Experiment 10

The consolidation Test

purpose:
This test is performed to determine the magnitude and rate of volume decrease that a laterally confined soil specimen undergoes when subjected to different vertical pressures. From the measured data, the consolidation curve (pressure-void ratio relationship) can be plotted. This data is useful in determining the compression index, the recompression index and the preconsolidation pressure (or maximum past pressure) of the soil. In addition, the data obtained can also be used to determine the coefficient of consolidation and the coefficient of secondary compression of the soil.

Equipments:
Consolidation device (including ring, porous stones, water reservoir, and load plate), Dial gauge (0.0001 inch = 1.0 on dial), as shown in fig.(1) Sample trimming device, glass plate Metal straight edge Clock Moisture can

fig.(1)
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Test procedures:
1- Prepare a soil specimen for the test. The specimen is prepared by trimming an undisturbed natural sample. 2- Collect some excess soil that has been trimmed in moisture can for intial moisture content determination. 3- Collect some of the excess soil trimmed in Step I for determination of the specific gravity of soil solids (Gs). 4- Determine the weight of consolidation ring (W1) & record the cutter dimension (d, h). 5- Place the soil specimen in the consolidation ring Use the wire saw to trim the specimen flush with the top and bottom of the consolidation ring.(see photo D&E) 6- Determine the weight of consolidation ring with specimen (W2). 7- Saturated the lower porous stone on the base of the consolidometer. 8- Place the soil specimen in the ring over the lower porous stone. 9- Place the upper porous stone on the specimen in the ring(see photo G). 10- Attach the top ring to the base of the consolidometer. 11- Add water to the consolidometer to submerge the soil and keep it saturated. In the case of the fixed ring consolidometer, the outside ring (which is attached to the top of the base) and the

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stand pipe connection attached to the base should be kept full with water. 12- Place the consolidometer in the loading device. 13- Attach the vertical deflection dial gauge to measure the compression of soil. It should be fixed in such a way that the dial is at the beginning of its release run. 14- Apply load to the specimen such that the magnitude of pressure, p, on the specimen is 0.5 kg/cm. Take the vertical deflection dial gauge readings at the following times, t, counted from the time of load application-0 min., 1 min., 2 min., 4 min., 8 min., 16 min., 32 min., 60 min., 120 min..1440 min. 15- The next day, add more load to the specimen such that the total magnitude of pressure on the specimen becomes 1 Kg/cm. Take the vertical dial gauge reading at similar time intervals as stated in Step (14). 16- Repeat Step (15) for soil pressure magnitudes of 2Kg/cm and 4 kg/cm. 17- At the end of the test, remove the soil specimen and determine its final moisture content.

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DATA ANALYSIS: 1-Calculate settlement (St) (St = reading x 0.002) 2- S= degrees of saturation = 1.00 fully saturation sample. 3- Determine specific gravity of the sample (Gs) = 2.68. 4- Determine final water content (Wf) = 57.6 %. 5- Get ef from the relationship... ef = 6- Determine e from the relationship

7- Draw the relation between (e,p) to determine:a) The coefficient of compressibility (Avc).

*Avc =
b) The coefficient of volume decrease (mvc).

*mvc =
8- Draw relationship between (S, log (t)) to determine coefficient of consolidation (Cv).

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Where:Tv = time factor = *d = .. For double drainage = 0.196

9- Draw relation between (e, log (p)) to determine compression index (Cc).

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RESULTS:
* Weight of ring = 60 gm. * Weight of ring + wet soil = 124.17 gm. * Weight of wet soil = 64.17 gm. *Ring diameter = 5 cm. *Area (x-section) = 19.63 cm. * Ring height (H) = 1.9 cm = 19 mm. **Gs = 2.68 **Wintial = 49.8 % **Wf = 57.6 % **ef = ** ** Hs = = = 1.54 e = 2.1 = 6.12 mm

** Hv = H - Hs = 19 6.12 = 12.88 mm

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Reading Table
stress time(min) 0 1 2 4 8 16 30 60 120 1440 unloading 0.25 kg/cm 0 0.5 kg/cm 174 1 kg/cm 267 2 kg/cm 615 640 665 690 710 732 743 759 769 786 1636 4 kg/cm 786

174 1250

267 1447

615 1498

1688 1688

Settlement Table
stress time(min) 0 1 2 4 8 16 30 60 12 1440 unloading 0.25 kg/cm 0 0.5 kg/cm 0.348 1 kg/cm 0.534 2 kg/cm 1.23 1.28 1.33 1.38 1.42 1.464 1.486 1.518 1.538 1.572 3.272 4 kg/cm 1.572

0.348 2.5

0.534 2.894

1.23 2.996

3.376 3.376

P 0.25 0.5 1 2 4

Sf 0.348 0.534 1.23 1.572 3.376

Hf Hv 18.652 12.532 18.466 11.998 17.77 10.768 17.428 9.196 15.624 5.82

e 2.047712 1.960458 1.759477 1.502614 0.95098

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2.5 2 1.5 e 1 0.5 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 P(kg/cm2) Series1

*From Chart:*e1 = 1.5 & e2 = 1

* P1 = 2 kg/cm & P2 = 3.8 kg/cm ** Avc = ** mvc = = 0.28 cm/kg = 0.112 cm/kg

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2.5 2 1.5 e 1 0.5 0 0.1 1 Log(P) 10 Series1

** Cc =

= 1.79
1.6 1.55 1.5 S (mm) 1.45 1.4 1.35 1.3 10000

1000

100 Log(t)

10

*t 50% = ** Cv =

= 3600 min. = 4.91* mm/min.

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