Lecture-4

CE-313 (2 Credit Hours)

Geotechnical Engineering-II

Time Rate of Consolidation

Instructor:

Dr Irshad Ahmad

Department of Civil Engineering

University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar
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 Contents
 Theme of this lecture
 Importance of time rate of settlement
 Degree of Consolidation (Uz), and Average Uz
 Therazahi’s theory of 1D consolidation
 Derivation of differential equation relating u, z, t
 Solution of differential equation
 Determination of cv
 Log time method (Casagrande Method)
 Root-time method (Taylor method)
 Examples

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 Time settlement curves

Time (years)

∆Hc (final consolidation settlement)

Rate of consolidation

∆H

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 Use of the time rate of Consolidation
 In geotechnical design not only the magnitude of settlements, but also the
rate of settlements is of serious importance to the engineers, especially
when a certain degree of consolidation has to be completed before the
construction process can continue.
 Why is it important to know how fast a structure will settle under the
applied load? For example, if the design life of a structure is 50 years, and
it is estimated that it will take 500 years for all the settlement to occur, then
foundation engineer would only expect minor settlement problems during
the life of the structure. On the other hand, if the settlement is expected to
take about the time required to build the structure, then most if not all of the
settlement will have occurred by the time the structure is completed.

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Degree of Consolidation (Uz)
Degree of consolidation Uz shows the progress of consolidation in clay layer at a
particular depth and at particular time.

Uz =f( z, t)

t=0 Uz = 0
∆
t = tf Uz =100%

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Uz in terms of void ratio “e”
eo = void ratio before the start of consolidation

e1 = void ratio at the end of consolidation

e = void ratio at the time in question

@t=0 e =eo Uz = 0

@ t = tf e = e1 Uz =100%

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 Uz in terms of Effective stress “ꞌ”

eo

e
@t=0 ꞌ =ꞌo Uz = 0

e1
@ t = tf ꞌ = ꞌ1 Uz =100%

ꞌ
ꞌo ꞌ ꞌ1

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Uz in terms of Pore water Pressure “ue”
e

eo

e1
ue

ui

ꞌo ꞌ ꞌ1
ꞌ @t=0 ue =ui Uz = 0

@ t = tf ue = 0 Uz =100%

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 Isochrones

𝒖𝒆
𝑼 𝒛 =𝟏 −
𝒖𝒊

Sand 0
t>0 ui
0 Uz=1
ue
Uz

Clay @ t=tf @ t=0 @ t=0 @t=tf

u = ui Uz =0 Uz = 1
u =0

Sand
t>0
z
z

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 Variation of Uz
Sand
Uz 100%
0

d/2 0.5

Z=z/
d Clay 1

d
1.5

2
0% 100%
Uz
Sand
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 Variation of Uz

Z=z/d

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 Average Degree of Consolidation (U)

Yet to be consolidated “Area A=a+b

b”

U = a/A

a =A-b
2d

U = [(A-b)/A]
0
Uz = 1
U = 1- b/A
Consolidated “Area a”

U(%) = 100[1-b/A]

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Average Degree of Consolidation (U)

Hc (t) = U(t)  Hc(f)

Hc (t) = consolidation settlement at time t

Hc(f)= final (primary) consolidation settlement

U(t) = Average degree of Consolidation

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Terzaghi’s Theory of 1D consolidation

ue =f( z, t)

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Terzaghi’s Theory of 1D consolidation

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 Terzaghi’s Theory of 1D consolidation
Consider an element having dimensions dx , dy & dz within a clay layer of thickness 2d, as shown in below figure. An
increment of total vertical stress ∆ is applied to the element.

The flow velocity through the element

is given by Darcy’s law as

vz = k  iz = -k (h/ z)
-ve sign shows decrease in total head
in the direction of vz

Since any change in total head (h) is

due only to a change in pore pressure:

ue =  w h  h = ue/  w

vz = (k/w) (ue/ z)

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 Terzaghi’s Theory of 1D consolidation
The volume of water entering the element per unit time is = v z dx dy = qin

The volume of water leaving the element per unit time is = [v z + (vz/ z)dz]dx dy = q out
If, however, the volume of the element is undergoing change, the equation of continuity becomes
(vz/ z) dx dy dz = dV/dz
Here dV/dt is the volume change per unit time.
qout – qin = dV/dt
[vz +(vz/z)dz] dx dy = qout
[vz +(vz/z)dz] dx dy - (vz)dy dx = dV/dt

dx
(vz/z)dz dx dy = dV/dt

dz We know
vz = (k/w) (ue/ z)

A= dy dx

(vz) dy dx = qin
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 Terzaghi’s Theory of 1D consolidation
The rate of volume change can be expressed in term m v ;

mv = V/(Vo )

V = mv Vo  = mv (dx dy dz) 

V /t = mv (dx dy dz)  /t

dV/dt = mv (dx dy dz) (/t) When t 0,

The total stress increment is gradually transferred to the soil skeleton, increasing effective stress, as
the excess pore water pressure decreases. Hence the rate of volume change can be expressed as;

(/t) = - (ue/t)

dV/dt = -mv (ue/t) dx dy dz

As we know from previous slide

cv is being defined as the coefficient of

consolidation, suitable unit being m2/year. Since k
and mv are assumed as constants, cv is constant
during consolidation.

cv = k/(w mv) 18
Or
 Solution of 1D Consolidation Equation
 The differential of the Terzaghi consolidation theory is a parabolic
equation and can be solved using several different methods.
 Incidentally, this differential equation is identical in form to the
equation governing the diffusion process, flow of electricity and
dissipation of heat.

 ue=f(z,t)
 ue is differentiated twice w.r.t. z and once w.r.t. t. therefore for a
solution of the differential equation, two conditions wrt to z
(boundary), and one condition wrt t (initial).
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 Solution of 1D Consolidation Equation
 The initial Condition is

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 Solution of 1D Consolidation Equation
 The two boundary conditions are:

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Solution of Consolidation Equation for constant ui
throughout the depth

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ISOCHRONES

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Isochrones

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 U and T relationship
Solution

Approximate solution

The Relationship between U and Tv is represented by curve 1 as

shown in the next slide
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U and T relationship

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Example-01

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Example-01 sol.

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 Example-01 sol. cont...
• Note 2d =12 m and d =6 m since there is double drainage. Next from Fig. we
obtain Uz values (by interpolation) for T=0.35 ;
• Point-1: At z=3m, z/d =3/6= 0.50, Uz = 61%
• Point-2: At z=6m, z/d =6/6= 1.00, Uz = 46%

(0.61,0.50)

(0.46,0.50)

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 Example-01 sol. cont...
• Note 2d =12 m and d =6 m since there is double drainage. Next from Fig. 9.3
we obtain (by interpolation) for T=0.35 ;
• Point-3: At z=9m, z/d = 1.50, Uz = 61%
• Point-4: At z=12m, z/d = 2.00, Uz = 100%

(0.61,0.50)

(0.100,0.50)

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 Example 02

Degree of consolidation Uz can be expressed in term of initial of

pore water pressure as,

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 Example 02 cont.…
𝒖𝒆
𝑼 𝒛 =𝟏 −
𝒖𝒊
To determine ue ,
Rearragning the above equation, we get,
u = ui (1 - Uz) (a)

for ue at z= 3m

=> ui = 100 kPa, Uz = 61%

Then, putting values in eq (a), ue = 100 (1 – 0.61) = 39 kPa

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 Assignment on Isochrones (both for section A, and B)
 For a 12 m saturated clay layer sandwiched between sand layers, cv is
0.45 m2/yr, the initial excess porewater pressure ui in the clay layer is
uniform and equal to 100 kPa. After ten years of loading,
 (a) Draw an isochrone of excess porewater pressure ue using equation
on slide 19
 (b) Draw the graph of degree of consolidation Uz, using equation 7.3
on slide 6
 (c) Find the average degree of consolidation U, using first equation
on slide 21
 (d) compare your answer using simplified equations on slide 21.

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 Determination of cv

 Log time method (due to Casagrande)

 Root time method (due to Taylor)

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Determination of cv

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Determination of cv

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Determination of cv

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Determination of cv

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Example

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Example

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Use of the time rate of Consolidation

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 Use of the time rate of Consolidation

 It is preferred to find permeability directly

from permeability tests
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Representation of the Result (Taylor 1948)

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Representation of results (Joseph E. Bowles)

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Exercise 7.1 (R.F Craig)

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Solution of Exercise 7.1 (R.F Craig)

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Solution of Exercise 7.1 (R.F Craig)

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Solution of Exercise 7.1 (R.F Craig)

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Exercise 7.3 R.F Craig

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Assignment (in groups)

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Representation of the Result (Taylor 1948)

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Example (Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering by
Robert D. Holtz)

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Part-I

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Part-I

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Part-I

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Part-I

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Part-I

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 Part-II

 Assume different values of U(col-1) and find

corresponding Tv using equation or curve -1

 find s(t) = U x sc

 find Tv = cv t/d2

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Part-II

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 Part-III
 for U=50%, Tv = 0.2
 using below figure find Uz corresponding to Tv=0.2
 Construct the table below
 The effective stress is found by multiplying Uz (col-3) by
 = 98.1 kPa (the wt. of the added fill)

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Part-III

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Part-III

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