110

PreConSolIDAtIon PreSSUre
The preconsolidation pressure, s9
,is the maximum past effective overburden pressureto which the soil specimen has been subjected. It
can be determined by using a
simple graphical procedure proposed by Casagrande (1936). The procedure involves
five steps (see Figure 2.16b):
a. Determine the point Oon the e–log s9curve that has the sharpest curvature
(i.e., the smallest radius of curvature).
b. Draw a horizontal line OA.
c. Draw a line OBthat is tangent to the e–log s9curve at O.
d. Draw a line OCthat bisects the angle AOB.
e. Produce the straight-line portion of the e–log s9curve backward to intersect OC. This is point D. The
pressure that corresponds to point Dis the
preconsolidation pressure s9
Natural soil deposits can be normally consolidatedor overconsolidated(or preconsolidated). If the

present effective overburden pressure s9 5s9
ois equal to the preconsolidated pressure s9
, the soil is normally consolidated. However, if s9
o,s9
,the
soil is overconsolidated.
Stas and Kulhawy (1984) correlated the preconsolidation pressure with liquidity
index in the following form:
s9
pa
510
s1.1121.62 LId
(2.51)
where
pa5 atmospheric pressure (100 kN/m
LI 5 liquidity index
A similar correlation has also been provided by Kulhawy and Mayne (1990),
which is based on the work of Wood (1983) as
s9
c5s9
o5
103
122.5LI21.25log
s9p
pa
+4
(2.52)
where so
9 5 in situeffective overburden pressure.
The ratio of preconsolidation pressure s9
to the effective in situoverburden pressure s9
is defined as the overconsolidation ratio(OCR). For normally consolidated
clays, the OCR is unity.
ComPreSSIon InDex
The compression index, Cc
,is the slope of the straight-line portion (the latter part) of
the loading curve, or
Cc5
e12e2
log s9
22log s9
e12e2
log
s9
s9
1
2
(2.53)
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whole or in part. WCN 02-200-203
2.13 ConSoliDation 39
where e1
and e2
are the void ratios at the end of consolidation under effective stresses
s9
and s9
,respectively.
The compression index, as determined from the laboratory e–log s9curve, will
be somewhat different from that encountered in the field. The primary reason is
that the soil remolds itself to some degree during the field exploration. The nature
of variation of the e–log s9curve in the field for a normally consolidated clay
is shown in Figure 2.17. The curve, generally referred to as the virgin compression curve, approximately
intersects the laboratory curve at a void ratio of 0.42eo
(Terzaghi and Peck, 1967). Note that eo
is the void ratio of the clay in the field.
Knowing the values of eo

and s9
,you can easily construct the virgin curve and calculate its compression index by using Eq. (2.53).
The value of Cc
can vary widely, depending on the soil. Skempton (1944) gave
an empirical correlation for the compression index in which
Cc50.009sLL210d (2.54)
where LL5liquid limit.
Besides Skempton, several other investigators also have proposed correlations
for the compression index. Some of those are given here:
Rendon-Herrero (1983):
Cc50.141Gs
1.2
11eo
Gs
2.38
(2.55)
Nagaraj and Murty (1985):
Cc50.2343
LLs%d
100
4
Gs
(2.56)
Park and Koumoto (2004):
Cc5
no
371.74724.275no
(2.57)
where no5in situporosity of soil (%).
Wroth and Wood (1978):
Cc50.5Gs1
PIs%d
100
(2.58)
059
Pressure,9
(log scale)
Virgin
compression
curve,
Slope Cc
Void ratio, e
Laboratory
consolidation
curve
0.42 e
19
fiGure 2.17 Construction of virgin
compression curve for normally
consolidated clay
and/or eChapter(s).
40 CHapter2 GeoteCHniCal propertieSof Soil
If a typical value of Gs5 2.7 is used in Eq. (2.58), we obtain (Kulhawy and Mayne,
1990)
Cc5
PIs%d
74
(2.59)
SWellInGInDex
The swelling index, Cs
,is the slope of the unloading portion of the e–log s9curve. In
Figure 2.16b, it is defined as
Cs5
e32e4
log
s9
s9
(2.60)
In most cases, the value of the swelling index is
to
10
of the compression index.

Following are some representative values of CsyCc
for natural soil deposits:
Description of soil CsyCc
Boston Blue clay 0.24 – 0.33
Chicago clay 0.15 – 0.3
New Orleans clay 0.15 – 0.28
St. Lawrence clay 0.05 – 0.1
The swelling index is also referred to as the recompression index and is denoted byCr
The determination of the swelling index is important in the estimation of consolidation settlement of
overconsolidated clays.In the field, depending on the pressure
increase, an overconsolidated clay will follow an e–log s9path abc, as shown in
Figure 2.18. Note that point a, with coordinates s9
and eo
,corresponds to the field conditions before any increase in pressure. Point bcorresponds to the
preconsolidation
pressure (s9
) of the clay. Line abis approximately parallel to the laboratory unloading
curve cd(Schmertmann, 1953). Hence, if you know eo
, s9
, s9
, Cc
,and Cs
,you can
easily construct the field consolidation curve.
Pressure,9
(log scale)
Virgin
compression
curve,
Slope Cc
Void
ratio, e
Slope
Cs
Slope
Cs
0.42 e
0
9
Laboratory
consolidation
curve
fiGure 2.18 Construction of field consolidation curve for overconsolidated clay
and/or eChapter(s).
2.14 CalCulation of primary ConSoliDation Settlement 41
Using the modified Cam clay model and Eq. (2.58), Kulhawy and Mayne (1990)
have shown that
Cs5
PIs%d
370
(2.61)
Comparing Eqs. (2.59) and (2.61), we obtain
Cs <
Cc
(2.62)
Calculation of Primary Consolidation
Settlement
The one-dimensional primary consolidation settlement (caused by an additional
load) of a clay layer (Figure 2.19) having a thickness Hc
may be calculated as
Sc5
De
11eo
Hc
(2.63)
where
Sc5primaryconsolidation settlement
De5totalchange of void ratio caused by the additional load application
eo5voidratio of the clay before the application of load
For normally consolidated clay (that is, s9
o5s9
De5Cc log
s9
o1 Ds9
s9
(2.64)
where
so
95average effective vertical stress on the clay layer
Ds9 5 Ds(that is, added pressure)
2.14
Average
effective
pressure
before load
application
59
Groundwater table
Added pressure 5 D
Sand
Sand
Clay
Initial void
ratio 5 e
Hc
fiGure 2.19 One-dimensional settlement calculation
and/or eChapter(s).
42 CHapter2 GeoteCHniCal propertieSof Soil
Now, combining Eqs. (2.63) and (2.64) yields
Sc5
CcHc
11eo
log
s9
o1 Ds9
s9
(2.65)
For overconsolidated clay with s9
o1 Ds9 #s9
De5Cslog
s9
o1 Ds9
s9
(2.66)
Combining Eqs. (2.63) and (2.66) gives
Sc5
CsHc
11eo
log
s9
o1 Ds9
s9
(2.67)
For overconsolidated clay, if s9
c,s9
o1 Ds9,then
De5 De11 De25Cs log
s9
s9
1Cc log
s9
o1 Ds9
s9
(2.68)
Now, combining Eqs. (2.63) and (2.68) yields
Sc5
CsHc
11eo
log
s9
s9
CcHc
11eo
log
s9
o1 Ds9
s9
(2.69)

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PreConSolIDAtIon PreSSUre

The preconsolidation pressure, s9

simple graphical procedure proposed by Casagrande (1936). The procedure involves

five steps (see Figure 2.16b):

(i.e., the smallest radius of curvature).

b. Draw a horizontal line OA.

c. Draw a line OBthat is tangent to the e–log s9curve at O.

d. Draw a line OCthat bisects the angle AOB.

Natural soil deposits can be normally consolidatedor overconsolidated(or preconsolidated). If the

ois equal to the preconsolidated pressure s9

, the soil is normally consolidated. However, if s9

pa5 atmospheric pressure (100 kN/m

which is based on the work of Wood (1983) as

9 5 in situeffective overburden pressure.

The ratio of preconsolidation pressure s9

to the effective in situoverburden pressure s9

is defined as the overconsolidation ratio(OCR). For normally consolidated

clays, the OCR is unity.

The compression index, Cc

,is the slope of the straight-line portion (the latter part) of

the loading curve, or

(Terzaghi and Peck, 1967). Note that eo

is the void ratio of the clay in the field.

Knowing the values of eo

can vary widely, depending on the soil. Skempton (1944) gave

an empirical correlation for the compression index in which

where LL5liquid limit.

Besides Skempton, several other investigators also have proposed correlations

for the compression index. Some of those are given here:

Nagaraj and Murty (1985):

Park and Koumoto (2004):

where no5in situporosity of soil (%).

Wroth and Wood (1978):

fiGure 2.17 Construction of virgin

compression curve for normally

40 CHapter2 GeoteCHniCal propertieSof Soil

The swelling index, Cs

,is the slope of the unloading portion of the e–log s9curve. In

Figure 2.16b, it is defined as

In most cases, the value of the swelling index is

of the compression index.

for natural soil deposits:

Description of soil CsyCc

Boston Blue clay 0.24 – 0.33

Chicago clay 0.15 – 0.3

New Orleans clay 0.15 – 0.28

St. Lawrence clay 0.05 – 0.1

increase, an overconsolidated clay will follow an e–log s9path abc, as shown in

Figure 2.18. Note that point a, with coordinates s9

) of the clay. Line abis approximately parallel to the laboratory unloading

curve cd(Schmertmann, 1953). Hence, if you know eo

easily construct the field consolidation curve.

fiGure 2.18 Construction of field consolidation curve for overconsolidated clay

2.14 CalCulation of primary ConSoliDation Settlement 41

have shown that

Comparing Eqs. (2.59) and (2.61), we obtain

The one-dimensional primary consolidation settlement (caused by an additional

load) of a clay layer (Figure 2.19) having a thickness Hc

De5totalchange of void ratio caused by the additional load application

eo5voidratio of the clay before the application of load

For normally consolidated clay (that is, s9

95average effective vertical stress on the clay layer

Ds9 5 Ds(that is, added pressure)

fiGure 2.19 One-dimensional settlement calculation