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EIGHT SESSION:
CONSOLIDATION THEORY

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA

SEDE BOGOTÁ

SOIL MECHANICS

JULIO ESTEBAN COLMENARES MONTAÑEZ

TITULAR PROFESSOR

BOGOTÁ D.C
2020 - I
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REVIEW
From last chapter:

I. Strains can be: (a) Elastic, (b) Plastic and (c) Viscous.

II. The simplest constitutive model is the CHILE model ( Continuous, Homogeneous, Isotropic, Linear, Elastic). For it, 
the strains are totally recoverable and the mechanic properties (Young´s modulus, Poisson´s ratio) do not depend 
on the stress conditions.

III. The properties which characterize the stress – strain behavior of the soil in the CHILE model are: Young´s modulus
E and the Poisson´s ratio. Also, the Bulk modulus K and Shear modulus G can be used.

IV. From elastic theory, it is possible to estimate the increments of stresses in the soil, induced by an applied load, 
and its distribution within the soil. Limitations of model must be considered.

V. In the CHILE model, axial strains are produced only by axial stresses.

VI. In the CHILE model, angular strains or shear strains are produced only by shear stresses.

CONTENT

1. COMPRESSIBILITY OF SOIL

2. CONSOLIDATION PROCESS

3. CONSOLIDATION THEORY

4. SOLUTION OF ONE-DIMENSIONAL CONSOLIDATION EQUATION

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1. COMPRESSIBILITY
When a soil is under loading (assuming the load as a vertical load), it is compressed due
to:

I. Breaking of solid particles

II. Reorganization of particles while reducing the size of soil pores.

III. Strain of soil particles.

IV. Water expulsion (in saturated soils) and water – air expulsion (in partly saturated
soils) (Consolidation).

1. COMPRESSIBILITY
While in some materials the
strains develop immediately, in
other materials this can require
a relatively long time.

In geotechnical engineering,
strains also depend on time,
especially in fine soils.
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1. COMPRESSIBILITY

1. COMPRESSIBILITY
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1. COMPRESIBILIDAD

(8)

2. CONSOLIDATION PROCESS
According to Terzaghi:

“The reduction in water content of a saturated soil, without the replacement of water by
air, is denominated: Consolidation Process”

The speed of this process and the amount of strain generated after this process
depend on:

I. The hydraulic conductivity of soil

II. The compressibility of soil

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2. CONSOLIDATION PROCESS
Taking into account the following model

2. CONSOLIDATION PROCESS
I. Assuming that when a vertical increase of
stress (Δσ) is applied to a saturated soil,
instantly the change of pore water pressure
(Δu) is equal to the increase of vertical stress
(t=0).

[t=0 → Δu= Δ σ y Δ σ’=0]

II. When the drainage is allowed, the initial

excess of pore water pressure decreases and
the soil is deformed (ΔV).

III. The dissipation speed of excess of pore water

pressure (Δu) depends on the boundary
conditions (drainages), the length or distance
of drainage (hd) and the hydraulic
conductivity of the soil (k).
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2. CONSOLIDATION PROCESS

STAGE I:  Equilibrium Condition

• Total stress = σ0
• Interstitial Pressure = u0
• Effective Stress = σ’0
• Volume = V0
• Settlement ρ =0

2. CONSOLIDATION PROCESS
STAGE II:
I. The valve of drainage is closed and the total stress increases
in ∆σ ; This is due to an immediate load applied to the soil
before water can be drained from the pores
II. As the valve is closed, ΔV=0 and the settlements are not
generated. The piston has not been moved and therefore,
there is not compression in the spring.

Total Stress                     = σ0 +  ∆ σ
Interstitial Pressure     = u0  + ∆u
Effective Stress    = σ’0
Volume                = V0
settlement ρ    = 0
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2. CONSOLIDATION PROCESS
STAGE III:
At the time t0 the drainage valve is open, water begins to
flow out of the cylinder and the piston is moved downwardly.
The flow rate depends on valve opening (this can be related
with the hydraulic conductivity of soil) and compressibility
modulus of spring (this can be related with the compressibility
of soil).
After a while (t), the settlement is Δρ and the volume in the
cylinder is V0 + ∆Vt (where ∆Vt is negative). The piston is
moved downwardly , the spring is compressed, the effective
stress increases and the interstitial pressure is reduced.

2. CONSOLIDATION PROCESS
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3. CONSOLIDATION THEORY OF TERZAGHI

Terzaghi assumed that:

I. The soil is saturated, isotropic and homogeneous.

II. The compression of a layer of soil is only due to changes of volume which also are 
due to expulsion of water from the soil voids. (ΔV= ΔVw= ΔVv)

III. Darcy’s Law is valid.

IV. The strains in the soil only take place in the loading direction and they are of 
infinitesimal character.

V. At any depth, the change of vertical effective stress is equal to the change of 
excess of pore water pressure in that depth.

3. CONSOLIDATION THEORY OF TERZAGHI

Assuming that the soil does not present variation 
of the degree of saturation during the process.
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3. CONSOLIDATION THEORY OF TERZAGHI

3. CONSOLIDATION THEORY OF TERZAGHI

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4. SOLUTION OF CONSOLIDATION EQUATION BY

FOURIER SERIES

  2 2 
u  uo n 0  sin MZ e  M T 
M 

 z cv  t
M  2n  1 ; Z T
2 hd hd 2
HARMONICS OF THE 
DEPTH FACTOR TIME FACTOR
SERIE

4. SOLUTION OF CONSOLIDATION EQUATION BY

FOURIER SERIES
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4.1 DEGREE OF CONSOLIDATION

It measures the portion of excess of non‐

drained interstitial pressure ∆uo dissipated
since the begining of the consolidation
process up to the time t and a depth z.

  2 2 
Uz  1  n 0  senMZ e  M T 
M 

4.1 AVERAGE DEGREE OF CONSOLIDATION

It measures the portion of excess of non‐drained interstitial pressure ∆uo dissipated since
the begin of consolidation process until a time t in the layer of soil.

 u o  u dz
Uz  0
H

 u dz
0
o

  2 2 
Uz  1  n 0  2 e  M T 
M 
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4.2 ISOCHRONES OF CONSOLIDATION

The isochrones join points inside of layer

of soil with the same value of time
parameter.

The form of the isochrones depends on

the change of pore water pressure with
depth.

4.3 EXAMPLE 1

Step  1:

Step 2:

Step 3:
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REVIEW
1. Strains have three main components: (a) The strain of solid particles. (b)
reorganization of solid particles (c) The expulsion of fluids filling the pores.

2. The excess of pore water pressure depends on: (a) the load applied. (b) the
compressibility of the fluid and mineral particles and (c) The porosity of soil.

3. The consolidation speed of soil depends on its hydraulic conductivity and its
parameters of elasticity.

4. Terzaghi´s consolidation theory was developed under assumptions about flow and
unidimentional strain. It does not depends on the speed at which the soil is loaded
(Construction process).

5. The degree of consolidation determines what amount of excess of pore water

pressure has been dissipated until a time t.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Craig, R. F. (1997) Soil Mechanics. 6th Edition. Chapman & Hall.
Das, B.M. (1997). Advanced Soil Mechanics, Second Edition. Taylor & Francis.
Poulos, H.G. & Davis, E.H. (1974). Elastic Solutions for Soils and Rocks Mechanics. John
Wiley & Sons. Inc.
Das, B.M (1999) Principles of Foundations Engineering. Fourth Edition. International
Thomson Editors.
University of Cantabria, Spain. Virtual Course of Soil Mechanics.
University of Los Andes ‐ Venezuela. Faculty of Engineering. Virtual Course. Roads and
Foundations Department.