Settlement

Immediate settlement Caused by elastic

deformation of dry and moist soil without any
change in moisture content
Primary Consolidation Settlement Volume
change caused by expulsion of water from voids
in saturated cohesive soils
Secondary Consolidation Settlement Volume
change after primary consolidation as a result of
plastic adjustment of soil matrix
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Consolidation Settlement
We will focus on consolidation settlement

h
h

Consolidation Settlement
Lets look at how a saturated clay reacts to an applied load,
starting at time = 0 (immediately after load was applied).
Assuming some clay layer of thickness H with drainage both
above and below (sand layers)

uv

+ H

Consolidation Settlement
Now at some time > 0
The water slowly is squeezed out of soil and takes the path of
least resistance
Pore pressure is decreasing while the effective stress increases

uv

+ H

Consolidation Settlement
Finally at time =
Pore water is in equilibrium and the soil skeleton is carrying the
entire load
This process will take time weeks, months, even years
Why and what might this depend on?

uv

+ H

Laboratory Consolidation Test

In the lab a soil consolidation test is used to
determine settlement characteristics of a soil

All settlement will occur in voids

Hv
Hs

HsA = Vs
HsA = Ws/Gsw
Hs = Ws/AGsw
Hv = H Hs
eo = Vv/Vs = HvA / HsA = Hv/Hs
eo = void ratio at time 0
e = H1/Hs
e1 = eo e
e1 = void ratio at time > 0

Consolidation Curve
Plotting e vs. Log p (void ratio on a linear scale
vs the load on a log scale)
Cr = Recompression Index = Slope
of line
Cc = Compression Index = Slope of
line

e
Cr also (called
Cs in book)

Log p

Consolidation Curve

Consolidation Curve

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Overconsolidated Normally Consolidated

Overconsolidated Some past stress was greater than
current stress
Normally Consolidated Current stress is max
At the break in the curve, this value of
is called:

c The PreConsolidation Pressure

This is the max pressure this soil has
ever felt

c
Log p

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Overconsolidated Normally Consolidated

Overconsolidated Some past stress was greater than
current stress
Normally Consolidated Current stress is max
Once c is found from the curve
It is compared to the actual in
the field (z)
If c= v Normally
e
Consolidated
If c > v Overconsolidated
ie Sample depth 10, no water
table, = 120 pcf, the actual
c
= 1200 psf
Log p
Compare that to c from consol
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Overconsolidation Ratio
v = OC

The OCR is the ratio of past

effective stress to present
effective stress
OCR = c / v

OCR = 1 means what?

Log p
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Finding Pc Casagrandes Method

4
2
3
1

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Calculation of Settlement
Consider a layer of clay under an external load

Voids
Soil

H
Vv=e

H = V0
Solids

V1
Vs=1

V e = eo-e1

Voids

Vv=e

Solids

Vs=1

V = V0-V1 = HA (H-H)A = HA
We know e=Vv/Vs

Also e =Vv/Vs as Vs does not change

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Calculation of Settlement
V = V0-V1 = HA (H-H)A = HA
We know e = Vv/Vs

Also e =Vv/Vs as Vs does not change

Solve for Vv = e Vs

Therefore V = Vv = HA
now
HA = e Vs

Equation 1

Vs = V0 / (1+e0) = AH / (1+e0)

Equation 2

Solve Both Equations for Vs

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Calculation of Settlement
HA / e = HA / (1 + e0)
We get
H = H e / (1+e0)
The General Settlement Equation
We will show how this is the slope
of the consol curve rise / run
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Calculation of Settlement
Normally Consolidated Soil v= c
H = Cc H / (1 + e0) log [(v+ v) / v]
Soil stress due to its own weight
is here prior to application of
load (OCR = 1)

Stress is here after

application of load

c
Log p

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Calculation of Settlement
Normally Consolidated Soil
H = Cc H / (1 + e0) log [(v+ v) / v]
Review this equation It is simply rise / run
H / (1 + e0) is from the general settlement eq.
derived earlier
Cc log [(v+ v) / v] is the slope * e
Why?

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Calculation of Settlement
Over Consolidated Soil If (v+ v) > c
H = Cr H / (1 + e0) log c / v + CcH / (1+e0) log [(v+ v) / c]
Soil stress due to its own weight
is here prior to application of
load (OCR = 1)

Stress is here after

application of load

c
Log p

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Calculation of Settlement
Over Consolidated Soil If (v+ v) < c
H = Cr H / (1 + e0) log [(v+ v) / v]
Soil stress due to its own weight is here
prior to application of load (OCR = 1)

Stress is here after

application of load

c
Log p

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Calculation of Settlement
The text covers several methods for
determining the values of Cr and Cc. Take a
look at those
Recall the plot at left
v

Now consider a layer of clay to

be analyzed for settlement
Now look at the settlement
equations
Given an H How do you
determine the values of the
stresses in that layer?
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Settlement
Lets plot all the stresses
v
v+ v
z

> c
< c

v
c

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Settlement
To solve any settlement problem with an
overconsolidated soil you MUST do this plot (or at
least calc the data points) to solve
v
v+ v
z

> c
< c

v
c

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Suggested Problems
10.3
10.5
10.8
10.13

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