the products of nature are
always complex… As soon as we pass from
steel and concrete to earth, the omnipotence
of theory ceases to exist.

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Degree if consolidation

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 Used to determine rate of settlement
 Casagrande & Fadum (1940): Log time
method
 Taylor (1942): Root time method

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1. Project the straight portions of primary
consolidation and secondary compression
to intersect at A
2. A is d100 displacement at 100% primary
consolidation
3. Select t1, point B, near the initial portion of
the parabola. Select t2, point C, such t2 =
4t1
4. Δd = d2 – d1, plot D at distance Δd from B

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5. Calculate d50 = (d0 + d100)/2. Draw
horizontal line from this point to intersect
the curve at E. The abscissa of point E is
the time for 50% consolidation, t50
6. Calculate Cv

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1. Plot the displacement versus square root of
times
2. Draw straight line through the initial part of
the curve intersecting the ordinate at O and
the abscissa (square root of times) at A
3. Note the time at A: √tA
4. Locate point B: 1.15 √tA
5. Draw OB
6. The intersection of OB and the curve is t90

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d=7.4mm

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End of Presentation

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