Soil Mechanics – KNS2123

The Department of Civil Engineering

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

Tutorial Consolidation 2
Solution

Lecturer: Alsidqi Hasan

Preconsolidation Pressure
Consolidation test is conducted to
Q1 determine the consolidation
properties of the soil.

The dial gauge reading after each load increment Table 1. Test Result
(24 hours) is given in the table. Initial sample
Dial gauge
thickness, H0 = 20 mm, Initial void ratio, e0 =
reading after 24
0.9. Determine the following properties : Vertical stress (kPa) hours (mm)
Construct the compressibility curve and 0 22.50
predict the past maximum stress/pressure 40 22.41
(preconsolidation stress/pressure) (kPa) 80 22.15
160 21.51
320 20.25
640 18.45
Solution

∆𝐻 = 𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝐷𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑔𝑎𝑢𝑔𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 − 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑔𝑎𝑢𝑔𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔

1 + 𝑒0
∆𝑒 = ∆𝐻
𝐻0
𝑒 = 𝑒0 − ∆𝑒
Dial gauge
reading after 24
Vertical stress (kPa) hours (mm) DH (mm) De e
0 22.50 0 0 0.9
40 22.41 0.09 0.00855 0.89145
80 22.15 0.35 0.03325 0.86675
160 21.51 0.99 0.09405 0.80595
320 20.25 2.25 0.21375 0.68625
640 18.45 4.05 0.38475 0.51525
 1

0.9 3

2
1
0.8
4

0.7
e

0.6

0.5
5
Past
0.4 6
maximum
s'max
pressure is
0.3
10 100 1000 about 180
s' (kPa) kPa
Rate of Consolidation
Q2 Table 2. A consolidation test data

An oedometer test is conducted for a Time (min) Dial gauge reading (mm)
soil sample. The sample is consolidated 0.01 194
under vertical stress of 50 kPa. The 0.02 193
0.05 190.5
oedometer test finished at 144 min and 0.1 186.5
data are given in Table 1. Average 0.2 181
thickness of the sample is 20 mm. 0.5 173
Predict the coefficient of 1 168
2 164.5
consolidation (cv, in mm2/min) using 5 161.5
Casagrande log t method and Taylor 10 160
square root of t method. Please use the 20 158.5
empty graphical papers. 50 156.9
100 155.7
144 155.1
Solution
1.Casagrande log t method

Follow the steps given in the

lecture notes and we obtain:
d100= 163 mm
d0 = 197 mm
d50 = (197+163)/2= 180 mm
t50 = 0.2 min
Tv,50 = 0.197

Cv = (Tv,50xH2)/ t50
=(0.197x102)/ 0.2
= 98.5 mm2/min
2. Taylor √t method

Follow the steps given in the lecture

notes and we obtain:
√t90 = 1 min
t90 = 1 min
Tv,90 = 0.848

Cv = (Tv,90xH2)/ t90 =(0.848x102)/ 1

= 84.8 mm2/min