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Civil & Environmental Engineering Department

LABORATORY CONSOLIDATION TEST

Application
Settlement problems are actually two problems in one. Both the magnitude of settlement and time rate at which this process occurs must be estimated on the basis of laboratory tests. This laboratory will focus on the time rate of settlement as it is often the most important aspect of the problem. This lab also focuses on the pressure-settlement relations. For instance, suppose it is proposed to build a highway embankment over soft soils. The embankment places a load on the soil and depending on the thickness of soft soil and size of the loaded area, the total magnitude of settlement computed may take many tens of years to occur. Thus the project must wait for the settlement to occur before construction of pavement sections can take place. There are technologies available that can speed up the rate of consolidation. These are discussed in courses on Ground Modification. Recall that a complete consolidation test involves loading a soil specimen in a series of increments. From these data, a void ratio (e) vs. log pressure curve is developed and estimates of the total magnitude of settlement are made using the parameters Cc, Cr and p. Estimates of the time rate of settlement are made using the Coefficient of Consolidation, Cv, that is interpreted from plots of dial gage reading (compression) vs. log time during individual load increments of a consolidation test. Cv is not a constant but varies with applied stress. As the stress level increases, the void ratio decreases and permeability decrease thereby increasing the time required for water to flow from the soil voids. Therefore, in an actual project, Cv should be estimated for the actual range of effective stress expected in the field. Equipment Consolidometer set Filter paper Stop watch Balance sensitive to 0.01 lb Moisture cans Drying oven Procedure You are provided with a trimmed soil specimen. Measure height of specimen (Subtract the gap between top of the ring and specimen) . Take weight of the specimen with ring.

EGCE 324L (Soil Mechanics Laboratory) Instructor: Binod Tiwari, PhD

Fall 2008 Date: 9/25/2008

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Civil & Environmental Engineering Department
Set a lower porous stone in the consolidometer. Set a filter paper on it. Then set the soil specimen into the consolidometer. Set a filter paper and upper porous stone on top of the specimen. Set the upper platen on top of the porous stone. Pour water from outer jacket and saturate the specimen for about 15 minutes. This water level should be kept higher than the porous stone during the test. Set a steel ball on top of the upper platen and the loading device on top of the ball. All equipment are set with vertical displacement transducers. Record the initial LVDT reading for your equipment. Apply load to the specimen which will give vertical stress of about 7 psi. Record the deflection dial gauge reading at 0 min, 0.25 min, 1 min, 2 min, 4 min, 6 min, 9 min, 12 min, 20 min, 25 min, 36 min, 60 min, 120 min, 240 min, 480 min, and 1440 min. Increase the load to about 14 psi, and 28 psi, 56 psi, and 112 psi in every 24 hours and repeat the same procedure. But just take the reading at 0.25 and 1440 minute for those readings. Next Thursday, increase the load to 222 psi and record the deflection at 0 min, 0.25 min, 1 min, 2 min, 4 min, 6 min, 9 min, 12 min, 20 min, 25 min, 36 min, 60 min, 120 min, 240 min, 480 min, and 1440 min. After that reduce the load slowly and record deformation during unloading at the end of 112 psi, 56 psi, 28 psi, 14 psi, and 7 psi. You dont need to note down intermediate values for the vertical loads other than 7 psi, and 224 psi. For other loads, just note the initial and final deflection. Remove the soil specimen after 24 hours of the application of the vertical stress of 224 psi and measure final height of the specimen. Measure the weight of the specimen and put the entire specimen into the oven and oven-dry them for 24 hours. Measure the weight after 24 hours. That will help you to get void ratio. Calculations The lab reports shall include the following: Sample calculations. A plot of settlement versus the logarithm of time for the vertical stress of 7 psi and 222 psi. Calculate settlement amount and time for 50% consolidation. Calculate time for 50% consolidation. A plot of settlement vs. square root of time for the vertical stress of 7 psi and 222 psi. Calculate settlement amount and time for 50% consolidation. Calculate time for 90% consolidation.

EGCE 324L (Soil Mechanics Laboratory) Instructor: Binod Tiwari, PhD

Fall 2008 Date: 9/25/2008

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Civil & Environmental Engineering Department
Determine the coefficient of consolidation, Cv from the time rate data collected in the lab. The calculations are presented below and most textbooks cover this in detail. Using the settlement data for 100% consolidation, calculate the void ratio (e) for the corresponding stresses.

Plot a e-log ' graph and find out the pre-consolidation pressure.
EQUATION TO BE USED

Ms AG s w H Hs e0 = Hs Hs =
Where, Hs Ms A Gs w H e0 = Height of soil solid = Dry mass of the specimen = Area of the specimen = Specific gravity of the soil solid (take 2.68) = Density of water = Initial height of the specimen = Initial void ratio

(1)
(2)

For the first incremental loading, Likewise for the second load increment,

H 1 Hs H 2 e 2 = e0 Hs e1 = e0

(3) (4)

Shown in figure 1 is an example of e-long curve.

EGCE 324L (Soil Mechanics Laboratory) Instructor: Binod Tiwari, PhD

Fall 2008 Date: 9/25/2008

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Civil & Environmental Engineering Department

Figure 1 e-log curve (Source: BM Das, 2006)

Determination of preconsolidation pressure (p or Pp)

Figure 2 Method to determine pre-consolidation pressure (Source: BM Das, 2006)

EGCE 324L (Soil Mechanics Laboratory) Instructor: Binod Tiwari, PhD

Fall 2008 Date: 9/25/2008

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Civil & Environmental Engineering Department
Choose by eye the point of minimum radius of curvature on the e-log curve (point A). Draw a horizontal line through point A. Draw a line tangent to the curve at point A. Bisect the angle made by steps 2 and 3. Extend the straight line portion of the virgin compression curve up to intersect the bisecting line from step 4. The intersection point gives the best estimate of preconsolidation pressure.

EGCE 324L (Soil Mechanics Laboratory) Instructor: Binod Tiwari, PhD

Fall 2008 Date: 9/25/2008

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Civil & Environmental Engineering Department

ONE-DIMENSIONAL CONSOLIDATION TEST (ASTM D2435) LABORATORY DATA SHEET

I. GENERAL INFORMATION
Specimen prepared by: Ishwar Dhungana Lab partners/organization: USUF Client: CSUF Boring no.: N/A Recovery date: N/A Date: 3/3/2008 Project: EGCE 324L Recovery depth: N/A Recovery method: N/A

Soil description:

II. TEST DETAILS

Load frame type/serial no.: Scale type/serial no./precision: Consolidation ring diameter: Initial specimen height, Ho: Consolidation ring mass: Specimen volume, Vo: Specific gravity of soil solids, Gs: (take 2.68) Notes, observations, and deviations from ASTM D2435 test standard:

III. MEASUREMENTS AND CALCULATIONS

Before Test Mass of moist soil + porous stone + Ring Mass of moist soil Mass of porous stone + Ring Mass of dry soil Mass of moisture Moisture content Void ratio Degree of saturation After Test

MTo = Md = wo = eo = So = 100%

MTf = Md = wf = ef = Sf = 100%

IV. TEST DETAILS

Scale type/serial no./precision: Load no.: Load increment, : Filter paper type: Porous stone type, weight and thickness: Machine deflection: Deformation indicator type and conversion factor K (if applicable): Notes, observations, and deviations from ASTM D2435 test standard:

EGCE 324L (Soil Mechanics Laboratory) Instructor: Binod Tiwari, PhD

Fall 2008 Date: 9/25/2008

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Civil & Environmental Engineering Department

ONE-DIMENSIONAL CONSOLIDATION TEST (ASTM D2435) TIME-DEFORMATION MEASUREMENTS LABORATORY DATA SHEET
V. MEASUREMENTS AND CALCULATIONS
Date (mm/dd/yy) Clock Time (hh:mm:ss) Elapsed Time (min) Raw Deformation ( )

= 7 psi
Deflection-Corrected Deformation ( )

0.0 0.25 1 2 4 6 9 12 20 25 36 60 120 240 480 1440 = 14 psi 0.25 1440 = 28 psi 0.25 1440

EGCE 324L (Soil Mechanics Laboratory) Instructor: Binod Tiwari, PhD

Fall 2008 Date: 9/25/2008

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Civil & Environmental Engineering Department
V. MEASUREMENTS AND CALCULATIONS
Date (mm/dd/yy) Clock Time (hh:mm:ss) Elapsed Time (min) Raw Deformation ( ) Deflection-Corrected Deformation ( )

= 56 psi

= 112 psi

= 224 psi 0.0 0.25 1 2 4 6 9 12 20 25 36 60 120 240 480 1440

Deformations while reducing load: 14 psi 7 psi

112 psi

56 psi

28 psi

EGCE 324L (Soil Mechanics Laboratory) Instructor: Binod Tiwari, PhD

Fall 2008 Date: 9/25/2008

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Civil & Environmental Engineering Department

ONE-DIMENSIONAL CONSOLIDATION TEST (ASTM D2435) TIME-DEFORMATION PLOTTING USING THE LOG TIME METHOD
I. TEST DETAILS
Load no.: Load, : Initial specimen height, Ho: Deflection units: Dial gauge conversion factor, K: Notes, observations, and deviations from ASTM D2435 test standard:

II. MEASUREMENTS AND CALCULATIONS d100: : t2: d2: t1: d1: do: d: d50: t50: HD50: cv: III. EQUATIONS From figure 3, t1 = t2/4
H D 50 = H o d50 ( K ) 2

CALCULATION SPACE:

d = d2 d1
or H D 50 =

d0 = d1 d
H o d 50 2
cv =

d50 = (d0 + d100)/2

0.197( H D 50 ) 2 t 50

d0

d
d1
Deformation, d

d
d50 d2

d100

t1

t2 t 50

Time, t (log scale)

Figure 3 Deformation-Log time plot for the consolidation data

EGCE 324L (Soil Mechanics Laboratory) Instructor: Binod Tiwari, PhD

Fall 2008 Date: 9/25/2008

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Civil & Environmental Engineering Department

ONE-DIMENSIONAL CONSOLIDATION TEST (ASTM D2435) TIME-DEFORMATION PLOTTING USING THE ROOT TIME METHOD
I. TEST DETAILS
Load no.: Load, : Initial specimen height, Ho: Deflection units: Dial gauge conversion factor, K: Notes, observations, and deviations from ASTM D2435 test standard:

II. MEASUREMENTS

AND CALCULATIONS d0: 1.15X: t90: HD50:

CALCULATION SPACE:

:
X: d90: d100: cv: III. EQUATIONS From figure 4,
d100 = d 0 + 1.11(d 90 d o )

cv =

0.848( H D50 ) 2 t 90

t90 0 d0
Deformation, d

Time, t (minutes; root scale) 16 25 36 49 64 81 100 121

d90 d100

d-t curve

4 X

5
1.15X

9 10 11 x = (linear scale)

Figure 4 Deformation-square root of time plot for the consolidation data

EGCE 324L (Soil Mechanics Laboratory) Instructor: Binod Tiwari, PhD

Fall 2008 Date: 9/25/2008

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Civil & Environmental Engineering Department

ONE-DIMENSIONAL CONSOLIDATION TEST (ASTM D2435) TIME-DEFORMATION PLOTTING USING THE ROOT TIME METHOD PLOTTING PAPER
Elapsed time t (min)
0
1 1 1 10 4 2

1 2

6 8 10

20

30

40

50

60 70 80 90 100

150

200

250

300

Deformation ( ent S (division) ) Settlem

1cm

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

EGCE 324L (Soil Mechanics Laboratory) Instructor: Binod Tiwari, PhD

Fall 2008 Date: 9/25/2008

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Civil & Environmental Engineering Department

Calculation Example
A specimen of the fine-grained soil, 75 mm in diameter and 20 mm thick, was tested in an oedometer in a laboratory. The initial water content was 62% and Gs was 2.7. The vertical stresses were applied incrementally each increment remaining on the specimen until the pore water pressure change was negligible. The cumulative settlement values at the end of each loading steps are shown in table 1. The time settlement data when the vertical stress was 240 kPa are shown in table 2. a) Determine the pre-consolidation pressure. b) Calculate and plot the settlement-time curve.

Table 1 Vertical stress (kPa) Settlement (mm) Table 2 15 0.10 30 0.11 60 0.21 120 1.13 240 2.17 480 3.15

Please check the excel spread sheet for the detailed calculation.
time 0 1.125 4.36 9.98 17.72 27.71 40.36 56.67 79.73 119.25 H0 d0 d90 d100 d50 t90 HD50 H0 d0 d100 d50 t50 HD50 settlement 0 17.5 35 52.5 70 87.5 105 122.5 140 157.5 20 0 0.50 0.55 0.27 1.96 9.86 20 0.024 0.89 0.457 1.2 9.77 mm cv 42.07 mm2/min time 0.1 0.25 1 4 9 16 36 64 100 sqrt time 0 0.5 1 2 3 4 6 8 10 settlement 0 0.22 0.42 0.6 0.71 0.79 0.86 0.91 0.93

mm cv 15.67 mm2/min

EGCE 324L (Soil Mechanics Laboratory) Instructor: Binod Tiwari, PhD

Fall 2008 Date: 9/25/2008

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Civil & Environmental Engineering Department
stress 15 30 60 120 240 480 settlement 0.1 0.11 0.21 1.13 2.17 3.15 e1 1.661 1.660 1.647 1.528 1.394 1.267 cc 0.433512 cr 0.003322

Pre-consolodation pressure = 60 kPa

Time-settlement curve

0.1 0

d50= 0.457 1 t50 = 1.2

t1 = 1 t2 = 4

time (min) 10 100

0.1

0.2 d0 = 0.024 0.3

Settlement (mm)

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8 t100 = 32 min d100 0 89

0.9

Deformation log time graph

EGCE 324L (Soil Mechanics Laboratory) Instructor: Binod Tiwari, PhD

Fall 2008 Date: 9/25/2008

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Civil & Environmental Engineering Department
Time-settlement curve square root of time (min) 4 6 8 10 12

0 0

sqrt (t) = 1.4 t = 1.96

a = 2.38 b = 2.74

0.1

0.2

0.3

settlement (mm)

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Deformation time graph

pressure-void ratio curve 1.700

1.650

1.600

1.550

1.500 Void ratio

1.450

1.400

1.350

1.300

1.250

1.200 1 10 Effective vertical stress (kPa) 100 1000

e log graph

EGCE 324L (Soil Mechanics Laboratory) Instructor: Binod Tiwari, PhD

Fall 2008 Date: 9/25/2008