Zhu, K. & Yin, J.-H. (2001). GeÂotechnique 51, No.

4, 361±367

TECHNICAL NOTE

Consolidation of soil with vertical and horizontal drainage under ramp load
G . Z H U  a n d J. - H . Y I N 

This technical note presents a new analytical solution for BASIC EQUATIONS AND SOLUTIONS
consolidation analysis of soil with vertical drains under To obtain the governing equation for consolidation of soil
ramp load. The solution is described in detail. A new with vertical drains, it is assumed that
normalised time factor, T, is suggested. It is shown in the
note that the average degree of consolidation exhibits very (a) The soil is fully saturated.
good normalised behaviour using this new T. Results are (b) Water and soil particles are incompressible.
presented in ®gures and tables for practical applications. (c) Darcy's law is valid.
(d) Strains are small.
(e) All compressive strains within the soil mass occur in the
vertical direction.
( f ) The coef®cient of compressibility is constant (Terzaghi,
KEYWORDS: consolidation; drainage; settlement; theoretical ana- 1943; Barron, 1948).
lysis; time dependence.
As in Barron (1948), the problem is simpli®ed to an axisym-
metric one, as shown in Fig. 1.
The differential equation for the dissipation of excess pore
INTRODUCTION
water pressure using the free strain assumption is
Vertical drains are widely used to facilitate the consolidation of  
soil. The best-known study on this topic was carried out by @u @ 2 u 1 @u @ 2 u @ó
Barron (1948). He assumed two types of vertical strain that ˆ cr ‡ ‡ cv 2 ‡ (1)
@t @r 2 r @r @z @t
might occur in the clay layer: (a) free vertical strain, resulting
from a uniform distribution of surface load, and (b) equal
where u is excess porewater pressure; ó is vertical total stress
vertical strain, resulting from imposing the same vertical defor-
increase; t is time; r is the radial coordinate; z is the vertical
mation on the surface for uniform soil. Later, Horne (1964)
coordinate; cr ˆ k r =ãw mv and cv ˆ k v =ãw mv are the horizontal
presented a formal solution to the layered consolidation problem
(or radial) and vertical consolidation coef®cients respectively;
with vertical drain. Yoshikuni & Nakanodo (1974) gave a
ãw is the unit weight of water; mv is the compressibility; and k r
rigorous solution taking well resistance into consideration. Sim-
and k v are the horizontal and vertical permeability respectively.
pli®ed solutions were also obtained by some other researchers
Equation (1) is similar to the equation derived by Barron (1948)
(Hansbo, 1981; Zeng and Xie, 1989; Xie et al., 1994).
except for the non-homogenous term @ó =@ t.
All the solutions mentioned above are based on the assump-
The vertical total stress increase is assumed to vary linearly
tion that external loads are applied suddenly. A foundation
with time and remain unchanged after time tc (see Fig. 2). That
construction loading or surcharge loading process takes some
is:
time, which in the case of vertical drains may have a consider-  
able in¯uence on the consolidation behaviour, especially during t
ó (r, z, t) ˆ ó 0 min 1, (2)
the early stage of consolidation. Terzaghi (1943) suggested a tc
simple method of correcting the time±settlement curve under
instantaneous loading to allow for construction period under
one-demensional (1-D) consolidation condition. Olson (1977)
obtained a solution using the equal strain assumption for the
case of vertical drain under a ramp load: that is, the vertical u=0
total stress increase varies linearly with time up to a maximum H
value. Zhu & Yin (1999) presented a mathematical solution for
the consolidation analysis of a double-layered soil pro®le sub-
ject to depth-dependent ramp load. Olson's solution (1977) was r
based on a formula, (1 ÿ U ) ˆ (1 ÿ U r )(1 ÿ Uv ), derived by rw re
Carrillo (1942). Theoretically speaking, this formula (Carrillo, z
1942) is valid only for homogeneous equations: that is, for
suddenly applied loading. For non-homogeneous equations Fig. 1. Coordinates and boundary conditions for axisymmetric
(loading is gradually applied), Carrillo's (1942) formula can be consolidation
regarded only as an approximate relationship. As far as the
authors know, no rigorous solution to the consolidation problem
of a vertical drain with horizontal and vertical drainage under σ
ramp loading is available in the literature. In this note, the
authors present a mathematical solution to the above problem.
Eigenvalues and average degree of consolidation of the solution
are presented in tables or diagrams for practical use.
σo
Manuscript received 20 August 1998; revised manuscript accepted 10
August 2000.
Discussion on this paper closes 1 November 2001, for further details
see p. ibc. tc t
 Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, Hong Kong
Polytechnic University. Fig. 2. Variation of the vertical total stress

361

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 362 ZHU AND YIN
8  
where ó 0 is a constant (®nal vertical total stress increment). >
> ð2
>
> 32C ì 2
‡ L
The `min' means taking the minimum value between 1 and >
> T X X 1 m 1
4 
t=tc . >
> ÿ 
>
> T n 2 2
ð
The following commonly encountered boundary conditions >
>
c mˆ1 nˆ1,3,5,...
n2 ð2 ì2m ‡ L Tc
>
>
are studied in this paper: >
> 4
>
> 2 0 13
>
> n2 ð2
>
> 2
>
> 6 B ì ‡ L C7
8  > m
4
> @u  > 36
>
> 41 ÿ expB@ ÿ 2
TC
A5
7 T < Tc
>
> u(r, 0, t) ˆ 0, ˆ0 >
> 2‡ð L
< @z  zˆ H >
>
>
ì 1
4
 (3) >
>
>
>  
>
>
> @u  >
> ð2
: u(rw , z, t) ˆ 0, ˆ0 >
< 2
@ r  rˆ re X X
1 32C m ì 1 ‡
4 
L
U (T ) ˆ 1 ÿ 
>
> n2 ð2
>
> mˆ1 nˆ1,3,5,... 2 2
n ð ìm ‡ 2 L Tc
>
>
>
> 4
>
> 2 0 1 3
Equation (3) means that water is freely drained at the top of the >
> n2 ð2
>
> 2
soil and along the well (r ˆ rw ), but unable to permeate at >
> 6 B ì m ‡ L C7
>
> 36 1 ÿ expB ÿ 4 Tc C 7 T > Tc
r ˆ re and at the bottom. Here re is the radius of the equivalent >
> 4 @ 2 A5
cylindrical block of soil, and rw is the radius of the drain. In
>
>
> ì 2‡ð L
>
> 1
4
the following solution, the initial excess pore water pressure is >
>
>
> 2 3
assumed to be zero. If drainage is available at the bottom of the >
> n 2
ð 2
>
> 2
soil, the drainage path H is halved. >
> 6 ìm ‡ 4 L 7
> 3 exp6ÿ
> (T ÿ Tc )7
Using the method of separation of variables, the consolida- >
> 4 ð 2 5
>
:
tion equation (1) under the given loading condition in equation ì21 ‡ L
4
(2) and the boundary conditions in equation (3) can be solved.
(8)
Letting
where T is a newly de®ned time factor (dimensionless), and Tc
is the time factor corresponding to construction time tc . The
z re cv r2w time factors T and Tc are expressed in equations (9) and (10)
Zˆ , Nˆ , Lˆ (4) respectively. C m in equation (8) can be found in Appendix 1.
H rw cr H 2
!  
ì21 cv ð2 2 ð2 cr t
T ˆ cr 2 ‡ t ˆ ì1 ‡ L 2 (9)
rw 4 H 2 4 rw
the solution to equation (1) becomes !  
ì2 cv ð2 2 ð2 cr t c
Tc ˆ cr 21 ‡ t c ˆ ì 1 ‡ L (10)
rw 4 H 2 4 r2w
X
1
uˆ A mn (T )Rm (r) sin(ë n Z) (5) Both T and Tc are dependent on (a) N through eigenvalue ì1
m, nˆ1
and (b) L.
Equation (8) can be used to calculate the average degree of
consolidation of soils with vertical drains. If the vertical total
In equation (4) Z is a dimensionless vertical coordinate, N is stress, ó , is composed of several ramp loads, the superposition
the ratio of the equivalent radius over well radius, and L is a method may be used to calculate the excess pore water pressure
newly de®ned dimensionless parameter. L is related to the and the average degree of consolidation. Equation (8) is also
vertical and horizontal consolidation coef®cients (cv and cr ), the valid if the ®nal total stress, ó 0 , is linear with depth for double
radius of the well (rw ) and the vertical drainage distance ( H). If drainage boundary conditions.
cv is zero or H is in®nite, parameter L is zero, which implies
horizontal water ¯ow and horizontal consolidation only. If cr is
zero, L is in®nite, which implies vertical water ¯ow and vertical INFLUENCE OF N AND L ON AVERAGE DEGREE OF
consolidation only. If rw is zero, though L is zero, but N is CONSOLIDATION
in®nite, this is a vertical consolidation case. The expressions for Normally the value of parameter N in equation (4) is in the
A mn , Rm and ë n in equation (5) are discussed as follows. range 5±80, and the value of parameter L in equation (4) is in
Rm in equation (5) can be expressed in terms of Bessel the range of 0±0´01. The two parameters obviously have a very
function (Moshier, 1989) of the ®rst kind (J 0 , J 1 ) and of the large in¯uence on the average degree of consolidation. However,
second kind (Y0 , Y1 ) as follows: if the time factor T is de®ned by equation (9), the average
degree of consolidation shows very little sensitivity to N.
    Figures 3±5 show the relations between normlised time factor
r r T and average degree of consoidation U for different N, L and
Rm (r) ˆ Y1 (N ì m )J 0 ì m ÿ J 1 (N ì m )Y0 ì m (6)
rw rw Tc . Clearly, the difference is very small for different values of
N , especially when L is large. The parameter L has a slightly
greater in¯uence, and can be found from Figs 3±5. However,
the difference is still small. For the whole range calculated
The quantity ì m is the mth positive root of the following (N ˆ 5±80 and L ˆ 0±0:01), the maximum difference of aver-
equation: age degree of consolidation is less than 13%. This indicates that
the relationship of average degree of consolidation U to time
factor T is approximately independent of the dimensionless
Y1 (N ì m )J 0 ( ì m ) ÿ J 1 (N ì m )Y0 ( ì m ) ˆ 0 (7) paameters N and L. This is because the in¯uence of N and L
is included in the normalised time factor T in equation (9),
since ì1 is related to N in Table 1 (in Appendix 1).
The ®rst ten roots (eigenvalues ì1 ±ì10 ) of equation (7) are The normalised time factor T means that the relationship of
listed in Table 1 for different values of N . A mn in equation (5) U to T is primarily dependent on the construction time factor
can be found in Appendix 1. The average degree of consolida- Tc only. In this way the total number of charts of U against T
tion, U (T ), can be obtained from equation (5): can be greatly reduced. For practical applications, the relation-

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 Table 1. Eigenvalues ì1 ±ì10 for different values of N
N ì1 ì2 ì3 ì4 ì5 ì6 ì7 ì8 ì9 ì10

SOIL CONSOLIDATION WITH VERTICAL DRAINS UNDER RAMP LOAD

5 0´282 358 0 1´139 210 0 1´939 180 0 2´731 210 0 3´520 400 0 4´308 270 0 5´095 390 0 5´882 060 0 6´668 440 0 7´454 610 0
6 0´218 072 0 0´907 494 0 1´548 560 0 2´182 800 0 2´814 560 0 3´445 513 0 4´075 040 0 4´704 530 0 5´333 760 0 5´962 790 0
7 0´176 510 0 0´753 449 0 1´288 380 0 1´817 340 0 2´344 100 0 2´869 780 0 3´394 850 0 3´919 550 0 4´444 000 0 4´968 280 0
8 0´147 598 0 0´643 705 0 1´102 700 0 1´556 400 0 2´008 120 0 2´458 860 0 2´909 050 0 3´358 880 0 3´808 490 0 4´257 930 0
9 0´126 412 0 0´561 599 0 0´963 560 0 1´360 780 0 1´756 190 0 2´150 710 0 2´544 720 0 2´938 400 0 3´331 870 0 3´725 180 0
10 0´110 269 0 0´497 884 0 0´855 429 0 1´208 680 0 1´560 290 0 1´911 070 0 2´261 380 0 2´611 380 0 2´961 180 0 3´310 830 0
11 0´097 592 0 0´447 022 0 0´768 993 0 1´087 050 0 1´403 600 0 1´719 390 0 2´034 730 0 2´349 780 0 2´664 640 0 2´979 370 0
12 0´087 391 6 0´405 491 0 0´698 329 0 0´987 577 0 1´275 430 0 1´562 570 0 1´849 300 0 2´135 750 0 2´422 030 0 2´708 170 0
13 0´079 019 9 0´370 947 0 0´639 487 0 0´904 713 0 1´168 650 0 1´431 910 0 1´694 790 0 1´957 410 0 2´219 860 0 2´482 190 0
14 0´072 034 6 0´341 770 0 0´589 734 0 0´834 624 0 1´078 310 0 1´321 370 0 1´564 060 0 1´806 520 0 2´048 800 0 2´290 970 0
15 0´066 124 1 0´316 804 0 0´547 120 0 0´774 572 0 1´000 900 0 1´226 630 0 1´452 020 0 1´677 190 0 1´902 190 0 2´127 080 0
16 0´061 062 6 0´295 202 0 0´510 213 0 0´722 545 0 0´933 818 0 1´144 540 0 1´354 930 0 1´565 110 0 1´775 130 0 1´985 050 0
17 0´056 683 0 0´276 329 0 0´477 942 0 0´677 039 0 0´875 139 0 1´072 720 0 1´269 980 0 1´467 040 0 1´663 960 0 1´860 780 0
18 0´052 858 8 0´259 700 0 0´449 486 0 0´636 901 0 0´823 375 0 1´009 360 0 1´195 040 0 1´380 530 0 1´565 880 0 1´751 130 0
19 0´049 492 7 0´244 939 0 0´424 207 0 0´601 236 0 0´777 373 0 0´953 042 0 1´128 430 0 1´303 630 0 1´478 690 0 1´653 660 0
20 0´046 508 6 0´231 750 0 0´401 603 0 0´569 335 0 0´736 222 0 0´902 664 0 1´068 830 0 1´234 830 0 1´400 690 0 1´566 460 0
21 0´043 846 2 0´219 895 0 0´381 272 0 0´540 635 0 0´699 195 0 0´857 329 0 1´015 210 0 1´172 910 0 1´330 490 0 1´487 990 0
22 0´041 457 1 0´209 182 0 0´362 887 0 0´514 677 0 0´665 701 0 0´816 319 0 0´966 689 0 1´116 900 0 1´266 990 0 1´416 990 0
23 0´039 302 2 0´199 454 0 0´346 184 0 0´491 086 0 0´635 258 0 0´779 042 0 0´922 588 0 1´065 980 0 1´209 250 0 1´352 450 0
24 0´037 349 3 0´190 582 0 0´330 941 0 0´469 554 0 0´607 468 0 0´745 011 0 0´882 327 0 1´019 490 0 1´156 550 0 1´293 520 0
25 0´035 571 8 0´182 458 0 0´316 975 0 0´449 822 0 0´582 000 0 0´713 821 0 0´845 424 0 0´976 880 0 1´108 230 0 1´239 510 0
26 0´033 947 5 0´174 992 0 0´304 134 0 0´431 675 0 0´558 574 0 0´685 130 0 0´811 477 0 0´937 682 0 1´063 790 0 1´189 820 0
28 0´031 087 1 0´161 738 0 0´281 321 0 0´399 426 0 0´516 939 0 0´634 135 0 0´751 135 0 0´868 004 0 0´984 780 0 1´101 490 0
30 0´028 650 5 0´150 333 0 0´261 673 0 0´371 642 0 0´481 061 0 0´590 186 0 0´699 128 0 0´807 947 0 0´916 678 0 1´025 340 0
32 0´026 551 5 0´140 417 0 0´244 576 0 0´347 457 0 0´449 825 0 0´551 917 0 0´653 840 0 0´755 647 0 0´857 371 0 0´959 034 0
34 0´024 725 8 0´131 718 0 0´229 564 0 0´326 214 0 0´422 384 0 0´518 297 0 0´614 049 0 0´709 693 0 0´805 259 0 0´900 767 0
36 0´023 124 1 0´124 024 0 0´216 278 0 0´307 409 0 0´398 088 0 0´488 526 0 0´578 813 0 0´668 997 0 0´759 108 0 0´849 164 0
38 0´021 708 3 0´117 173 0 0´204 438 0 0´290 645 0 0´376 427 0 0´461 980 0 0´547 392 0 0´632 707 0 0´717 952 0 0´803 145 0
40 0´020 448 3 0´111 032 0 0´193 820 0 0´275 607 0 0´356 993 0 0´438 163 0 0´519 199 0 0´600 143 0 0´681 020 0 0´761 849 0
50 0´015 789 0 0´087 927 6 0´153 807 0 0´218 902 0 0´283 685 0 0´348 300 0 0´412 809 0 0´477 246 0 0´541 631 0 0´605 976 0
60 0´012 803 8 0´072 735 0 0´127 434 0 0´181 491 0 0´235 295 0 0´288 961 0 0´342 542 0 0´396 063 0 0´449 542 0 0´502 988 0
70 0´010 736 3 0´061 991 8 0´108 750 0 0´154 968 0 0´200 972 0 0´246 862 0 0´292 679 0 0´338 447 0 0´384 178 0 0´429 882 0
80 0´009 223 9 0´053 996 9 0´094 825 7 0´135 188 0 0´175 366 0 0´215 446 0 0´255 464 0 0´295 440 0 0´335 385 0 0´375 306 0
90 0´008 072 0 0´047 817 5 0´084 049 6 0´119 872 0 0´155 533 0 0´191 109 0 0´226 630 0 0´262 115 0 0´297 572 0 0´333 009 0
100 0´007 166 9 0´042 899 5 0´075 464 0 0´107 663 0 0´139 720 0 0´171 701 0 0´203 634 0 0´235 534 0 0´267 410 0 0´299 268 0
200 0´003 303 8 0´021 081 7 0´037 254 0 0´053 254 9 0´069 190 9 0´085 092 9 0´100 974 0 0´116 840 0 0´132 696 0 0´148 544 0

363
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 364 ZHU AND YIN
T
0 1 2 3 4 5
0

N=5 Tc = 0
10
N = 20 Tc = 0
20 N = 80 Tc = 0
N=5 Tc = 0·5
30
N = 20 Tc = 0·5
N = 80 Tc = 0·5
40
N=5 Tc = 1
U: %

50 N = 20 Tc = 1
N = 80 Tc = 1
60 N=5 Tc = 2
N = 20 Tc = 2
70 N = 80 Tc = 2
N=5 Tc = 4
80
N = 20 Tc = 4
N = 80 Tc = 4
90

100

Fig. 3. Normalised time against degree of consolidation for L 0

T
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
0

10
N=5 Tc = 0
N = 20 Tc = 0
20
N = 80 Tc = 0

30 N=5 Tc = 0·5
N = 20 Tc = 0·5
40 N = 80 Tc = 0·5
N=5 Tc = 1
U: %

50 N = 20 Tc = 1
N = 80 Tc = 1
60 N=5 Tc = 2
N = 20 Tc = 2
70
N = 80 Tc = 2
N=5 Tc = 4
80
N = 20 Tc = 4
N = 80 Tc = 4
90

100

Fig. 4. Normalised time against degree of consolidation for L 1 3 10ÿ4

ship of U to T for a wide range of values of T c (N ˆ 10 and
L ˆ 1 3 10ÿ4 ) is calculated and presented in Fig. 6. For the
purposes of obtaining an approximate solution, this ®gure could
be used for all consolidation calculations.
APPLICATION EXAMPLE
As an application example, considered here is the sample
problem in Olson (1977), where cv ˆ 4:645 3 10ÿ3 m2 =day,
cr ˆ 9:29 3 10ÿ3 m2 =day, H ˆ re ˆ 1:524 m, rw ˆ 0:1524 m,
subject to a single ramp loading with a construction time of 30
days. Using equation (4), N ˆ 10, L ˆ 0:005 and ì1 ˆ 0:1103
from Table 1, the construction time factor Tc is calculated to be
0´234 using equation (10). The time factor T for real consolida-
tion time t ˆ 15 days and 100 days is calculated using equation
(9) to be T ˆ 0:147 and T ˆ 0:98. For more accurate values,
using Figs 5 and 6 and interpolation, the average degree of
consolidation, U , is 9´1% and 65´9% respectively. The values
calculated by Olson (1977) are 8´8% and 65´5%. It is seen that
the values from the authors' solution based on the free vertical
strain assumption are very close to the values from Olson
(1977) based on the equal vertical strain assumption. This
similarity is consistent with the result that the difference be-
tween average degrees of consolidation obtained from Barron's
(1948) two extreme considerations is also small for suddenly
applied loading, particularly for the cases of N greater than
approximately 10 (Richart, 1959).
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
An analytical solution is obtained for the consolidation analy-
sis of soil with vertical drains under ramp load. The solution is

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 SOIL CONSOLIDATION WITH VERTICAL DRAINS UNDER RAMP LOAD 365
T
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
0

10
N=5 Tc = 0
N = 20 Tc = 0
20
N = 80 Tc = 0

30 N=5 Tc = 0·5
N = 20 Tc = 0·5
40 N = 80 Tc = 0·5
N=5 Tc = 1
U: %

50 N = 20 Tc = 1
N = 80 Tc = 1
60 N=5 Tc = 2
N = 20 Tc = 2
70
N = 80 Tc = 2
N=5 Tc = 4
80
N = 20 Tc = 4
N = 80 Tc = 4
90

100

Fig. 5. Normalised time against degree of consolidation for L 1 3 10ÿ2

T
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
0

10

20
Tc
0
30 0·1
0·3
40 0·6
1
U: %

50 1·25
1·5
60 2
2·5
70 3
3·5
80 4

90

100

Fig. 6. Degree of consolidation for N 10 and L 1 3 10ÿ4

described in detail. A normalised time factor, T , is suggested. APPENDIX 1. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON
Results are presented in ®gures and tables for practical applica- GEÂOTECHNIQUE WEB SITE
tions. It is found in the note that the average degree of A mn in equation (5) is given by
8 " !#
consolidation, U , in terms of the time factor T, can be consid- > B mn ( ì21 ‡ ë21 L) ì2m ‡ ë2n L
>
> 1 ÿ exp ÿ 2 T T < Tc
ered to be approximately independent of the parameters N and >
>
>
> ë ( ì2 ‡ ë2n L)Tc ì1 ‡ ë21 L
L, showing good normalisation behaviour. > n m
>
>
> " !#
< B ( ì2 ‡ ë2 L) ì2m ‡ ë2n L
mn 1 1
A mn (T ) ˆ 1 ÿ exp ÿ T c
> 2 2
ì21 ‡ ë21 L
> ë n ( ì m ‡ ë n L)Tc
>
>
>
> " #
>
>
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS >
> ì2 ‡ ë2n L
>
: 3exp ÿ m2 (T ÿ T c ) T > Tc
Financial support from the RGC grant (PolyU No. 63/96E, ì1 ‡ ë21 L
a/c No. Q117) of the University Grant Council of the Hong
(11)
Kong SAR Government and from the Hong Kong Polytechnic
University is acknowledged. The quantities T and Tc are de®ned as follows:

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 366
Table 2. C1 ± C10 for different values of N
N C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10
5 2´327 3 10ÿ1 8´765 3 10ÿ3 2´875 3 10ÿ3 1´425 3 10ÿ3 8´514 3 10ÿ4 5´662 3 10ÿ4 4´038 3 10ÿ4 3´025 3 10ÿ4 2´351 3 10ÿ4 1´880 3 10ÿ4
6 2´349 3 10ÿ1 7´763 3 10ÿ3 2´504 3 10ÿ3 1´233 3 10ÿ3 7´344 3 10ÿ4 4´875 3 10ÿ4 3´473 3 10ÿ4 2´600 3 10ÿ4 2´020 3 10ÿ4 1´614 3 10ÿ4
7 2´365 3 10ÿ1 7´008 3 10ÿ3 2´227 3 10ÿ3 1´090 3 10ÿ3 6´469 3 10ÿ4 4´286 3 10ÿ4 3´050 3 10ÿ4 2´281 3 10ÿ4 1´771 3 10ÿ4 1´415 3 10ÿ4
8 2´377 3 10ÿ1 6´418 3 10ÿ3 2´012 3 10ÿ3 9´790 3 10ÿ4 5´792 3 10ÿ4 3´830 3 10ÿ4 2´721 3 10ÿ4 2´034 3 10ÿ4 1´578 3 10ÿ4 1´260 3 10ÿ4
9 2´388 3 10ÿ1 5´942 3 10ÿ3 1´840 3 10ÿ3 8´904 3 10ÿ4 5´251 3 10ÿ4 3´465 3 10ÿ4 2´459 3 10ÿ4 1´837 3 10ÿ4 1´424 3 10ÿ4 1´137 3 10ÿ4
10 2´396 3 10ÿ1 5´551 3 10ÿ3 1´700 3 10ÿ3 8´180 3 10ÿ4 4´810 3 10ÿ4 3´168 3 10ÿ4 2´246 3 10ÿ4 1´676 3 10ÿ4 1´298 3 10ÿ4 1´036 3 10ÿ4
11 2´403 3 10ÿ1 5´223 3 10ÿ3 1´583 3 10ÿ3 7´579 3 10ÿ4 4´443 3 10ÿ4 2´921 3 10ÿ4 2´068 3 10ÿ4 1´542 3 10ÿ4 1´194 3 10ÿ4 9´520 3 10ÿ5
12 2´409 3 10ÿ1 4´943 3 10ÿ3 1´484 3 10ÿ3 7´071 3 10ÿ4 4´134 3 10ÿ4 2´713 3 10ÿ4 1´918 3 10ÿ4 1´428 3 10ÿ4 1´105 3 10ÿ4 8´810 3 10ÿ5
13 2´414 3 10ÿ1 4´701 3 10ÿ3 1´399 3 10ÿ3 6´636 3 10ÿ4 3´869 3 10ÿ4 2´534 3 10ÿ4 1´790 3 10ÿ4 1´332 3 10ÿ4 1´030 3 10ÿ4 8´204 3 10ÿ5
14 2´418 3 10ÿ1 4´489 3 10ÿ3 1´325 3 10ÿ3 6´259 3 10ÿ4 3´639 3 10ÿ4 2´380 3 10ÿ4 1´679 3 10ÿ4 1´248 3 10ÿ4 9´644 3 10ÿ5 7´678 3 10ÿ5
15 2´422 3 10ÿ1 4´303 3 10ÿ3 1´260 3 10ÿ3 5´929 3 10ÿ4 3´439 3 10ÿ4 2´245 3 10ÿ4 1´582 3 10ÿ4 1´175 3 10ÿ4 9´072 3 10ÿ5 7´220 3 10ÿ5
16 2´425 3 10ÿ1 4´137 3 10ÿ3 1´203 3 10ÿ3 5´638 3 10ÿ4 3´263 3 10ÿ4 2´126 3 10ÿ4 1´496 3 10ÿ4 1´110 3 10ÿ4 8´569 3 10ÿ5 6´815 3 10ÿ5
17 2´428 3 10ÿ1 3´988 3 10ÿ3 1´152 3 10ÿ3 5´380 3 10ÿ4 3´106 3 10ÿ4 2´021 3 10ÿ4 1´420 3 10ÿ4 1´053 3 10ÿ4 8´122 3 10ÿ5 6´457 3 10ÿ5
18 2´431 3 10ÿ1 3´854 3 10ÿ3 1´106 3 10ÿ3 5´148 3 10ÿ4 2´965 3 10ÿ4 1´927 3 10ÿ4 1´353 3 10ÿ4 1´002 3 10ÿ4 7´723 3 10ÿ5 6´136 3 10ÿ5
19 2´434 3 10ÿ1 3´733 3 10ÿ3 1´065 3 10ÿ3 4´940 3 10ÿ4 2´839 3 10ÿ4 1´842 3 10ÿ4 1´292 3 10ÿ4 9´561 3 10ÿ5 7´364 3 10ÿ5 5´848 3 10ÿ5

ZHU AND YIN

20 2´436 3 10ÿ1 3´622 3 10ÿ3 1´027 3 10ÿ3 4´751 3 10ÿ4 2´725 3 10ÿ4 1´765 3 10ÿ4 1´237 3 10ÿ4 9´146 3 10ÿ5 7´040 3 10ÿ5 5´588 3 10ÿ5
21 2´438 3 10ÿ1 3´520 3 10ÿ3 9´931 3 10ÿ4 4´579 3 10ÿ4 2´621 3 10ÿ4 1´696 3 10ÿ4 1´187 3 10ÿ4 8´769 3 10ÿ5 6´746 3 10ÿ5 5´351 3 10ÿ5
22 2´440 3 10ÿ1 3´427 3 10ÿ3 9´618 3 10ÿ4 4´422 3 10ÿ4 2´527 3 10ÿ4 1´632 3 10ÿ4 1´141 3 10ÿ4 8´425 3 10ÿ5 6´477 3 10ÿ5 5´136 3 10ÿ5
23 2´442 3 10ÿ1 3´340 3 10ÿ3 9´330 3 10ÿ4 4´278 3 10ÿ4 2´440 3 10ÿ4 1´574 3 10ÿ4 1´099 3 10ÿ4 8´110 3 10ÿ5 6´231 3 10ÿ5 4´938 3 10ÿ5
24 2´443 3 10ÿ1 3´260 3 10ÿ3 9´064 3 10ÿ4 4´145 3 10ÿ4 2´360 3 10ÿ4 1´521 3 10ÿ4 1´061 3 10ÿ4 7´821 3 10ÿ5 6´005 3 10ÿ5 4´757 3 10ÿ5
25 2´445 3 10ÿ1 3´186 3 10ÿ3 8´818 3 10ÿ4 4´022 3 10ÿ4 2´286 3 10ÿ4 1´471 3 10ÿ4 1´025 3 10ÿ4 7´554 3 10ÿ5 5´797 3 10ÿ5 4´590 3 10ÿ5
26 2´446 3 10ÿ1 3´116 3 10ÿ3 8´589 3 10ÿ4 3´908 3 10ÿ4 2´218 3 10ÿ4 1´425 3 10ÿ4 9´925 3 10ÿ5 7´307 3 10ÿ5 5´604 3 10ÿ5 4´435 3 10ÿ5
28 2´449 3 10ÿ1 2´990 3 10ÿ3 8´177 3 10ÿ4 3´704 3 10ÿ4 2´095 3 10ÿ4 1´343 3 10ÿ4 9´337 3 10ÿ5 6´864 3 10ÿ5 5´259 3 10ÿ5 4´157 3 10ÿ5
30 2´451 3 10ÿ1 2´879 3 10ÿ3 7´815 3 10ÿ4 3´525 3 10ÿ4 1´988 3 10ÿ4 1´272 3 10ÿ4 8´825 3 10ÿ5 6´479 3 10ÿ5 4´958 3 10ÿ5 3´916 3 10ÿ5
32 2´453 3 10ÿ1 2´779 3 10ÿ3 7´495 3 10ÿ4 3´367 3 10ÿ4 1´893 3 10ÿ4 1´209 3 10ÿ4 8´376 3 10ÿ5 6´141 3 10ÿ5 4´694 3 10ÿ5 3´705 3 10ÿ5
34 2´455 3 10ÿ1 2´690 3 10ÿ3 7´209 3 10ÿ4 3´226 3 10ÿ4 1´810 3 10ÿ4 1´153 3 10ÿ4 7´977 3 10ÿ5 5´842 3 10ÿ5 4´461 3 10ÿ5 3´518 3 10ÿ5
36 2´456 3 10ÿ1 2´610 3 10ÿ3 6´952 3 10ÿ4 3´100 3 10ÿ4 1´735 3 10ÿ4 1´103 3 10ÿ4 7´622 3 10ÿ5 5´575 3 10ÿ5 4´253 3 10ÿ5 3´351 3 10ÿ5
38 2´458 3 10ÿ1 2´536 3 10ÿ3 6´720 3 10ÿ4 2´987 3 10ÿ4 1´667 3 10ÿ4 1´059 3 10ÿ4 7´302 3 10ÿ5 5´335 3 10ÿ5 4´066 3 10ÿ5 3´201 3 10ÿ5
40 2´459 3 10ÿ1 2´469 3 10ÿ3 6´509 3 10ÿ4 2´884 3 10ÿ4 1´606 3 10ÿ4 1´018 3 10ÿ4 7´014 3 10ÿ5 5´119 3 10ÿ5 3´898 3 10ÿ5 3´066 3 10ÿ5
50 2´464 3 10ÿ1 2´204 3 10ÿ3 5´685 3 10ÿ4 2´486 3 10ÿ4 1´371 3 10ÿ4 8´628 3 10ÿ5 5´907 3 10ÿ5 4´290 3 10ÿ5 3´253 3 10ÿ5 2´550 3 10ÿ5
60 2´467 3 10ÿ1 2´015 3 10ÿ3 5´112 3 10ÿ4 2´211 3 10ÿ4 1´211 3 10ÿ4 7´570 3 10ÿ5 5´158 3 10ÿ5 3´730 3 10ÿ5 2´819 3 10ÿ5 2´203 3 10ÿ5
70 2´470 3 10ÿ1 1´873 3 10ÿ3 4´685 3 10ÿ4 2´009 3 10ÿ4 1´093 3 10ÿ4 6´801 3 10ÿ5 4´614 3 10ÿ5 3´326 3 10ÿ5 2´506 3 10ÿ5 1´953 3 10ÿ5
80 2´472 3 10ÿ1 1´760 3 10ÿ3 4´354 3 10ÿ4 1´854 3 10ÿ4 1´003 3 10ÿ4 6´213 3 10ÿ5 4´200 3 10ÿ5 3´018 3 10ÿ5 2´268 3 10ÿ5 1´764 3 10ÿ5
90 2´474 3 10ÿ1 1´669 3 10ÿ3 4´087 3 10ÿ4 1´729 3 10ÿ4 9´312 3 10ÿ5 5´748 3 10ÿ5 3´874 3 10ÿ5 2´776 3 10ÿ5 2´081 3 10ÿ5 1´615 3 10ÿ5
100 2´475 3 10ÿ1 1´593 3 10ÿ3 3´868 3 10ÿ4 1´628 3 10ÿ4 8´728 3 10ÿ5 5´369 3 10ÿ5 3´609 3 10ÿ5 2´580 3 10ÿ5 1´930 3 10ÿ5 1´495 3 10ÿ5
200 2´482 3 10ÿ1 1´195 3 10ÿ3 2´762 3 10ÿ4 1´125 3 10ÿ4 5´887 3 10ÿ5 3´550 3 10ÿ5 2´346 3 10ÿ5 1´653 3 10ÿ5 1´221 3 10ÿ5 9´347 3 10ÿ6

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 SOIL CONSOLIDATION WITH VERTICAL DRAINS UNDER RAMP LOAD 367
! 2
ì21 ë2 [ðrw R9m (rw )]
Tˆ cr ‡ cv 12 t (12) Cm ˆ (17)
2
rw H (N 2 ÿ 1)ì2m f4 ÿ [ðrw R9m (rw )]2 g
!
ì 2
ë2 The values of the ®rst ten terms of C m (C1 ±C10 ) are listed in Table 2.
Tc ˆ cr 21 ‡ cv 12 tc (13)
rw H
where T is a newly de®ned time factor (dimensionless), and Tc is the
time factor corresponding to construction time tc . Both T and Tc are
dependent on N through eigenvalue ì1 . If the time is normalized using
equation (12), the ®rst term, A11 , will depend on the time factor only. It REFERENCES
will be shown that the average degree of consolidation has very good Barron, R. A. (1948). Consolidation of ®ne-grained soils by drain wells.
normalised behaviour. Trans. ASCE 113, No. 2346, 718±742.
The constants B mn and ë n in equation (11) are Carrillo, N. (1942). Simple two- and tree-dimensional cases in the
8 theory of consolidation of soils. J. Math. Phys. 21, 1±5.
>
> 4ó 0 rw R9m (rw )ð2 Hansbo, S. (1981). Consolidation of ®ne-grained soils by prefabricated
< B mn ˆ
4 ÿ [ðrw R9m (rw )]2 drains. Proc 10th Int. Conf. Soil Mech. Found. Eng., Stockholm 3,
(14)
> 667±682.
: ë n ˆ nð ÿ ð
>
2 Horne, M. R. (1964). The consolidation of s strati®ed soil with vertical
and horizontal drainage. Int. J. Mech. Sci. 6, 187±197.
where rw R9m (rw ) can be found from rw R9m (rw ) ˆ ì m [J 1 (N ì m )Y1 ( ì m ) Moshier, S. L. B. (1989). Methods and programs for mathematical
ÿY1 (N ì m )J 1 ( ì m )]. With the constants ë n and B mn known, equation (5) functions. Chichester: Ellis Horwood.
can be used to calculate the excess pore water pressure distribution Olson, R. E. (1977). Consolidation under time-dependent loading.
varying with time. J. Geotech. Engng Div., ASCE 103, No. GT1, 55±60.
The average degree of consolidation, U (T), is de®ned as Richart, F. E. Jr (1959). Review of the theories for sand drains. Trans.
… re …H ASCE 124, 709±739.
r dr mv (ó ÿ u) dz Terzaghi, K. (1943). Theoretical soil mechanics. New York: Wiley.
S(t) r 0
U (T ) ˆ ˆ …wre …H (15) Xie, K. H., Lee, P. K. K. and Cheung, Y. K. (1994). Consolidation of a
Sf two-layer system with ideal drains. Proc 8th Int. Conf. Comput.
r dr mv ó tˆ1 dz
rw 0 Meth. Adv. Geomech., Morgantown 1, 789±794.
Yoshikuni, H. and Nakanodo, H. (1974). Consolidation of soils by
where Sf and S(t) are the average ®nal settlement and settlement at t.
vertical drain wells with ®nite permeability. Soils Found. 14, No. 2,
Using the above de®nition, the average degree of consolidation, U(T ),
35±46.
can be obtained from equation (5) as
  X Zeng, G. X. and Xie, K. H. (1989). New development of the vertical
T 4A mn (T N )rw R9m (rw ) drain theories. Proc. 12th Int. Conf. Soil Mech. Found. Eng.,
U (T ) ˆ min 1, ÿ (16) Rotterdam 2, 1435±1438.
Tc m, n
(N 2 ÿ 1)ì2m (2n ÿ 1)ðó 0
Zhu, G. F. and Yin, J. H. (1999). Consolidation of double soil layers
Equation (16) is re-expressed in equation (8) for ease of calculation. The under depth-dependent ramp load. GeÂotechnique 49, No. 3, 415±
C m in equation (8) is given by 421.

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