OBJECTIVE

i. To determine the consolidation characteristics of soils of low permeability

ii. To determine the coefficient of consolidation of the soil

DATA AND CALCULATION

Consolidation Test – Calculation Sheet
Date started : 4/4/2018 Sample No : 1
Soil Type : Silty Clay Cell No : 1

BEFORE TEST

Moisture content from trimming : 0.72 % S. G. (assumed) : 2.7

Weight of ring : 104.0 g Diameter of ring : 80 mm
Weight of sample + ring : 241.0 g Area of ring : 5026.55 mm2
Weight of sample : 137.0 g Thickness of ring : 19 mm
Weight of dry sample : 109.2 g Volume of ring : 95504.22 mm3
Weight of initial moisture : 27.8 g Density, 𝜌 : 2.52 Mg/m3
Initial moisture content : 25.46% Dry density, 𝜌d : 1.14 Mg/m3
Initial void ratio, ( Gs / 𝜌d ) – 1 : 1.37

Settlement Readings
Elapse time Time √ Time Clock Gauge Cumulative
hr min sec (min) Time readings Compressive,
(pm) ∆H (mm)
0 0.00 0.00 12.15 0.0 0
10 0.17 0.41 0.3061 0.00061
20 0.33 0.57 0.3118 0.00062
30 0.50 0.71 0.3150 0.00063
40 0.67 0.82 0.3175 0.00064
50 0.83 0.91 0.3200 0.00064
1 1.00 1.00 12.16 0.3226 0.00065
2 2.00 1.41 12.17 0.3353 0.00067
4 4.00 2.00 12.19 0.3493 0.00070
8 8.00 2.83 12.23 0.3721 0.00074
15 15.00 3.87 12.30 0.4013 0.00080
30 30.00 5.48 12.45 0.4496 0.00090
1 60.00 7.75 1.15 0.5410 0.0011
CALCULATION
Weight of sample = Weight of sample + ring – Weight of ring
= 241.0 – 104.0
= 137.0 g

Weight of initial moisture = Weight of sample – Weight of dry sample

= 137.0 – 109.2
= 27.8 g

Initial moisture contents = Weight of initial moisture / Weight of dry sample

= ( 27.8 / 109.2 ) x 100
= 25.46 %

Area of ring = 𝜋D2 / 4

= 𝜋 ( 80 )2 / 4
= 5026.55 mm2

Volume of ring = Area of ring x Thickness of ring

= 5026.55 x 19
= 95504.22 mm3
Density, 𝜌 = Weight of sample + ring / Volume of ring
= 241.0 x 10-6 (Mg) / 95504.22 x 10-9 (m3)
= 2.52 Mg/m3

Dry density, 𝜌d = Weight of dry sample / Volume of ring

= 109.2 x 10-6 Mg / 95504.22 x 10-9 m3
= 1.14 Mg/m3

Initial void ratio = ( Gs / 𝜌d ) – 1

= (2.7/1.14) -1
= 1.37
ANALYSIS

Time vs Settlement
0.0012

0.001
settlement (mm)

0.0008

0.0006

0.0004

0.0002

0
0.1 1 10
Time

Graph time versus settlement

square root time vs settlement

0.0012

0.001
square root tme

0.0008

0.0006

0.0004

0.0002

0
0 2 4 6 8 10

settlement

Graph √time versus settlement

Cv = 0.197 H²
t50
= 0.197 (0.005)²mm
2min
= 4.925 x 10-6
2
= 2.463 x 10-6 mm2/min

Cv = 2.463 x 10-13 ( )

= 1.294 x 10-6 m2/year

CONCLUSION AND SOLUTION

From the experiment that we have done, we have achieved the objective of the experiment
that to determine the consolidation characteristic of soils of flow permeability. In this
experiment we used 1 Sample which is silty clay

From the graph settlement versus log time and graph settlement versus square root time, we
get a curve shape for the sample. From the graph we can find the value of t50 and other value
that is need to calculate the value coefficient of consolidation, Cv. from the calculation we can
see that the value of value coefficient of consolidation, Cv will increase when the load that we
applied to the peat soil ins increase.

Based on the laboratory results, the consolidation characteristic of soils of flow permeability
have been determined through the data that we get after experiment has finished. The
moisture content for the silty clay soil is 0.72%. The coefficient of consolidation, Cv for the
sample is 2.463 x 10-6 m2/year by using Casagrande Method while 1.294 m2/year

Based on the experimental data obtained, Major geotechnical problems in

construction involving silty–clayey soils are due to their low strength, durability and high
compressibility of soft soils, and the swell–shrink nature of the overconsolidated swelling
soils. Confronted with these problems, a suitable ground improvement technique is needed,
for deep excavations in soft clays, for stability, durability and deformation control. Cement -
stabilization is one of the alternatives. An increase in strength and durability, reduction in
deformability are the main aims of this method. Conventional cement-stabilization methods
are used mainly for surface treatment. However, the use of cement has recently been
extended to a greater depth in which cement columns were installed to act as a type of soil
reinforcement (deep cement–soil mixing and cement jet grouting).

In situ engineering properties of these silty–clayey soils are often variable and
difficult to predict. For this reason cement-stabilization methods have a basic target to
control the aforementioned engineering properties of these clays so that the properties of a
silty–clayey soil become more like the properties of a soft rock such as clayey shale or
lightly cemented sandstone. So cement-stabilization of these soils is essential to control
their engineering properties and to predict their engineering behaviour for construction. In
an effort to predict, classify and study the suitability of silty–clayey soils for cement-
stabilization both slaking and unconfined compressive strength tests were carried out on
clayey–sand mixtures consisted of two types of clays, kaolin and bentonite. Finally
diagrams were prepared to study the variation of slaking and strength due to compaction,
curing time and cement percentage and also to predict areas of efficient cement-
stabilization