Ch.

3 FOUNDATION SETTLEMENT

3.4.7 Rate of consolidation settlement

The underlying assumptions in the derivation of the mathematical equations of
Terzaghi’s theory of one-dimensional consolidation are:
1. The clay layer is homogeneous.
2. The clay layer is saturated.
3. The compression of the soil layer is due to the change in volume only, which in tern, is
due to the squeezing out of water from the void spaces.
4. Darcy's law is valid.
5. Deformation of soil occurs only in the direction of the load application.
6. The coefficient of consolidation (cv) is constant during the consolidation.

The theory relates the following variables:

-The excess pore water pressure (u).
-The depth (z) below the top of the clay layer.
-The time (t) from the instantaneous application of a total stress increment.

The differential equation of one-dimensional consolidation is:

u  2u
 cv 2
t z
Where:

k
cv 
mv .  w

k : soil permeability.

Table (3.5) Variation of Δσ, u, Δσ'

at various times.
Time, t 0 >0 ∞
Total stress Δσ Δσ Δσ
increase, Δσ
Excess pore Δσ < Δσ 0
water
pressure, u
Effective 0 > 0 Δσ
stress
increase, Δσ'
Fig. (3.19) Principles of consolidation
Solution :

Where:
cv .t
Tv: dimensionless time factor 
H2
u : excess pore water pressure at time (t).
H : longest drainage path.
= Ht for one-way drainage
= Ht / 2 for two-way drainage
ui : initial excess pore water pressure variation with depth.

Several possible types of variation for (ui) are shown in Figure (3.20). The degree of
consolidation (Uz) at depth (z) below the top of the consolidating layer, and time (t) is
calculated as:
Uz = excess p.w.p dissipated / initial excess p.w.p

u i u u    
Uz  1  
ui ui ui 
For a uniform initial excess pore water pressure (uo) , Figure (3.21) shows the variation of
degree of consolidation with depth for various times.
Fig. (3.20) Variations of (ui) with depth.
 Fig. (3.21) Variation of (Uz) with (z/H) and (Tv).

The average degree of consolidation for the entire layer: U = Scat t / Scfinal

Figure (3.22) shows the variation of the average degree of consolidation with time factor
for a uniform and a triangular distribution of initial excess pore water pressure.

A convenient set of equations for double drainage, found by the curve fitting, are
Fig. (3.22) Variation of average degree of consolidation with time factor for a
uniform and a triangular distribution of initial excess pore water pressure.