04. Determination of the Costiicient of Consolidation 2, 305 Jayer ts 82% (Example 9.7). Another interesting point about Fig. 9.3 is that the area to the left of the curve T = 0.6 represents 82% of the area of the entire graph, 2 versus U,, whereas the area to the right of the curve 06 represents 18% or the amount of consolidation yet to take place. (See also Fig. 9.4.) 9.4 DETERMINATION OF THE COEFFICIENT OF CONSOLIDATION c, How do we obtain the coefficient of consolidation ¢,? This coeffi- cient is the only part of the solution to the consolidation equation that takes into account the soil properties which govern the rate of consolida- tion. In Chapter 8 we described the procedure for performing consolida- tion or oedometer tests to obtain the compressibility of the soil. We mentioned that each load increment usually remains on the test specimen an arbitrary length of time, until (we hope) essentially all of the excess pore pressure has dissipated. Deformation dial readings are obtained during this process, and the coefficient of consolidation ¢, is determined from the time-deformation data. The curves of actual deformation dial readings versus real time for a given load increment often have very similar shapes to the theoretical U-T curves shown in Fig. 9.5. We shall take advantage of this observation to determine the c, by so-called “curve-fitting methods” developed by Casagrande and Taylor. These empirical procedures were developed to fit approximately the observed laboratory test data to the Terzaghi theory of consolidation. Many factors such as sample disturbance, load increment ratio (LIR), duration, temperature, and a host of test details have been found to strongly affect the value of c, obtained by the curve-fitting procedures (Leonards and Ramiah, 1959: Leonards, 1962). But research by Leonards and Girault (1961) has shown that the Terzaghi theory is applicable to the laboratory test if large LIR’s (Eq. 8-20), usually around unity, are used. The curve-fiting procedures outlined in this section will enable you to determine values of the coefficient of consolidation c, from laboratory test data. In addition, the procedures will allow you to separate the secondary compression from the primary consolidation. Probably the easiest way to illustrate the curve-fitting methods is to work with time-deformation data from an actual consolidation test. We will use the data for the load increment from 10 to 20 kPa for the test shown in Fig. 8.5. This data is shown in Table 9-2 and plotted in Figs. 9.6a, b, and c. Note how similar the shapes of these curves are to the theoretical ‘curves of Figs. 9.5a, b, and c.206 “Time Rate of Consolidation TABLE #4 _l1me-Deformation Data for Load Increment 10 to 20 kPa (Fig. 8.5) Fapeed Time ve Dial Reading, Displacement (in) (Vania ) (am) (am) aim 01 0316 6.528 0.099 025 os 6.480 0.47 os 0.207 6-21 0.206 1 10 6337 0290 2 vat e218 408 ‘ 20 6.040 0.387 8 aa sa? ois 8 387 5.489 L138 30 5.48 5.108 L319 @ 175 ans 1852 129 1095 4534 2.093 0 155 4356 2a 480 219 4209 2418 baz m2 aoa 2.586 (@) Casagrande’s Logarithm of Tima Fitting Method In this method, the deformation dial readings are plotted versus the logarithm of time, as shown in Fig, 9.6b and to larger scale in Fig. 9.7. The idea is to find Ryp and thus ‘,9, which is the time for 50% consolidation, by approximating Ryog, the dial reading corresponding to the time for 100% primary consolidation, tyq) of ¢,. Refer to Fig, 9.5b, the theoretical U-1 ‘curve, for a moment. Note that the intersection of the tangent and the asymptote to the theoretical curve defines Uy = 100%. The time for 100% consolidation. of course, occurs at 1 20. Casagrande (1938) suggested that Riog could be approximated rather arbitrarily by the intersection of the two corresponding tangents to the laboratory consolidation curve (Fig. 9.1) Later research (for example, Leonards and Girault, 1961) has shown this provedure defines to a good approximation the dial reading at which the excess pore water pressure approaches zero. especially when the LIR is large and the preconsolidation stress is exceeded by the applied load increment. Once Rigg is defined, then it is fairly easy to determine Rap and 449, once We find R,, the initial dial reading. How do we determine R,, the dial reading corresponding to zero percent consolidation, on a semilog plot? Since T is proportional to U;., up ‘o U = 60% (Eq. 9-10), the first part of the consolidation curve must be a parabola. To find R,, choose any two times, f, and f, in the ratio of 4 to 1, and note their corresponding dial readings. Then mark off a distance above R, equal to the difference R, — Ry; this defines the corrected zeroume (min) 200490 600_800_ 10001200 _1400 ToT t Displacement (mn) Log time (min) on 10 10 100 1000 0 pee ost 10 1eF Displacement (mm) ask (0) viloin' ° 10 2 30 40 ° Le Ee Displacement (men) te) Fig. 9.6 Detormation-time curves for data trom Table 9-2: (a) arithmetic, ‘scale: (b) log time scale; (c) square root of time scat 3072-6 equ WoW) BBP ‘pounow epuEsBesED ein hq °%; Jo UENBUWIEIEG 16 814 (oy aug, 4 i (wu) Buypea119.4 Determination of me Costicient of Consolidation , 300 point R,. In equation form, Ry = Ri — (R2- Ry) (9-13a) Several trials arc usually advisable to obtain a good average value of Ro, or Ry = R,- (Ry - Ra) (9-13b) and Ry = Rs — (Ra ~ Rs) (9-13e) In Fig. 9.7, three different trials are shown for determining R, from Ry, Ry, Ry, and Ry. The distances x, y, and z are marked off above the ordinates corresponding to times ¢,, fy, and ¢4, respectively. You should satisfy yourself that both the graphical procedure and using Eqs. 9-13 (a,b,c) indicate about the same value for R, (6.62 mm in this case) Once the initial and 100% primary consolidation points have been determined, find (55 by subdividing the vertical distance between Ry and Rigo [or Ry = 1(Ry ~ Rigo)}- Then fag is simply the time corresponding to the dial reading Rag. In Fig. 9.7, f4y = 13.6 min. To evaluate c,, we use Eq. 9-5 with Tzy = 0.197 (Table 9-1). We also need the average height of the specimen during the load increment. At the beginning of this increment, H, was 21.87 mm. From the data of Table 9-2, ‘Hy = H, — AH = 21.87 ~ 2.59 = 19.28 mm Thus the average height of specimen during the increment is 20.58 mm (2.06 cm). Remember that in the standard vedometer test the specimen is doubly drained, so use Hy, = 2.06/2 in Eq. 9-5. Thus we have 3.1536 x 107 3)( 7 ae) Recall that the Casagrande fitting procedure found Rzo and thus t55 by approximating Rigo. This procedure did not find tyq9 since the time for any other degree of consolidation must be obtained from the classical consolidation theory in which tye = 00. But the procedure does define at called t, (for “primary”) which is a practical time required to obtain aExperimenta Log time Fig. 9.8 Terzaghi consolidation theory and a typical experimental curve used to define f, goad neable value of the experimental curve from the theoretical curve is shown in Fig. 9.8. Differences in the curves are the result of secondary compression and other effects such as the rate of effective stress increase (Leonards, 1977) not considered by the Terzaghi theory. (b) Taylor's Square Root of Time Fitting Method Taylor (1948) also developed a procedure for evaluating c,, using the square root of time. As with Casagrande’s fitting method, the procedure is based on the similarity between the shapes of the theoretical and experi- mental curves when plotted versus the square root of T and 1. Refer to Fig. 9.5 and compare it with Fig, 9.6c. Note that in Fig. 9.5¢ the theoretical curve is a straight line to at least U ~ 60% or greater. Taylor observed that the abscissa of the curve at 90% consolidation was about 1.15 times the abscissa of the extension of the straight line (Fig. 9c). He thus could determine the point of 90% consolidation on the laboratory time curve. We will use the same data as before (Table 9-2) to illustrate the Vr fitting method. These data are plotted in Fig. 9.9. Usually a straight line can be drawn through the data points in the initial part of the compression curve. The line is projected backward to zero time to define R,. The common point at R,, may be slightly lower than the inital dial reading (at zero time) observed in the laboratory due ta immediate camprecsion of the specimen and apparatus. Draw a second line from R, with all abscissas 1.15 times as large as corresponding values on the first line. The intersec- tion of this second line and the laboratory curve defines Ry and is the Point of 90% consolidation. Its time 1s, of COUrSe, foo9.4 Determination of the Coefficient of Consolidation ¢, aon 90% U Sa go * (7.259? = $2.6 min 0 5 10 18 20 25 /Tirme (min*) Fig. 99 Determination of c,, using Taylor's square root of time method: data trom Table 9-2 The coefficient of consolidation is, as before, determined by using Eq. 9-5. From Table 9-1, Typ = 0.848. The average height of specimen is also used, as before. Therefore 0.848 (2.06/2)? cm? 52.6 min (60 s /min) = 2.85 x 10 ‘cm?/s or 0.90 m?/yr This value is reasonably close to the value obtained using the Casagrande method. Because both fitting methods are approximations of theory, you should not expect them to agree exactly. Often c, as de- termined by the Vi method is slightly greater than c, by the log s fitting method.02 ‘Time Rate of Consolidation You should also note that c, is not a constant for a test on a given soii, but it depends greatiy on ihe iuad wand whether the preconsolidation stress has been exceeded or not (Leonards and Girault, 1961). For load increments less than the preconsolidation stress, consolida- tion occurs quite rapidly. and c, values can be rather high. However, determinations of 1, for these increments is often difficult because the time-settlement curves do not have the “classical” shapes of Figs. 9.7 and 9.9. For undisturbed clays c, is usually a minimum for increments near the prevonsolidation pressure (Taylor, 1948). For design, this minimum value is often used. However, for some situations it may be more appropriate to use the c, for the anticipated load increment in the field. A strong advantage of the Vi fitting method is that tap can be determined without going too far beyond 1,. If dial readings are plotted as you go during the test, then it is possible to add the next increment of load 8 SOON aS fgg is reached. Not only is the time for testing significantly reduced compared to when the conventional 24 h increments are used, but also the contribution of secondary compression to the e versus log a’ curve can be effectively minimized (see Leonards, 1976). By now you should have noticed that the data do not exactly coincide with the initial starting point in either of Figs. 9.7 or 9.9; that is, R, does not equal exactly the initial reading of Table 9-2. The reason for the difference between the initial laboratory dial reading and R,, the “corrected dial reading” corresponding w 0% consolidation, is due 10 several factors. These may include: 1. Vertical elastic compression of the soil specimen, porous stones, and apparatus. 2. Lateral expansion of the soil specimen if it is not trimmed exactly to the diameter of the ring. 3. Deformation associated with lateral expansion of the oedometer ring, You will have the opportunity to use the two curve-fitting methods to determine ¢, in the problems at the end of this chapter. 9.5 DETERMINATION OF THE COEFFICIENT OF PERMEABILITY You may recall from Fig. 7.6 that the coefficient of permeability, k, of the soil may also be obtained indirectly from the consolidation test. If you take Eq. 9-3 and solve for k, you obtain