ONE DIMENSIONAL CONSOLIDATION THEORY

Magnitude of Consolidation Deformation

Coefficient of Volume Compressibility method (e vs σ′ )

mv = volumetric strain / effective stress change

⎛ ΔV ⎞
mv = ⎜ Δσ ′ (1.1)
⎝ V ⎟⎠

where,
Vv1 Vv0
ΔV Vv1 - Vv0 Vs - Vs e1 - e0 Δe
= = = = (1.2)
V Vs + Vv0 Vs Vv0 1 + e0 1 + e0
Vs + Vs
ΔV Δe
= , hence, (1.3)
V 1+ e0

⎛ Δe ⎞
mv = ⎜ Δσ ′ (1.4)
⎝ 1+ e0 ⎟⎠

e = void ratio = volume occupied by voids (Vv)/volume occupied by solid particles (Vs)
e0 = initial void ratio = void ratio at beginning of effective stress change increment
e1 = final void ratio = void ratio at end of effective stress change increment
σ 0′ = initial effective stress = effective stress at beginning of applied stress increment
σ 1′ = final effective stress = effective stress at end of applied stress increment

Δσ ′ = σ1′ - σ ′0 (1.5)

Since the lateral strain is assumed zero in the 1D model the change in volume per unit volume is
equal to the change in thickness per unit thickness ΔV V = ΔH H , rewriting equation (1.1) we
obtain a magnitude for one-dimensional (vertical) deformation (settlement) as given by:

ΔHi = m vi Hi Δσ′i (1.6)

The index “i” is used to indicate that mv is not a uniform constant over the range of stresses
typically encountered in soils, but one that is referenced to a particular stress increment Δσ′i . It
is highly non-linear with respect to stress change (see Fig 7.3) and is determined in the
laboratory through a Consolidation Test.

In this test, an oedometer is used to load a soil sample through several sequential loading stages
σ′i , i = 1, n., where ΔHi is obtained at the end of each loading stage, in which Hi is the sample
height at the beginning of load stage i.

mv is somewhat difficult to apply in the computation of deformation (settlement) of soils in the

field, as the historical consolidation stress states of the soil matrix as in virgin compression and
recompression are not clearly identified as illustrated in Fig. 7.3 (Craig 1997, p 251). The
historical consolidation states greatly influence the compressibility of the soil matrix.

1D Consolidation 1/8 Derek Gay March 2011

C
Compress d ( e vs lo
sion Indeex method og10 σ′ )

Cc = comppression in
ndex for vvirgin com
mpression
Ccr = comppression index
i for rre-compreession

The computation off consoliddation defo

T ormation ini this parrameter sp pace is baased on thee premise
that a lineaar relation
nship exissts betweeen void rattio e and llog10 (σ’),, as illustrrated in Fiig. 7.3, rig
ght
(
(Craig 19997, p 251))

The virginn compresssion statee describess the origiinal or firsst time co

T onsolidatioon of the saturated
s
p
particulate
e soil matrrix, wheree the slopee of the reelationshipp/curve in
n the rangee is Cc.

The re-com
T mpressionn state desscribes thee compresssion stagee after a rebound
r coondition from
f a
m
maximum past conssolidation stress = σ′c , as a consequennce, σ′c deefines the ttransition
n point
b
between ree-compresssion and virgin compression n.

⎛ σ′ ⎞
Cc = ( e1 - e0 ) ( loog10σ1′ - loog10σ0′ ) = Δe log10 ⎜ 1 ⎟ (1
1.7)
⎝ σ 0′ ⎠

S ng for ∆e from equaation (1.3) and settiing σ1′ = σ 0′ + Δσ ′ we

Substitutin w obtainn,

1 Consoliidation
1D 2/8 Derek Gay
y March 20
011
Where σ 0′ = σ c′ the soil is normally consolidated and consolidation settlement is given by;
Cc ⎛ σ ′ + Δσ ′ ⎞
ΔH c =
(1+ e 0 )
H log10 ⎜ 0
⎝ σ 0′ ⎟⎠
, [ σ ′ + Δσ ′ > σ ′ ,
0 c σ 0′ ≥ σ ′c ] (1.8)

where σ 0′ < σ c′ the soil is over consolidated and consolidation settlement is given by;
Ccr ⎛ σ ′ + Δσ ′ ⎞
ΔH cr =
(1+ e0r )
H log10 ⎜ 0
⎝ σ ′0 ⎟⎠
, [ σ ′ + Δσ ′ ≤ σ ′ ]
0 c (1.9)

1D Consolidation 3/8 Derek Gay March 2011

or
Ccr ⎛ σ′ ⎞ Cc ⎛ σ ′ + Δσ ′ ⎞
ΔH =
(1+ e0r )
H log10 ⎜ c ⎟ +
⎝ σ 0′ ⎠ (1+ e0 )
H log10 ⎜ 0
⎝ σ c′ ⎟⎠
, [ σ′ + Δσ ′ >σ ′ ,
0 c σ ′0 <σ ′c ] (1.10)

These last three equations define the compression behaviour for the re-compression and virgin
compression stress states within a soil matrix and enable computation of vertical deformation.
The key to their use however, lies in the evaluation of σ′0 and σ′c , from field and laboratory
consolidation data respectively, to determine whether the soils fall in the normal or over
consolidated category.

1D Consolidation 4/8 Derek Gay March 2011

O Dimeensional Rate
One R of C
Consolidation Defo
ormation

Consider aan elemen

C nt area dx x dy and thickness dz, free tto drain in
nt of soil oof constan n the z
d
direction oonly as illu 6 (Craig 1997) and Fig. 5.9 (C.
ustrated inn Fig 7.16 ( R. Scoott 1980). Let the
e
element bee subjecteed to an inncrement ofo total strress ∆σ, innstantaneoously appplied and held
h
c
constant. Assuming g Darcy’ss Law to beb valid, th
hen the raate of flow
w of waterr into the element
e iss
g
given by;

∂h
v z dx dy = -k dx dy (2
2.1)
∂z

T
Then the nnet rate off flow from
m the elem
ment is

∂ ⎛ ∂h ⎞ ∂2h
⎜ -k dx dy⎟⎠ dzz = -k ddx dy dz 2 (2
2.2)
∂z ⎝ ∂z ∂z

Recall thaat the soil is

R i assumeed saturateed and all water is ccontained within thhe void vo
olume,
w
where, thee relationsship betweeen void volume
v Vv and totaal volume V0 at the beginning g of the lo
oad
increment is given by:b

Vv
Vv Vv Vs e Vv 1
= = = = (2
2.3)
V0 Vs + Vv0 Vs Vv0 1 + e0 Vs 1+ e0
+
Vs Vs
1 Consoliidation
1D Derek Gay
y March 20
012
 e ⎛ dx dy dz ⎞
Vv = V0 = ⎜ e (2.4)
1 + e0 ⎝ 1+ e0 ⎟⎠

⎛ dx dy dz ⎞
where, Vs = ⎜ a constant value on the assumption of grain incompressibility
⎝ 1+ e0 ⎟⎠
Since the soil is assumed saturated and soil grains incompressible (at the typical consolidation
stress level), the rate of reduction of the void volume must be equal to the rate of water out-flow
from the element, hence,

∂Vv ∂2h ⎛ dx dy dz ⎞ ∂e
= k dx dy dz 2 = ⎜ (2.5)
∂t ∂z ⎝ 1+ e 0 ⎟⎠ ∂t
∂2h 1 ∂e
k = (2.6)
∂z 2 1+ e0 ∂t

Recall that the total pressure head h is given by (elevation head + hydrostatic pressure head +
excess pore pressure head due to changes in total stress):

h = z + u h γ w + u γ w , where uh = hw γw (2.7)

∂2h ∂2u 1
= (2.8)
∂z 2 ∂z 2 γ w

Upon substituting (2.8) into (2.6) we obtain;

k ∂2 u 1 ∂e
= (2.9)
γ w ∂z 2 1+ e0 ∂t

Recall the definition for mv equation (1.4), recognizing that e decreases w.r.t. ∆σ/

1 de
mv = -
1+ e0 dσ ′
(2.10)
1 ∂e ∂t
= -
1+ e0 ∂σ ′ ∂t

Upon substituting (2.10) into (2.9) we obtain;

k ∂2u ∂σ ′
= − mv (2.11)
γ w ∂z 2 ∂t

Invoking the principle of effective stress, we obtain;

σ′ = σ - u h - u
∂σ ′ ∂ σ ∂u h ∂u (2.12)
= - -
∂t ∂t ∂ t ∂t
Then through substitution of (2.12) into (2.11) we obtain an expression that describes the rate of
consolidation, in terms of the dissipation of excess pore water pressure (u) over time (t) and
space (z).

∂2u ∂u ∂σ
cv = - (2.13)
∂z 2 ∂t ∂t

If we assume that the applied total stress is kept constant over time,

∂2u ∂u
cv 2 = (2.14)
∂z ∂t

1D Consolidation Derek Gay March 2012

Where cv the coefficient of consolidation is given by;
k
cv = (2.15)
γw mv

This partial differential equation (Equation (2.14)) is of parabolic type, where analytical
solutions can be obtained for different boundary conditions. In this context the boundary
conditions shall refer to the values of excess pore water pressure u (the value of the porewater
pressure at time t and depth z). Solutions exist for various pore water pressure ratios from the
top to the bottom of the layer (these shall be illustrated further in the lectures).

In the solution that follows we shall assume that a compressible saturated clay layer is bounded
at its upper and lower boundaries with “free draining” granular soils (the permeability of the
soils at these boundaries being very high, such that the boundary conditions at any time t after
the application of ∆σ are: u = 0, at z = 0, z = 2d for t > 0

The solution for u is given by:

1⎛ nπz ⎞ ⎛ ⎛ n 2 π 2cv t ⎞
n=∞ 2d
nπz ⎞
u (z, t) = ∑ ⎜∫ 0
n=1 d ⎝ 0
u sin
2d
dz ⎟⎜
⎝
sin
2d
⎟
⎠
exp ⎜-
4d 2 ⎠
⎟ (2.16)
⎠ ⎝

Where,
d = drainage path length
u0 = initial excess pore water pressure

For the particular case in which u0 is constant throughout the layer

n=∞
2u 0 ⎛ nπz ⎞ ⎛ n 2 π 2c v t ⎞
u (z, t) = ∑
n=1 nπ
(1- cos n π ) ⎜
⎝
sin
2d ⎠
⎟ exp ⎜-
4d 2 ⎠
⎟ (2.17)
⎝

when n is even (1 – cos nπ) = 0 and when n is odd (1 – cos nπ) = 2. Hence only odd values need
be considered, making these substitutions;

n = 2m + 1, m = 0, 1, 2, 3, ∞
π
M = ( 2m +1)
2
cv t
Tv =
d2

where, Tv is the Time factor

m=∞
2u 0 ⎛ Mz ⎞
u (z, t) = ∑ M
⎜ sin
⎝ d ⎠
2
⎟ exp - M Tv ( ) (2.18)
m=0

The degree of consolidation at depth z and time t is given by:

u0 - u u
Uz = = 1- (2.19)
u0 u0

Hence, by substitution for u in the above we obtain:

m= ∞
2 ⎛ Mz ⎞
Uz = 1− ∑ M ⎜⎝ sin d ⎠
2
⎟ exp - M Tv ( ) (2.20)
m=0

In practical field problems it is the average degree of consolidation over the depth of the layer
that is typically of interest, the consolidation settlement at time t being given by the product of U
and the final settlement (equations, (1.6), (1.8), (1.9), (1.10)). The average degree of
consolidation is given by integrating (2.20) over the depth of the layer to obtain:

m= ∞
2
U = 1− ∑M 2 (
exp - M 2 Tv ) (2.21)
m=0

1D Consolidation Derek Gay March 2012

The resulting relationship between U and Tv from the above equation is illustrated in Fig. 7.18
(Craig 1997).

1D Consolidation Laboratory Experiment

As part of a full Consolidation Lab Test you have recorded data in respect of the time dependent
deformation of a soil sample due to a single load step. This represents a single load stage of
consolidation.

In your write up this test, you would be required to carry out the following analysis of results:

(1) Plot a graph of deformation vs the square root of time √t and determine the time to
90% consolidation, t90. Using this value of t, determine the coefficient of
consolidation cv; where Tv = cv.t/D2

(2) Plot a graph of deformation vs log10 of time and determine the time to 50%
consolidation, t50. Using this value of t, determine the coefficient of consolidation cv;
where Tv = cv.t/D2

(3) Determine the total compression during this load stage, δh and the value of the
coefficient of volume compressibility mv; where mv = (δh/h)/δσ′.

(4) Determine the permeability k of the sample during this load stage, where cv is given
by equation (2.15).

(5) Determine the pore water pressure at the centre of the soil sample at times t25, t50, t75
and t90. (your solutions should indicate the number of terms required to achieve a
stable solution at each time interval)

(6) Determine the degree of consolidation at the centre of the soil sample at times t25, t50,
t75 and t90. (your solutions should indicate the number of terms required to achieve a
stable solution at each time interval)

(7) Using equation (2.21) and the 100% primary consolidation δ100, plot the theoretical
time vs settlement curve and the measured curve on the same axes, compare and
comment on these.

1D Consolidation Derek Gay March 2012