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International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering

ISSN: 1938-6362 (Print) 1939-7879 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/yjge20

Multiple approaches of determining coefficient of


consolidation under radial drainage on δ-log <i>t</
i> plot

K. Prakash, A. Sridharan, B. Aakash & K. Balaji

To cite this article: K. Prakash, A. Sridharan, B. Aakash & K. Balaji (2011) Multiple approaches
of determining coefficient of consolidation under radial drainage on δ-log <i>t</i>
plot, International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 5:4, 425-435, DOI: 10.3328/
IJGE.2011.05.04.425-435

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.3328/IJGE.2011.05.04.425-435

Published online: 04 Sep 2013.

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425

K. Prakash,1* A. Sridharan,2 B. S. Aakash,3 and K. S. Balaji 4

Multiple approaches of determining


coefficient of consolidation under radial
drainage on δ-log t plot

Abstract:  The ever increasing demand for good sites for the engineering constructional activities necessitate many land
reclamation projects involving water front areas, marginal lands and the like. These projects aim at consolidating compress-
ible clayey soils through vertical drains. Coefficient of consolidation under radial drainage is an important input parameter
in the design of any effective sand drain installation. In the present study, the solution of the governing differential equation
for consolidation with radial drainage for equal vertical strain condition is represented on a semi-logarithmic plot and its
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characteristic features are analyzed. Some of the characteristic features observed on the theoretical curves are simulated on
experimental δ-log t curves. The results of such an analysis has paved way for the development of three curve fitting procedures
to determine the coefficient of consolidation under radial drainage in the initial, middle and the later stages of consolidation
process. The theoretical formulations have been validated through the data from laboratory consolidation tests with radial
drainage. A comparative study of the values of coefficient of consolidation under radial drainage obtained from the proposed
methods and also from the methods available in the literature has also been made.

Keywords: Coefficient of consolidation; Clays; Laboratory tests; Radial flow; Soil consolidation; Time factor.

1.  Introduction the coefficient of consolidation under vertical drainage, cv.


Surprisingly, very limited studies have been reported in the
Preloading is a process of strengthening the weak ground literature on consolidation under radial drainage, in spite of
by external means, and its efficiency can be increased by its immense practical significance.
introducing vertical sand drains. The design of any preload- Sand drains can be designed for two conditions- free
ing system with vertical sand drains requires the knowledge strain condition and equal vertical strain condition. While
of coefficient of consolidation under radial drainage, cr. The McKinley (1961) developed Ur vs Tr0.465 method for evaluat-
geotechnical engineering literature documents quite a good ing cr for peripheral drains with free strain condition, Berry
number (about 20 or even more) of methods of evaluating and Wilkinson (1969) proposed Ur vs √Tr method for deter-
mination of cr for central drain with free strain condition,
where Ur is the degree of consolidation under radial drainage
*Corresponding Author
and Tr is the corresponding time factor. In reality, it is very
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Sri Jayachamarajendra College
1
difficult to realize the free strain condition in the field. In
of Engineering, Mysore – 570 006, India, e-mail: kprakash60@yahoo.
addition, the solution of the governing differential equation
com, Tel: +91-821-2487132, Fax: +91-821-2548290
for consolidation under radial drainage namely,
Former Professor in Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science,
2

Bangalore – 560 012, India., e-mail: asridhran@yahoo.com, д2u 1 дu дu


Tel: +91-80-23341046 Cr + = (1)
дr2 r дr дr
Undergraduate Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Sri
3

Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, Mysore – 570 006, India, where, u(r,t) is the excess pore water pressure in the soil at
e-mail: bsaakash@yahoo.co.in, Tel: +91-81470 81499 any radial distance r, for the free strain condition is compli-
Undergraduate Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Sri
4
cated.
Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, Mysore – 570 006, India. The solution of eq. (1) for equal vertical strain condition
e-mail: kasi.balaji@gmail.com, Tel: +91-90089 05482
(Barron, 1948) is given by,

International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering (2011) 5: (425-435) J. Ross Publishing, Inc. © 2011
DOI 10.3328/IJGE.2011.05.04.425-435
426  International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering

Table 1. Properties of the soil studied


Liquid Plasticity Grain size distribution (%)
Soil
limit (%) index (%) Clay size Silt size Sand size
Red earth 38 22 20 28 52
Kaolinite 53 18 29 71 –
(BC Soil + Sand) Mixture 85 41 30 44 26
Cochin Marine Clay 93 57 33 48 19
BC Soil 103 62 40 59 01

–8Tr The present work aims at the analysis of consolidation of


Ur = 1-exp (2) soils under radial drainage on the semi logarithmic plot (i.e.
F(n)
Ur vs log Tr) in detail.
crt
Tr = (3)
de2
and, 2.  Experimental Program
n 2
(3n –1)
2
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F(n) = ln(n) – (4) The experimental data for the present study was obtained
(n – 1)
2
4n2 from a series of consolidation tests with radial drainage con-
where t is the real time corresponding to Ur, de is the diameter ducted in the laboratory. Fixed ring oedometers with ring
of influence (i e, twice the effective radial drainage path), n is dimensions of 60 mm diameter and 20 mm height were used.
the drain spacing ratio given by The inside surfaces of the rings were lubricated with silicon
grease to minimize ring friction.
de
n= (5) Five soils with varying plasticity characteristics were
dw used in the experimental work (Table 1). The soils mixed
where dw is the diameter of the drain. Combining eqs. (2) and thoroughly at water contents slightly less than their liquid
(3), one can write, limit water contents were allowed for moisture equilibration
Td2 for about a week. Then, they were remolded into the oedom-
cr = r e (6) eter rings. Radially inward central drainage was effected
t
where, through sand drains. Thin, stiff and lubricated plastic tubes
–ln(1 – Ur) of external diameter equal to the required diameter of the
Tr = F(n) (7) sand drain (i e, 12.5 mm, which corresponds to n = 4.8) were
8
used to make central circular holes in the remolded soil mass.
Sridharan et al. (1996) were the first to study the consoli- Clean and washed fine river sand (75μm ≤ D ≤ 425μm) was
dation of clay samples with radial drainage in-depth in the placed inside the drain in a loose condition to minimize the
laboratory, and they proposed three methods of determining smearing effects (Berry and Wilkinson 1969). Only radial
the value of cr by the laboratory radial consolidation test data drainage was ensured by avoiding the vertical drainage
for the equal vertical strain condition. They are through the insertion of waterproof rubber membranes of
• Square root of time fitting method (i.e. δ – √t outer diameters more than that of top and bottom porous
method) stones with central holes of diameter equal to that of sand
• Log10 (de2/t) vs Ur curve method drain at each end of the sample. Consolidation tests were
• One-point method carried out from a seating effective stress of 6.25 kPa up to
maximum of 800 kPa with a stress increment ratio of unity.
Sridharan et al. (1996) also studied the effects of initial
compression, secondary compression and duration of load
increment on cr. Subsequent to their studies, two more 3.  Ur vs log Tr curves
methods of determining cr have been proposed namely,
The solution of differential equation of Terzaghi’s one
Inflection point method (Robinson 1997) and Log-log
dimensional consolidation theory for soils with vertical
method (Robinson 2009).
drainage when represented in U vs log T mode gives rise to
a well defined reverse S – shaped curve. Similarly, for soils
undergoing consolidation with radial drainage, eq. (2), which
Multiple approaches of determining coefficient of consolidation under radial drainage on δ-log t plot   427

 
      

 
 
 


  
   

 


   






 





     


Figure 1.  Theoretical Ur V/s log Tr curves for different values of drain Figure 2.  Logarithm of time fitting method – Illustrated.
spacing ratio (n).
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is the solution of eq. (1) for equal vertical strain condition,


4.2  Recommended procedure (Fig. 2)
when represented in Ur vs log Tr mode, results in a family of • Plot the experimental δ – t data obtained from the
well defined reverse S – shaped curves, which are parallel to consolidation test with radial drainage in the form
each other, each curve corresponding to a particular drain of δ vs log t, which is a reverse S-shaped curve.
spacing ratio, n (Fig. 1). Depending upon some prominent • Approximating the initial portion of the curve to
characteristic feature exhibited by the theoretical curve, be a parabola, determine the value of initial com-
which can be identified on the experimental curve, a meth- pression, δi, using the process used in Casagrande
odology can be developed to determine the value of cr. In this method for the determination of coefficient of con-
paper, three such methodologies will be developed and dis- solidation under vertical drainage (i.e. cv)
cussed using the experimental radial consolidation test data. • Identify two straight line portions – one immedi-
ately after the initial parabolic portion and the other
after the reverse, upward concave curve, which rep-
4.  Logarithm of time fitting method resents the secondary compression region and draw
(δ−log t method) them.
• Record the compression corresponding to the point
4.1  General of intersection of the two straight lines drawn as δ100
(i.e. compression corresponding to Ur = 100%)
This method is analogous to the conventional Casagrande
method (i e, δ-log t method) developed from Terzaghi’s one • Using δ100 and δi, calculate δ50, which is the compres-
dimensional consolidation theory for soils undergoing con- sion corresponding to Ur = 50%
solidation with vertical drainage (Casagrande and Fadum • Note down the real time corresponding to δ50,
1940). namely t50, from the δ - log t graph
The initial portion of each of the theoretical Ur vs log • Calculate the value of cr corresponding to Ur = 50%
Tr curves in Fig.1 can be closely approximated to be para- using the equation
bolic, concave down curve, without much loss of accuracy (Tr)50de2
(cr)50 = (8)
(Appendix-I), which changes into a concave up curve in its t50
later portion through an inflection point. This characteristic
feature is used to obtain the value of cr corresponding to Ur = The value of (Tr)50, the time factor corresponding to Ur =
50% from the laboratory radial consolidation test data. 50%, can be taken from Fig. 3.
428  International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering


(a) 

 


 


 
 


 
  

 


  


  
  
  
 

 
 
 
 
 
     
    


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Figure 3  Variation of time factor for Ur = 50%. (b) 


5.  Inflection point method (Robinson
1997)


5.1  General


It has been mentioned already that the theoretical Ur vs log 




Tr curve has an inflection point. The degree of consolidation


under radial drainage (Ur) is the same for all values of n at 
the inflection point (Fig.4). This characteristic feature was
observed by Robinson (1997) who proposed the value of cr to 

be obtained corresponding to the inflection point. However,  
Robinson (1997) did not undertake a detailed study of this 
method with more experimental data. In this context, it is 
intended in the present work to study the inflection point
method in detail, as this also comes under the purview of Ur Figure 4.  Theoretical formulation of inflection point method. (a) ΔUr/Δ
vs log Tr mode of representation of radial consolidation data. log Tr) V/s log Tr curves. (b) (ΔUr/Δ log Tr) V/s Ur curve.
From Fig.4, it is clear that the unique value of Ur at
inflection point of Ur vs log Tr curves for all values of n is
63.21%. Corresponding values of time factor (Trn) can be 5.2  Recommended procedure
obtained from eq. (7) as • Plot the curve showing the variation of slope of δ vs
F(n) log t curve [i.e. (Δδ/Δlogt)] with log t (Fig. 5)
(Trn)63.21 = (9) • Note down the real time t corresponding to the
8
inflection point.
This method is cumbersome and time consuming, if • Calculate the value of cr corresponding to Ur =
extended to the laboratory radial consolidation test data 63.21% using the equation
manually. However, this is not a serious problem in the
present day scenario with the easy availability of data-logged (Tr)63.21de2
(cr)63.21 = (10)
system (i.e. direct interface between the consolidation appa- t
ratus and the computer) and the ability of the inflection point Presence of the inflection point on Ur vs log Tr curve at
methodology to get computerized easily. Ur = 63.21% irrespective of the value of n lends support for
Multiple approaches of determining coefficient of consolidation under radial drainage on δ-log t plot   429

 


      



  



  









 




   


 
   
 

Figure 5.  Inflection point method – Illustrated. Figure 7.  Modified logarithm of time fitting method – Illustrated .
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    6). The intersection of all these tangents with the Ur = 100%
     
axis takes place at different values of Trn depending upon the
   values of n. Coincidentally, it can be noted that the value of
 Ur corresponding to all these values of Trn remain the same

 and it is Ur = 93.4%. This forms the basis for the proposed

modified logarithm of time fitting method.


 
    
6.2  Recommended procedure (Fig. 7)
• Plot the experimental δ - t data from the consolida-

tion test with radial drainage in the form of δ vs log
 
t, which is a reverse S-shaped curve
 • Identify the two distinct linear regions following
    
the initial curved portion (approximated to be para-

bolic) and draw the same.
Figure 6.  Theoretical formulation of modified logarithm of time fitting • Note down t93.4, which corresponds to the point of
method.
intersection of the two straight lines drawn.
• Calculate the value of cr corresponding to Ur =93.4%
some more possible methods of laboratory determination of using the equation
cr, which will be developed and discussed as under. (Tr)93.4de2
(cr)93.4 = (11)
t

6.  Modified logarithm of time fitting The value of Tr for any value of n corresponding to Ur =
93.4% can be obtained from Fig. 8.
method (Modified δ-log t method) However, if one wants to calculate cr for different values
of Ur, the following steps may be adopted.
6.1  General
• Plot the experimental δ - t data from the consolida-
It has already been observed that representation of eq. (2) on
tion test with radial drainage in the form of δ vs log
a semi-logarithmic plot yields a family of Ur vs log Tr curves
t, which is a reverse S-shaped curve
which are parallel to each other. Since all these curves have
• Identify the two distinct linear regions following
inflection points corresponding to an unique value of Ur (i.e.
the initial curved portion (approximated to be para-
Ur = 63.21%), the tangents drawn to Ur vs log Tr curves at
bolic) and draw the same.
these inflection points will all be parallel to each other (Fig.
430  International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering

 

     

 
 

 




  


  


 
 
 
   


 
 
 
 
 
  

 
 
  

  
  
 
      

Figure 8.  Variation of time factor for Ur = 93.4% Figure 10.  Early stage of log t plot method – Illustrated.
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 7.  Early stage of log t plot method
 Fig. 6 illustrates that the tangents drawn to the family of Ur
  vs log Tr curves at their inflection points are parallel to each
 other. The intersection of these tangents with the Ur = 0 axis
 corresponds to different values of Trn depending upon the
 
value of n. Interestingly, the degrees of radial consolidation
corresponding to all these Trn values are the same (i e, Ur =


 16.42%) (Fig. 9). This characteristic feature of Ur vs log Tr


     curves paves way for calculating cr corresponding to Ur =
16.42%.


7.1  Recommended procedure (Fig. 10)


 • Plot the experimental δ-t data from the consolida-
    
tion test with radial drainage in the form of δ vs log

t, which is a reverse S-shaped curve.
Figure 9.  Theoretical formulation of early stage of log t plot method. • Calculate the value of initial compression, δi using
the procedure followed in logarithm of time fitting
method (i.e. Fig. 2).
• Obtain δ93.4% point on the curve corresponding to • Draw a horizontal line through the value of δi so
the intersection of the two straight lines drawn. obtained, which is hereafter called as corrected zero
• Determine the value of initial compression, δi, using compression line.
the procedure followed in logarithm of time fitting • Identify the longest straight portion on the δ – log
method (i.e., Fig. 2) t curve that follows the initial parabolic curve and
• Using δi and δ93.4%, calculate δ corresponding to the draw the same.
required degree of radial consolidation, Ur • Extend the line so identified to intersect the cor-
(δ93.4 – δi)Ur rected zero compression line. The real time cor-
i.e., δ = δi + (12)
93.4 responding to the intersection of these two straight
• Read off the real time t corresponding to δ so lines represents t16.42, corresponding to Ur = 16.42%.
obtained from the graph. • Calculate the value of cr corresponding to Ur =
• Calculate the value of cr corresponding to the 16.42% using the equation
required degree of radial consolidation using eq. (6). (Tr)16.42de2
(cr)16.42 = (13)
t
Multiple approaches of determining coefficient of consolidation under radial drainage on δ-log t plot   431

Table 2.  Values of Coefficient of Radial Consolidation from different methods


Coefficient of consolidation with radial drainage, cr (m2/s)
Pressure
δ-log t modified δ-log t method Early stage of Inflexion point One- point
Soil Range t method
(kPa) method Method (a) Method (b) δ-log t method method method

(cr )50 (cr )93.4 (cr )50 (cr )16.42 (cr )63.21 (cr )50 (cr )90
25-50 5.850 x 10 -8
4.220 x 10 -8
5.506 x 10 -8
7.575 x 10 -8
3.071 x 10 -8
6.324 x 10 -8
3.127 x 10-8
Red 50-100 8.210 x 10 -8
5.399 x 10 -8
8.069 x 10 -8
7.130 x 10 -8
5.875 x 10 -8
9.360 x 10 -8
3.888 x 10-8
Earth 100-200 8.357 x 10-8 3.991 x 10-8 7.313 x 10-8 13.618 x 10-8 5.875 x 10-8 13.765 x 10-8 5.078 x 10-8
200-400 12.000 x 10 -8
4.707 x 10 -8
10.883 x 10 -8
17.565 x 10 -8
5.875 x 10 -8
19.500 x 10 -8
4.964 x 10-8
25-50 4.926 x 10-8 5.399 x 10-8 4.588 x 10-8 4.573 x 10-8 2.252 x 10-8 4.142 x 10-8 4.300 x 10-8
50-100 3.019 x 10 -8
4.428 x 10 -8
3.019 x 10 -8
2.020 x 10 -8
2.599 x 10 -8
2.644 x 10 -8
3.100 x 10-8
BC Soil
100-200 1.950 x 10 -8
1.530 x 10 -8
1.910 x 10 -8
2.956 x 10 -8
1.668 x 10 -8
1.586 x 10 -8
1.639 x 10-8
200-400 2.925 x 10-8 1.669 x 10-8 2.600 x 10-8 4.848 x 10-8 1.422 x 10-8 2.629 x 10-8 2.612 x 10-8
25-50 3.467 x 10 -8
3.338 x 10 -8
3.343 x 10 -8
2.448 x 10 -8
1.710 x 10 -8
2.925 x 10 -8
1.942 x 10-8
(BC Soil 50-100 2.229 x 10-8 2.295 x 10-8 2.127 x 10-8 2.287 x 10-8 1.485 x 10-8 1.800 x 10-8 1.683 x 10-8
+ Sand)
100-200 1.586 x 10 -8
1.596 x 10 -8
1.463 x 10 -8
1.574 x 10 -8
1.338 x 10 -8
1.337 x 10 -8
1.112 x 10-8
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Mixture
200-400 1.076 x 10-8 1.474 x 10-8 0.996 x 10-8 1.554 x 10-8 1.453 x 10-8 1.040 x 10-8 0.997 x 10-8
25-50 2.463 x 10 -8
2.110 x 10 -8
2.530 x 10 -8
2.886 x 10 -8
1.958 x 10 -8
2.586 x 10 -8
1.956 x 10-8
Cochin 50-100 4.070 x 10 -8
3.671 x 10 -8
3.836 x 10 -8
4.490 x 10 -8
3.217 x 10 -8
2.890 x 10 -8
3.396 x 10-8
Marine
Clay 100-200 3.343 x 10-8 3.060 x 10-8 3.343 x 10-8 3.463 x 10-8 1.826 x 10-8 2.674 x 10-8 2.700 x 10-8
200-400 4.142 x 10 -8
3.278 x 10 -8
3.900 x 10 -8
5.050 x 10 -8
3.296 x 10 -8
3.343 x 10 -8
3.888 x 10-8
50-100 1.463 x 10-6 0.874 x 10-6 1.418 x 10-6 2.525 x 10-6 1.690 x 10-6 2.035 x 10-6 1.519 x 10-6
Kaolinite 100-200 2.463 x 10 -6
1.340 x 10 -6
2.463 x 10 -6
4.329 x 10 -6
3.003 x 10 -6
3.019 x 10 -6
1.984 x 10-6
200–400 4.255 x 10-6 2.740 x 10-6 4.255 x 10-6 5.050 x 10-6 3.378 x 10-6 4.179 x 10-6 2.940 x 10-6



The value of Tr for any value of n corresponding to Ur =
16.42% can be obtained from Fig. 11.



8.  Results and Discussion  

 
The experimental data obtained from the consolidation tests  


with radial drainage conducted on five soils have been used  


  
to calculate the values of coefficient of consolidation with  
radial drainage by different methods developed in this paper  
 
namely   
 
• Logarithm of time fitting method {i.e., (cr)50}  
• Modified logarithm of time fitting method  

a) (cr)93.4      

b) (cr)50 
• Early stage of log t plot method {i.e. (cr)16.42}
Figure 11.  Variation of time factor for Ur = 16.42%.
The values of cr have also been calculated from square
root of time fitting method (Sridharan et al. 1996), one-point
method (Sridharan et al. 1996) and inflection point method • On an average, the values of (cr)93.4 from modi-
(Robinson 1997). fied logarithm of time fitting method are less than
Table 2 presents the values of cr calculated from different the values of (cr)50 from logarithm of time fitting
methods listed above. From the study of these values, follow- method. This is possibly because of the fact that
ing observations can be made 93.4% consolidation point is affected by the second-
432  International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering

   
 






 










 

 
 
           

  
    
 
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Figure 12.  Comparison of values of cr obtained from logarithm of time Figure 13.  Comparison of δ50 values obtained from logarithm time fitting
fitting method and one-point method. method and one-point method.

ary compression, whose effect is to reduce the value greater than or less than those by logarithm of time fitting
of cr (Sridharan et al. 1996). method, depends upon the relative effects due to initial as
• On an average, the values of (cr)50 obtained from well as secondary compressions.
logarithm of time fitting method and from modi-
• The values of cr obtained from the early stage of log
fied logarithm of time fitting method are almost the
t plot method, on an average, are more than the val-
same.
ues of (cr)50 from logarithm of time fitting method.
• On an overage, the values of (cr)50 obtained from
This observation confirms the point noticed by
logarithm of time fitting method are more than the
Sridharan et.al. (1996) that the initial compression
values of (cr)63.21 from the inflection point method.
has a dominant effect of increasing the value of cr
Sridharan et.al. (1996) have shown that the effect of
when Ur ≤ 40%.
secondary compression can be taken to start from Ur
• The values of cr from logarithm of time fitting
= 60%. The observation that (cr)63.21 is less than (cr)50
method are, on an average, are at par with those
from logarithm of time fitting method justifies their
obtained from one-point method (Fig. 12). The
finding.
regression equation relating them has a correlation
• The values of (cr)90 obtained from square root of
coefficient of 0.992 and is given by
time fitting method can be observed to be less than
the values of (cr)50 obtained from logarithm of time (cr)50 (δ-log t method) = 0.917 (cr)50 (1-P method) (15)
fitting method. The statistical relationship between
While all the methods except one-point method require
these two sets of values, with a correlation coeffi-
some kind of curve fitting procedure to determine the value
cient of 0.99, is given by
of cr, one-point method does not require any such process.
(cr)90 = 0.745 (cr)50 (δ-log t method) (14) It is a very simple, user-friendly approach of determining the
value of cr. Its near equivalence with the logarithm of time
In fact, the values of cr obtained from square root of time
fitting method is surprisingly interesting.
fitting method are the least among the values of cr obtained
Let δi be the initial compression and δ100 be the compres-
from other methods, on an average. This relationship is
sion corresponding to 100% consolidation obtained from
contrary to the general observation that the square root of
logarithm of time fitting method. Then the compression
time fitting method normally yields higher values of cv than
corresponding to 50% consolidation (i.e. δ50) is calculated as
those by logarithm of time fitting method, in the case of con-
solidation with vertical drainage (Olson 1986; Sridharan et δ100 – δi
δ50 = δi + 50 (16)
al. 1987). However, this need not be a general rule. Sridharan 100
and Prakash (1995) have reasoned out that the values of cv
obtained by square root of time fitting method, whether
Multiple approaches of determining coefficient of consolidation under radial drainage on δ-log t plot   433


 (a) 
  


 













 
 


      
      
 
        ­ €
­



   

Figure 14.  Comparison of values of cr obtained from early stage of log 
(b)   
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t method and one-point method.




If δf is the total compression under any given load incre-


ment, then one-point method assumes that to be equivalent 

to 100% consolidation. Hence, in one-point method, δ50 is


calculated by ignoring δi as 
δ
δ50 = t (17)
2



Fig. 13 shows the comparison of δ50 values obtained from 
logarithm of time fitting method and one-point method   


as well. In spite of the differences in the procedural issues    
involved in calculating δ50 by the two different approaches,     

the comparison between the two sets of values can be seen 

 ­ €­ €


to be very good, and this is the reason for the obtained good
match between the values of cr obtained by logarithm of time
fitting method and one-point method. Figure 15.  Illustrations to show the parabolic nature of the initial portion
Table 3 lists the regression equations obtained from of Ur-log Tr curve. (a) for n = 2 (b) for n = 100
the correlation studies involving the results from one-point
method and all other indicated / discussed methods of deter- • Calculate the value of (cr)50 using the eq. (8).
mining cr. From this table, it can be noted that the values of
cr obtained from one-point method are more than those from The values of cr obtained from one-point method, which
all other methods except the early stage of log t plot method are supposed to correspond to Ur = 50% and free from the
(Fig. 14). effects of initial and secondary compressions (Sridharan et al.
In the light of the above discussion, it can be recom- 1996), are quite reasonable as the results of the comparative
mended that one-point method, the results of which are very study of the present work suggest.
reasonable, can be used to determine the value of cr. The pro- It is also an observed fact that the values of cv or cr in the
cedure to get cr from one-point method is as follows. field are more than those obtained from the laboratory test
• Considering the total compression under any load results. If this is the consideration to select the value of cr for
increment during the consolidation test with radial practical usage, then the value of cr can be calculated from eq.
drainage as the final compression or compression (21) which is the equivalent value of cr corresponding to early
corresponding to Ur = 100% (i.e., δf), calculate δ50 stage of log t method and the same may be adopted for the
[eq. (17)]. purpose of design of sand drain installation.
• Note down the value of t50 corresponding to δ50 so
obtained.
434  International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering

Table 3.  Results from statistical analysis .


Regression equation Correlation coefficient (r) Eq. No.
(cr)50 (δ-log t method) = 0.917 (cr)50 (1-P method) 0.992 (18)
(cr)93.4 (mod δ-log t method) = 0.562 (cr)50 (1-P method) 0.982 (19)
(cr)50 (mod δ-log t method) = 0.914 (cr)50 (1-P method) 0.991 (20)
(cr)16.42 (early stage method) = 1.279 (cr)50 (1-P method) 0.997 (21)
(cr)63.21 (Infl. point method) = 0.865 (cr)50 (1-P method) 0.995 (22)
(cr)90 (√t method) = 0.695 (cr)50 (1-P method) 0.999 (23)

 indicates that the early stage of log t plot yields higher values
of cr while square root of time fitting method gives the least
 values. There is a very good agreement between the values
of cr obtained from the logarithm of time fitting method

 
   and one-point method. In addition, the results form one-
point method correlates well with the early stage of log t
 


 
Downloaded by [Gazi University] at 21:02 10 April 2016


plot method also. In view of this, considering the time and
effort needed for executing any curve fitting procedure to

determine cr, one-point method is recommended to get a

reasonably good estimate of cr for a consolidating soil layer.


Appendix-I

        The Barron’s solution to differential equation governing the
 
radial consolidation for the condition of equal vertical strain
is given by eq. (2). It can be noticed that eq. (2) is exponen-
Figure 16.  Relationship between the initial compressions obtained from
log t method and √t method (for the case of radial consolidation) tial. This relationship can be approximated to be parabolic
up to about Ur = 60% without loss of much accuracy. Figs.
15a and 15b present the theoretical Ur - log Tr curves for n =
9.  Conclusions 2 (up to Ur = 60%) and n = 100 (up to Ur = 50%) along with
statistical best fit parabolic curves. These figures justify the
Representation of the data from consolidation tests with assumption made in the logarithm of time fitting method
vertical drainage on a semi-logarithmic plot is a widely used that the Ur - log Tr curves can be closely approximated to be
conventional approach (i.e., U v/s log T plot). Apart from parabolic in the initial stages.
the fact that one can determine the value of coefficient of
consolidation and coefficient of secondary compression, the
additional advantage of semi-logarithmic representation of Appendix-II
consolidation data is that the user will have a feel towards
what is happening during the consolidation process such The calculation of cr from logarithm of time fitting method
as primary and secondary consolidations. In view of this, depends upon the initial compression values (δi). The val-
a successful attempt has been made in the present work to ues δi can be determined from δ-log t method and from
represent and analyze the data from consolidation tests with δ- √t method as well. In the present analysis, the values of
radial drainage through Ur v/s log Tr curves. δi have been determined by both δ- log t method and from
Depending upon the characteristic features noticed δ- √t method. Fig. 16 presents the comparison between the
with Ur v/s log Tr curves for all values of n, three method- two sets of values obtained from the two different methods.
ologies have been developed and proposed to calculate the Considering the difference in assumptions and different con-
value of cr at three stages of primary consolidation namely structional features adopted in the two methods, the match
early, middle and ending stages. These methods have been between the values of δi obtained from the two methods can
validated through the results from quite a good number of be considered to be satisfactory.
radial consolidation test data. Analysis of the test results
Multiple approaches of determining coefficient of consolidation under radial drainage on δ-log t plot   435

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