EXERCISE

Consolidation Test
Objective:
:
.

Discussion:
A consolidation test determines the compressibility of the

soil and its time-rate of compression.' The date obtained are

required for estimating the amount of settlement and the rate

of the settlement of structures, and the amount of swelling

which can occurwhen the load on a soil stpatum is reduced, by

excavation. The test iiself is simple but fime-consuming,

Occassionally, a sample may require as long as 2 to 3 days for

100 percent consolidationunder each increment" Error princi

pally arises fro.4 sample disturbance and eareless handling.
Proper trimming of some samples may require several hours,

and utmost care must be exercised to prevent straining weak

sarnples and disturbing them.

Essential Apparatus:
1. Consolidometer with micreryreter dial gauge
2. Loading rnachine capable of maintaini"ng Jonstant

loads up to 2000 or 3000 lb, for lorrg periods of time

3. Thimrning knives, wire saws

4. Tbimming trt}tu or special cutter having same
diameter as consolidation ring
5. Glass plates, oven

6. Balance 2000 g capacity, 0.1 sensitivity

7. Graph paper, 5 cycle, 4 sheets

Sample Freparation:
1. Weigh the consolidometer ring and 2 glass plates.
Measure the inside diameter of the ring.

59f?

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2. Select a cutter andlor trimming lathe havingthe same
diameter as the ring.

3. Curve the sample to a diameter slightly greater than

the ring and to a thickness of 2 inches'

4, Tlim the sample to the exact diameter using the lathe

and force the cutter over the sample'

5. Slide the sample into the ring and trim flush ytlh the
ring. Place a glass plate over the trimmed end, invert

the sample aild trim the other side' Place a second

glass plate on this side (for protection and to prevent

evaporation) and weigh.

,,
6.

Soak
the porous
plates
in
water
and
then
wipe
away

'
the
excess
water.
Place

the
plates
and

the
sarnple

in
the consolidometer and aeeemble it for us9'

Test Proced.ure:
1". Balance'and zero the loading machine' Place the
consofidometer beneath.the loading beam and slowly

bring the beam to bear tightly on the spherical bearing

cap of the consolidometer.

?. Re-balance and zerothe loading-machine. Adjust and

read the micrometer dial gauge'

3, ApBh the first load of 5_00 lb per sq_ft,and read the
microrneter dial at the following total' elapsed times:

.
114min,L/2min,I" rnin, 2 min, 8 min, 16 mi1,32 min,

t hr, 2 hrs, 4 hrs, 8 hrs, L0 hrs, 24 hrs. Other times

may be used as long as the intenials are'similar' Plot

the curve of the dial readingvs. the logarithm time in

minutes. Tlris win forrn a reversed "S" with a straight

iine sloping tangent which repredents 100 percent

consolialation. Do not stop making readings until this
shape appears.

4..After 100 percent sengelidation has been reached, or

after 24hours, whichever is longer, increase the load

to 1000 psf and repeat step 3. The following loads

usually comprise a routine test:

60

5p0 psf

1000

2000

4000

5. Care ehould be takento prevent evaporation of water

from the sample. The coneolidometer baee should be

ciosed and all vents filled with saturated cotton The
top of the nng should be eurrounded wit'h a wick of
d"-p cotton. Aft,er a load of about 16,000 psf hasbeen
reached the sample may be flooded and kept that way

until the end of the test.

6. After t.}.e frnal reading, dismantle the consolidometer
and dry the sample to determine the w,erght o{soli$L

?. When time-consolidation data are not requiied and it

is eertain that the consolidation will take place in lesg

than 24 hrs., the time readings may-be omitted" Load

the sample at 24-hour intervals and read tJle settle'

ment 24 hrs. later just before adding the next load'

8. Compute the void ratio corresponding to 100 perceut

.oo.olidution for each load. Plot a cun/e showing the

void ratio as a fuBction of tJee log 69tr5" gtregs' Com'

pute the compression index and estimate the

preeonsolidaiion load.