TABLE OF CONTENT

No Content Page
1. Title
2. Introduction
3. Objective
4. Apparatus and Materials
6. Procedure
7. Results and Calculation
8. Conclusion
9. Reference

1
TITLE
G2- Consolidation

INTRODUCTION
Karl von Terzaghi found the term ‘consolidation’ which can be defined as the reduction of
volume of saturated soil due to the stress exerted on the soil. According Radhika,
Khrisnamoorthy and Rao (2017), the procedure of consolidation can be clarified as
compression that happens because of evacuation of water and reducing in the water content
without substitution of water via air brought about by the stress applied on saturated soil. The
determination of the rate of a soil consolidation is necessary before designing a structure. This
is so designers will have the option to set essential precautionary measures and to keep the
settlement as manageable as possible, or else the planning to utilize the structure might be
disabled and the design life of the structure might be decreased.
This method of test is carried to study how consolidation of soil occurs. In this experiment,
the soil specimen is set in a consolidation cell. Then, the soil is let to deform by applying loads
on it placing weight on the weight hanger of the loading unit. The deformation is measured by
a dial gauge with accuracy of 0.002mm and time of deformation is recorded according to the
time sequence planned. During this process, water is supplied to the cell with the intention that
the soil remain saturated the whole experiment. The weight applied is doubled at every stage
until the maximum stress applied is attained.
The parameters of this method are preconsolidation pressure and compression index, C c.
Preconsolidation pressure is the maximum stress that the soil can carry while Cc is related to
the soil compressibility. Cc is calculated using the formula,

𝛥𝑒
𝐶𝑐 = − 𝛥𝑙𝑜𝑔𝜎

where e is void ratio and σ is stress.

2
OBJECTIVE
To determine the rate and magnitude of soil consolidation.

APPARATUS AND MATERIALS

1. Consolidometer Cell

⚫ Consolidation ring

⚫ Two porous stones

⚫ Two filter papers

⚫ Pressure pad

2. Dial gauge (accuracy of 0.002mm)

3. Stopwatch

4. Weighing balance (accuracy of 0.01g)

5. Water reservoir

Figure 1.0 Parts of Consolidometer Cell

Figure 1.1 Consolidometer Loading Unit

3
PROCEDURE
IS:2720 (Part 15)-1986
Methods of Test for Soils: Determination of Consolidation Properties
YouTube link: https://youtu.be/xEhoWoI7aq8

Preparation of Soil Specimen

1. The empty consolidation ring is weighed, W1.

2. The undisturbed soil sample is taken at the site and by using the weighed consolidation
ring as a template, the ring is inserted into the sample by pressing with hands then carefully
removed the test specimen with the ring.

3. The top and bottom edges of the test specimen in the ring is trimmed off until they are a
line with the edges of the ring.

4. The sample of soil similar to that in the ring, taken from the trimmings, is used for
determining moisture content.

5. The thickness of the specimen, H is measured and the ratio of the specimen thickness to
the diameter of the ring should be minimum 3. The specimen is weighed immediately, W2

Preparation of Apparatus
1. The bottom porous stone is centered on the base of the consolidation cell and then a filter
paper is put on top of the stone, followed by the ring with soil specimen.

2. The specimen is covered with another filter paper then upper porous stone is placed on
top.

3. The clamped ring is implemented and the bolts are tightened to hold up the entire cell and
the pressure pad is placed onto the specimen.

4. The consolidometer is placed in the loading unit and is suitably adjusted.

5. The mold assembled is connected to water reservoir so that the specimen is saturated
throughout the test.

6. The dial gauge is then clamped into position for the recording of the soil deformation.

4
7. The leaver loading arm is made sure in a horizontal position and a setting pressure of 0.05
kg/cm2 is applied to the specimen by putting it on the weight hanger.

8. The consolidation cell is filled with water, preferably of the same ionic content as the
specimen pore water. If this is not possible, distilled water is used.

9. The specimen is allowed to reach equilibrium for 24 hours.

10. A stress of 0.1kgf/cm2 is applied on the soil specimen and the reading of the dial gauge is
taken with increasing time interval until there is no change from the previous reading.

11. The time sequence used is 0, 0.25, 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60, 120, 240,480 and 1440 minutes.

12. Step 7 is repeated with the applied pressure is doubled than that at the preceding stage.
This step is repeated until the desired maximum load intensity is reached.

13. The water is removed from the cell and the specimen with the ring is weighed, W3

14. The specimen is inserted into the oven and the weight, W4 is taken after drying.

5
RESULT AND CALCULATION

Table 1.0 Sample dimension

Initial Final
Sample Height, H (mm) 20 18
Sample Diameter, D (mm) 50.0000
Specific Gravity, Gs 2.6600
Area of Sample, A (mm2) 1963.4954
Volume of Sample, V (cm3) 39.2699 35.3429
Volume of Sample, V (m3) 0.0000 0.0000
Moisture Content, w (%) 33.0000 27.0000
Bulk Density, ρ (kg/m3) 1812.4869 2013.8743
Dry Density, ρd (kg/m3) 1362.7721 0.0000
Void Ratio, e 0.9480 0.7532
Degree of Saturation. Sr (%) 92.59% 95.35%

6
 Table 1.1 Consolidation data

Applied Change in Coefficient of Coefficient of Volume

Void
Pressure, Height ∆e Compressibility, Compressibility,
Ratio, e
σ' (kPa) D (mm) av (m2/kN) mv (m2/kN)
0 0 0 0.9480
12.5 0.514 0.0501 0.8979 0.00401 0.00211
25 0.554 0.0540 0.8940 0.00031 0.00016
50 0.726 0.0707 0.8773 0.00067 0.00036
100 0.95 0.0925 0.8555 0.00044 0.00024
200 1.288 0.1255 0.8225 0.00033 0.00018
400 1.784 0.1738 0.7742 0.00024 0.00014
800 2.502 0.2437 0.7043 0.00017 0.00010
100 2.228 0.2170 0.7310 0.00004 0.00002
12.5 1.996 0.1944 0.7536 0.00026 0.00015

7
 Consolidation Graph
1.0000

0.9000

0.8000
e

0.7000

0.6000
10 100 1000
σ' (kPa)

Figure 2.0 Graph e vs σ'

The preconsolidation pressure is about 125 kPa

8
CALCULATION

𝜋𝑑2
Area of the sample, A = 4
𝜋(0.052 )
= 4

= 1963.4954 mm2

Volume of the initial sample, V = A × h0

= 19.6350 × 2
= 39.2699 cm3

(𝐻𝑓 −𝐻𝑠 )
Final void ratio, ef = ,
𝐻𝑆
𝐻0
𝐻𝑓 − 𝐻
1+𝑒0
= 𝐻0 , where HS = 1+𝑒0
0
1+𝑒0

20.00
18.00−
1+0.948
= 20.00
1+0.948

= 0.7532

Unit weight of water (kN/m3), γw = 9.81 kN/m3

Density of water (kg/m3), ρw = 998 kg/m3

(1+𝑤)(𝐺𝑠 𝜌𝑤 )
Bulk density, ρ = 1+𝑒0
(1+0.33)(2.66×998)
= 1+0.948

= 1812.4869 kg/m3

(𝐺𝑠 𝜌𝑤 )
Dry density, ρd = 1+𝑒0
2.66(998)
= 1+0.948

= 1362.7721 kg/m3

𝑤𝐺𝑠
Degree of saturation, Sr = ×100%
𝑒0
0.33(2.66)
= ×100%
0.948

= 92.59%
9
For 12.5 kN/m2,
1 + 𝑒0
Change in void ratio, Δe = ΔH ( )
𝐻0
1 + 0.948
= 0.514 ( )
20

= 0.0501
Void ratio, e = e0 - Δe
= 0.948 – 0.0501
= 0.8979

𝛥𝑒
Coefficient of compressibility, 𝑎𝑣 = 𝛥𝜎′
𝑒 −𝑒
= 𝜎′1 −𝜎′2
2 1

0.9480−0.8979
= 12.5−0

= 0.00401 m2/kN

𝑎
Coefficient of volume compressibility, 𝑚𝑣 = 1+𝑒𝑣
1

0.004005
= 1+0.9480

= 0.00206 m2/kN

*Others calculation is calculated by using same method and formula

Compression index, 𝐶𝑐 for range between 12.5kN/m2 and 400kN/m2;

𝛥𝑒
Compression index, 𝐶𝑐 = − 𝛥𝑙𝑜𝑔𝜎
𝑒 −𝑒
= − 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝜎′2 −𝑙𝑜𝑔𝜎′
1
2 1

0.7742−0.8979
= − log(400)−log (12.5)

= 0.08218

10
DISCUSSION
Standard chosen is Indian Standard. The setup of this apparatus is not really complicated
except for having to wait the specimen to reach equilibrium for 24 hours after the setting
pressure is applied. However, this is carried to avoid the soil specimen from swelling. In this
test, fixed ring is used. The advantage of using fixed ring is that the porous stones are thick
enough to avoid breaking under load while the pressure cap is rigid enough to prevent the
breakage of the stones. In the second step of the soil specimen preparation, the soil is pressed
by hands to be inserted into the ring. This is done to avoid any void present against the inner
face of the ring. The filter papers are placed below and above the ring with soil specimen in
order to avoid clogging of pores in the disk. The reason that undisturbed soil is used is because
the data collected from the undisturbed will give the true result of the soil by providing a more
accurate data.
The purpose of the experiment is to determine the rate and magnitude of soil consolidation
which we need to find the coefficient of compressibility, 𝑎𝑣 , coefficient of volume
compressibility, 𝑚𝑣 , and the compression index, 𝐶𝑐 .
Based on Figure 2.0, we can determine that the preconsolidation pressure is about 125 kPa.
The area and initial volume of the sample is 1963.4954 mm2 and 39.2699 cm3 respectively.
The bulk density, ρ, of the soil sample is 1362.7721 kg/m3, while the degree of saturation, Sr,
of the soil sample is 92.59%.
We have determined the coefficient of compressibility, 𝑎𝑣 which is use to calculate the
rate of change of void ratio respect to the applied effective pressure during compression and
we get 0.00401 m2/kN for the first calculation by using the formula:
𝛥𝑒
Coefficient of compressibility, 𝑎𝑣 = 𝛥𝜎′

The coefficient of volume compressibility, 𝑚𝑣 is also determined to know the volume

decrease of a unit volume of soil per unit increase of effective pressure during compression and
we get 0.00206 m2/kN by using the formula for the first calculation:
𝑎
Coefficient of volume compressibility, 𝑚𝑣 = 1+𝑒𝑣
1

Lastly, we had determined the Compression index, 𝐶𝑐 to find the settlement in the
normally consolidated of the soil sample which is 0.08218 by using the formula:
𝛥𝑒
Compression index, 𝐶𝑐 = −𝛥𝑒𝛥𝑙𝑜𝑔𝜎 Compression index, 𝐶𝑐 = − 𝛥𝑙𝑜𝑔𝜎

11
 In this experiment, there are few precaution steps that we need to alert to make sure that
we can reduce the error while conducting the experiment. Firstly, we need to make sure the
apparatus that we use for the experiment is functioning well. This is very important to make
sure that the result is more accurate. Next, we must avoid parallax error by make sure that the
eye position is perpendicular to the reading scale while taking the reading of the dimension of
the soil sample and while taking the deformation reading. Lastly, we must make sure that the
leaver loading arm is in a horizontal position so that we can get more accurate result.

12
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, consolidation is where the reduction in volume of a partly or fully saturated
soil gradually under a constant loading and that is due to the water expulsion from the soil
pores. According to the result that has been calculated, the maximum coefficient of
compressibility and coefficient of volume compressibility of the soil sample were
0.00401m2/kN and 0.00211m2/kN respectively. From the graph of e vs σ’ in Figure 2.0, we
obtained the pre consolidation pressure which is 125kPa. For that we can conclude that the
objective of this experiment is achieved.

13
REFERENCE
B.P. Radhika, A. Krishnamoorthy & A. U. Rao (2017), A review on consolidation
theories and its application, International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering. Retrieved
from DOI: 10.1080/19386362.2017.1390899
India Standard (2001), IS 2770 Methods of Test for Soils. Retrieved from
https://ia803008.us.archive.org/30/items/gov.in.is.2720.15.1965/is.2720.15.1965.pdf

14