CONSOLIDATION IN SOILS

Ms.Malathy.J
Asst.Professor/SMBS
VIT University, Vellore
 Introduction

 Compressive load on a soil mass results in the decrease in the volume of the soil mass.

 The properties pertaining to the decrease in the volume of the soil mass –
COMPRESSIBILITY

 In a saturated soil mass having its void filled with water, decrease in volume can takes
place when water expelled out of the voids due to compressive load.

 Such compression resulting from a long static load and the consequent escape of pore
water is termed as CONSOLIDATION

 Acc to Terzaghi, every process involves a decrease in the water content of a saturated soil
mass – Process of consolidation (decrease in vol of voids)

 Increase in water content – Process of Swelling

 Volume change causes rearrangement of the soil grains and some amount of

grain fracture.

 Vol of grains remains constant but the vol of water changes.

 In saturated soils, this can happen only if water is pushed out of the voids.

 The movement of water takes time is controlled by PERMEABILITY of soils

and the location of free boundary surfaces.

 Hence it is necessary to determine both magnitude of volume change and the

time required for the volume change to occur.

 The magnitude of settlement is dependent on the magnitude of applied stress,

the thickness of the soil layer and the compressibility of soil.

 CONSOLIDATION TEST - OEDOMETER

 Cohesionless soils experience compression relatively quick, often

instantaneously after the load is imposed. (volume change or settlement
characteristics are determined by in-situ density test).

 But clay soils require a significant period before full compression occurs

 Oedometer - Apparatus developed by Terzhagi – to determine the

compressibility characteristics of the soil (includes time – rate

compression)

 Improved by Casagrande - called Consolidometer

 Two types of tests : Fixed ring type and Floating ring type
Fixed ring type

• The top porous plate alone

is permitted to move
downwards to compress the
soil specimen.
• Direct measurement of
permeability of the specimen
at any stage of the test is
possible.
Floating ring type

• The top and bottom porous

plate is permitted to move
downwards and upwards to
compress the soil specimen.
• Direct measurement of
permeability of the specimen
at any stage of the test is not
at all possible.
 Concept behind the test

 Placing the undisturbed sample in the consolidometer ring

 Subjecting the sample to normal stress in predetermined stress

increments through a loading machine

 During each increment, observing the reduction in height of the sample

at different elapsed times after the application of the load.

 Thus the total compression and the time rate of compression for each

stress increment may be determined

 Procedure for the test ( IS:2720 Part XV - 1986)

 The specimen shall be 60mm in dia and 20mm thick

 Filter papers are placed above and below of the specimen and porous stones are placed
above and below these.

 the loading shall be positioned centrally on the top porous stones.

 Application of load: either by loading frame/ lever loading system

 Weights of known magnitude may be hung on the lever system.

 The holder with the dial gauge to record the progressive compression of the specimen
under load shall then be screwed in place.

 Adjustment : sufficient margin for swelling

 Water is allowed to flow through the sample for saturation.

 A normal load to give the desired pressure intensity shall be applied to the soil

 The dial gauge reading shall be recorded for various intervals of time (say 0.25, 1, 2.25, 4,
6.25, 9, 12,25, 16, 25, ….400, 500, 600, 1440 min).
• The consolidation is rapid at
first but the rate gradually
decreases.
•After a time, the dial reading
becomes practically steady
 Contd…

 The dial gauge readings are noted until 90% consolidation is reached

 After 24 hours, the load intensity on the soil specimen is doubled (Dial

and time readings are taken as earlier)

 The usual sequence of loading is 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, 320 & 640kN/m2

 After the loading process, the load should be decreased to ¼ value of

the last load and allowed to stand for 24 hours

 Throughout the test – water shall be kept in order to prevent

desiccation and for expansion.

 At last, after completing the test, the consolidated soil specimen is

weighed, dried and recorded.

Square root of time fitting method
Logarithm of time fitting method
Relationship b/w effective stress and
Coefficient of consolidation