CEE-332

Scientific Research (tools

& techniques) Sessional

Consolidation of soft cohesive soil

(demonstration model)

Submitted By: Group-2

Title of the model: Consolidation of soft cohesive soil. (Demonstration model)

Group details:
Name Reg. No Mobile No. Photo
1 Nazmul Islam Rafi 2016333012

2 Himel Ahmed 2016333013

3 ABDULLAH AL MAHIN 2016333015

4 A N M NAIMUL ISLAM 2016333017

5 DEBASHIS BOSU 2016333018

6 MAHBUB -A- IBRAHIM 2016333020

7 Shahid 2016333021

8 Riajul 2016333025

9 MAHMUDUL HASAN 2016333026 01984380644

Brief Introduction: This model demonstrates the consolidation process of soft cohesive soil,
when the soil restrained laterally and loaded axially. Since water is incompressible, stresses
applied to saturated clayey soils are initially taken by the pore water in the form of excess
hydrostatic pressure or pore water pressure. The resulting stress in the water causes expulsion
of the pore water, further causing transfer of stress from pore water to soil solids, thus
increasing the effective stress in soils which undergo compression.

Keywords:
 Consolidation  1-D compression
 Cohesive soil 
 Pore water pressure
 Piezometer
 Expulsion
 Water level


Materials:
 A pot
 2 circular pieces of wood
 Helical spring
 A steel pipe
 Piezometer (plastic pipe)
 Piston
 Weight (Coarse aggregate)

Model Fabrication Process:

 Firstly, we took a plastic pot with a uniform diameter.
 Then take a spring of suitable size for the pot.
 Then, cut 2 wooden piece having similar diameter as the inner diameter of the pot.
These 2 pieces would support the upper & bottom side of the spring.
 Then, we made a steel piston as loading surface which is movable.
 We placed a pipe from the top of the piston to the middle of the pot through the
spring.
 We attached another pipe at the surface of the pot which works as a piezometer.
The length of the piezometer is enough to demonstrate the model.
Operational Procedure:
Case 1: when the valve is closed
 Fill the pot with water up to the height of the spring.
 Set up the piston with the opening pipe. Close the pipe with impermeable
material.
 Mark the initial water level on the attached piezometer.
 Now, put the load on the piston.
 Mark the final water level on the piezometer.
 Determine the rise of water level.

Case 2: When the valve is open

 Fill the pot with water up to the height of the spring.
 Set up the piston with the opening pipe. Keep the opening unblocked.
 Mark the initial water level on the attached piezometer.
 Now, put the load on the piston.
 Mark the final water level on the piezometer.
 Determine the rise of water level.
 Rise of the water level should be Zero (0). Because, the applied load will squeeze
out the water through the opening of the piston.

Safety and Troublesome:

 We have to careful about loading slowly.
 When we apply load, water can be put away from the pot, because it is difficult to
ensure fill the gap between pot and movable piston.
 When we apply load, water can be dissipated suddenly from the piezometer. So,
we have to ensure the height of it.

Costing:
Name Cost
4 Spring 180
Jar 190
Piezometer 70
Aluminum bar 20
Washer 40
Base plate 280
Load cell 270
Chisel 35
 Glue 95
Oil 10
Thread tape 20
Extra 160
Total 1370

Limitations:
 Soil doesn’t seep water as spring does.
 The loading piston is not perfectly water-tight.
 In heavy loading condition, spring bends laterally, which causes less expulsion of
water.
Future Recommendation:
 Instead of piezometer it is better to use pressure gauge.
 For actual pressure, frictionless watertight piston should use.
Fig: Settlement apparatus