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One-Dimensional Consolidation Properties of Soils Using Incremental Loading
One-Dimensional Consolidation Properties of Soils Using Incremental Loading
for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
8.1 Apparatus Deformation—The measured axial deforma- NOTE 12—A high humidity environment is often used for this purpose.
tions shall be corrected for apparatus compressibility whenever 9.3 Trim the specimen and insert it into the consolidation
the equipment deformation exceeds 0.1 % of the initial speci- ring. The specimen must fit tightly in the ring without any
men height or when using paper filter screens. If the correction perimeter gaps. When specimens come from intact soil col-
is warranted at any point during the test, then a correction lected using sample tubes, the inside diameter of the tube shall
should be applied using the calibration data to all measure- be at least 5 mm [0.25 in.] greater than the inside diameter of
ments throughout the test. the consolidation ring, except as noted in 9.4 and 9.5. It is
8.1.1 Assemble the consolidometer with a copper, recommended that either a trimming turntable or cylindrical
aluminum, or hard steel disk of approximately the same height cutting ring be used to cut the soil to the proper diameter. When
as the test specimen and at least 1 mm [0.04 in.] smaller in using a trimming turntable, make a complete perimeter cut,
diameter than the ring, but no more than 5 mm smaller in reducing the specimen diameter to the inside diameter of the
diameter than the ring, in place of the specimen. Moisten the consolidation ring. Carefully insert the specimen into the
porous disks. If paper filter screens are to be used (see 6.3), consolidation ring, by the width of the cut, with a minimum of
they should be moistened and sufficient time (a minimum of 2 force. Repeat until the specimen protrudes from the bottom of
min.) allowed for the moisture to be squeezed from them the ring. When using a cylindrical cutting ring, trim the soil to
during each increment of the calibration process. a gentle taper in front of the cutting edge. After the taper is
8.1.2 Load and unload the consolidometer as in the test and formed, advance the cutter a small distance to form the final
measure the deformation for each load applied. When using diameter. Repeat the process until the specimen protrudes from
paper filter screens, it is imperative that calibration be per-
the ring.
formed following the exact loading and unloading schedule to
be used in the test. This is due to the inelastic deformation 9.4 Fibrous soils, such as peat, and those soils that are easily
characteristics of filter paper. Recalibration should be done on damaged by trimming, may be transferred directly from the
an annual basis, or after replacement and reassembly of sampling tube to the ring, provided that the ring has the same
apparatus components. or slightly smaller inside diameter as the sample tube.
Hf 2 Hs where:
final void ratio:e f 5 (8)
Hs σa = axial total stress in kPa (nearest 1),
where: P = applied force in N (nearest 1),
Ma = mass of apparatus resting on specimen, kg (nearest
eo = initial void ratio, (nearest 0.01),
0.01)
ef = final void ratio (nearest 0.01),
A = specimen area, cm2, (nearest 0.01), and
Ho = initial specimen height, cm, and
g = acceleration due to gravity, 9.81 m/s2.
Hf = final specimen height, cm.
12.2.7 Calculate the initial and final degree of saturation, in 12.5 Time-Deformation Properties—From those load incre-
percent, as follows: ments where time-deformation readings are obtained, two
alternative procedures (see 12.5.1 or 12.5.2) are provided to
M To 2 M d present the data, determine the end-of-primary consolidation
initial degree of saturation:S o 5 3 100 (9)
Aρ w ~ H o 2 H s ! and compute the rate of consolidation. Alternative techniques
M Tf 2 M d may be used when agreed to by the requesting agency and still
final degree of saturation:S f 5 3 100 (10) be in conformance with these test methods. The deformation
Aρ w ~ H f 2 H s !
readings may be presented as measured deformation, specimen
where: height, or axial strain (see 12.6). The following text and figures
So = initial degree of saturation, % (nearest 0.1), and are presented in terms of axial strain. The bold letters in
Sf = final degree of saturation, % (nearest 0.1). parentheses within the following text are linked to the associ-
12.3 Deformation Calculations: ated figures.
12.3.1 For each deformation reading, calculate the change 12.5.1 Alternative Interpretation Procedure 1—Referring to
in specimen height, in cm, as follows: Fig. 1, plot the axial strain, ε, versus the log time (typically in
minutes) for each applicable load increment.
∆H 5 d 2 d o 2 d a (11)
12.5.1.1 Draw a straight line through the points representing
where: the late time readings which exhibit a straight line trend and
∆H = change in specimen height, cm, (nearest 0.00025), constant slope (C). Draw a second straight line tangent to the
d = deformation reading at various times in test, cm steepest part of the axial strain-log time curve (D). The
(nearest 0.00025), intersection of these two lines represents the axial strain (E),
do = initial deformation reading, cm (nearest 0.00025), and ε100, and time (F), t100, corresponding to 100 % primary
da = apparatus deformation correction, cm (nearest consolidation. Compression in excess of the above estimated
0.00025). 100 % primary consolidation is defined as secondary compres-
NOTE 20—Refer to 8.1 for apparatus compressibility correction require- sion.
ments.
12.5.1.2 Find the axial strain representing 0 % primary
12.3.2 Represent each deformation measurement in at least consolidation (K) by selecting any two points that have a time
one of the following forms. ratio of 1 to 4 (points G and H in this example). The axial
12.3.2.1 The change in specimen height as computed in strain increment at the larger of the two times should be greater
12.3.1. than 1⁄4, but less than 1⁄2 of the total axial strain increment for
12.3.2.2 Calculate the specimen height, in cm, as follows: the load increment. The axial strain corresponding to 0 %
H 5 H o 2 ∆H (12) primary consolidation is equal to the axial strain at the smaller
time, less the difference in axial strain (I = J) between the two
12.3.2.3 Calculate the void ratio as follows: selected points.
H 2 Hs 12.5.1.3 The axial strain (L), ε50, corresponding to 50 %
e5 (13)
Hs primary consolidation is equal to the average of the axial
strains corresponding to the 0 and 100 %. The time (M), t50, time data curve gives the axial strain, ε90, (D), and time, t90,
required for 50 % consolidation may be found graphically from (E), corresponding to 90 % primary consolidation.
the axial strain-log time curve by observing the time that 12.5.2.3 The axial strain at 100 % consolidation (F) is 1⁄9
corresponds to 50 % of the primary consolidation on the curve. more than the difference in axial strain between 0 and 90 %
12.5.2 Alternative Interpretation Procedure 2—Referring to consolidation. The time of primary consolidation (G), t100, may
Fig. 2, plot the axial strain, ε, versus the square root of time be taken at the intersection of the axial strain-square root of
(typically in minutes) for each applicable load increment. time curve and this axial strain ordinate. The axial strain (H),
12.5.2.1 Draw a straight line through the points representing ε50, corresponding to 50 % consolidation is equal to the axial
the early time readings that exhibit a straight line trend (A). strain at 5⁄9 of the difference between 0 and 90 % consolidation.
Extrapolate the line back to t = 0 and obtain the axial strain The time for 50 % consolidation (I), t50, corresponds to the
ordinate representing 0 % primary consolidation (B). intersection of axial strain-square root time curve and the 50 %
12.5.2.2 Draw a second straight line through the 0 % strain ordinate.
ordinate so that the abscissa of this line (C) is 1.15 times the 12.5.3 Compute the coefficient of consolidation for each
abscissa of the first straight line through the data. The inter- applicable load increment using the following equation and
section of this second line with the axial strain-square root of values appropriate to the chosen method of interpretation:
13
5 80 0.3867 18.6633 2.03 1.186 0.5355 18.5145 2.81 1.169 144 1.17E-01 30 1.17E-01
6 160 0.8560 18.1940 4.49 1.131 1.5439 17.5061 8.10 1.050 516 2.93E-02 102 2.93E-02
7 320 2.3496 16.7004 12.33 0.956 2.8317 16.2183 14.86 0.900 282 4.59E-02 53 4.59E-02
8 640 3.4392 15.6108 18.05 0.828 3.8223 15.2277 20.06 0.784 156 7.32E-02 31 7.32E-02
1DWLRQDO7DLZDQ8QLYRI6FLHQFHDQG7HFKQRORJ\SXUVXDQWWR/LFHQVH$JUHHPHQW1RIXUWKHUUHSURGXFWLRQVDXWKRUL]HG
9 1280 4.3440 14.7060 22.80 0.722
10 320 4.2553 14.7947 22.34 0.733
11 80 3.9300 15.1200 20.63 0.771
12 20 3.5131 15.5369 18.44 0.820
13 5 3.0981 15.9519 16.26 0.868
D2435/D2435M − 11 (2020)
D2435/D2435M − 11 (2020)
REFERENCES
(1) Casagrande, A., “The Determination of the Pre-Consolidation Load (6) Winterkorn, H. F. and Fang, H. Y. eds. Foundation Engineering
and its Practical Significance,” Proceedings 1st ICSMFE, III, 1936, p. Handbook, Chapter 4, Von Nostrand Reinhold Co, New York, NY,
60. 1975 .
(2) Taylor, D. W., Fundamentals of Soil Mechanics, John Wiley and Sons, (7) Holtz, R. D. and Kovacs, W. D. An Introduction to Geotechnical
New York, NY, 1948. Engineering, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1981.
(3) Burmeister, D. M. “The Application of Controlled Test Methods in (8) Yong, R. N. and Townsend, F. C. Eds.“ Consolidation of Soils: Testing
Consolidation Testing,” ASTM STP 126, p. 83, ASTM 1951 . and Evaluation,” ASTM STP 892, ASTM, 1986.
(4) Schmertmann, J. H. “The Undisturbed Consolidation Behavior of (9) Bishop A.W. and Gibson, R.E., “The Influence of the Provisions for
Clay” Trans. ASCE, 120, pp. 1201 through 1233, 1955. Boundary Drainage on Strength and Consolidation Characteristics of
(5) Leonards, G. A. “Engineering Properties of Soils,” Chapter 2 in
Soils Measured in the Triaxial Apparatus,” Laboratory Shear Testing
Foundation Engineering by Leonards, G. A., ed. McGraw-Hill, New
of Soils, ASTM STP No 361, pp. 273 -328, ASTM 1963.
York, NY, 1962.
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