32 Chapter 1 Geotechnical Properties of Soil

1.12 Calculation of Primary Consolidation Settlement

`The one dimensional primary consolidation settlement (caused by an additional load)
of a clay layer (Figure 1.18) having a thickness H. may be calculated as

𝛥𝑒
SC = Hc (1.45)
1+𝑒

where

Sc = primary consolidation scttlement

Δe =total change of void ratio caused by the additional load application

e =void ratio of the clay betore the application of load

For normally consolidated clay (that is, Ơ0 = Ơc) .

Ơ0+𝛥𝑜
𝛥𝑒 = 𝐶𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑔 Ơ0
(1.46)

Ơ0 = average effective vertical stress on the clay layer.

Δσ = Δσ (that is, added pressure)

Now, combining Eqs (1.45) and (1.46) yields

𝐶𝑐𝐻𝑐 𝜎+ ∆𝜎
Sc = 1+𝑒
𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝜎

For overconsolidated clay with σ° + Δσ ≤ σc

Ơ0+𝛥𝑜
𝛥𝑒 = 𝐶𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑔
Ơ0

Average effective
pressurebefore
load application =
σ
Figure 1.18 One-dimensional settlement
=

calculation
 7.13 Time Rate of Consolidation 33

Combining Eqs. (1.45) and (1.48) gives

𝐻𝑐𝐶𝑠 𝜎+ ∆𝜎
SC = 𝑙𝑜𝑔
1+𝑒 𝜎

For overconsolidated clay, if σo ˂ σc ˂ σo +Δσ, then

𝜎𝑐 𝜎𝑜+ 𝛥𝜎
Δe=Δe1 + Δe 2 = Cslog𝜎𝑜 + Cclog 𝜎𝑐

Now, combining Eqs. (1.45) and (1.50) yields

𝐻𝑐𝐶𝑠 𝜎+ ∆𝜎 𝐶𝑐𝐻𝑐 𝜎𝑐 𝜎𝑐+ 𝛥𝜎
SC = 1+𝑒
𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝜎
+ 1+𝑒 𝜎𝑜
log 𝜎𝑜

1.13 Time Rate of Consolidation

In Section 1.11 (see Figure 1.14), we showed that consolidation is the result of the gradual
dissipation of the excess pore water pressure from a clay layer. The dissipation of pore water
pressure, in turn, increases the effective stress, which induces settlement. Hence, to estimate
the degree of consolidation of a clay layer at some time after the load is applied, you need to
know the rate of dissipation of the excess pore water pressure.

Figure 1.19 shows a clay layer of thickness H that has highly permeable sand layers at its top
and bottom. Here, the excess pore water pressure at any point A at any time t after the load
is applied is Δu = (Δh)Yu. For a vertical drainage condition (that is, in the direction of only)
from the clay layer. Terzaghi derived the differential equation.

𝜕(𝛥𝑢) 𝜕2
𝜕𝑡
= 𝐶𝑐 𝜕𝑧2 (1.52)

Figure 1.19 (a) Derivation of Eq.

(1.54); (b)nature of variation of
Δu with time
34 Chapter Geotechnical Properties of Soil

where Cu=coefficient of consolidation, defined by

𝑘 𝑘
Cu = 𝑚𝑌 = 𝛥𝑒
𝛥𝜎(1+𝑒 )𝑌𝑤

in which

k = hydraulic conductivity of the clay

Δe = total change of void ratio caused by an effective stress increase of Δσ

e = average void ratio during consolidation

mv = volume coefficient of compressibility = Δe/[Δσ(1 +eav)]

Equation (1.52) can be solved to obtain Δυ as a function of time t with the following boundary
conditions:

1. Because highly permeable sand layers are located at z = 0 and z = H, the excess pore water
pressure developed in the clay at those points will be immediately dissipated. Hence,
Δu = 0 at z = 0
And
Δu = 0 at z= H = 2H
where H = length of maximum drainage path (due to two-way drainage condition-that is, at
the top and bottom of the clay).
2. At time t = 0, Δυ = Δu0 = initial excess pre water pressure after the load is applied. With the
preceding boundary conditions, Eq. (1.53) yields
𝑚=
2(𝛥𝑢) 𝑀𝑧
𝛥𝑢 = ∑ [ sin( )
𝑀 𝐻
𝑚=0
Where

M = (2m + 1)∏/2

m = an integer = 1,2,…

T = nondimensional time factor = (Ct)/ 𝐻 2

The value of Δu for various depths (i.e., z = 0 to z = 2H) at any given time 1 (and thus T.) can
be calculated from Eq. (1.52). The nature of this variation of Δυ is shown in Figures 1.20a and b.
Figure 1.20a shows the variation of Δu/Δuo with T, and H/Hc using Eqs(1.54) and (1.5S) The
average degree of consolidation of the clay layer can be defined as

𝑆𝑐(𝑖)
U = 𝑆𝑐𝑚𝑎𝑥
 1.13 Time rate of Consolidation 35

Figure 1.20 Drainage condition for consolidation: (a) two-way drainage; (b) one-way
drainage; (c)plot of Δu/Δu0 with T and H/Hc

Where

Scmax = maximum consolidation settlement that the clay will undergo under a given
loading

If the initial pore water pressure (Δu) distribution is constant with depth, as shown in
Figure 1.20a, the average degree of consolidation also can be expressed as
2𝐻 2𝐻
𝑆𝑐𝑡 ∫0 (∆𝑢0)𝑑𝑧−∫0 𝑑𝑧
U = 𝑆𝑐𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 2𝐻
∫0 (∆𝑢0)𝑑𝑧
36 Chapter 1 Geotechnical Properties Of Soil
2𝐻 2𝐻
(𝛥𝑢𝑜 − ∫0 (𝛥𝑢)𝑑𝑧 ∫0 (𝛥𝑢)𝑑𝑧
U= =1- (1.58)
(𝛥𝑢𝑜)2𝐻 2𝐻(𝛥𝑢0 )

Now.combining Eqs (1.54) and (1.58), we obtain

𝑆𝑐(𝑡) 2 2𝑇
U= = 1 - ∑𝑚=∞
𝑚=0 ( )𝑒 −𝑀 (1.59)
𝑆𝑐(𝑚𝑎𝑥) 𝑀2

The variation o U with T, can be calculated from Eq. (1.59) and is plotted in

Figure 1.21. Note that Eq. (1.59) and thus Figure 1.21 are also valid when an imper-

meable layer is located at the bottom of the clay layer (Figure 1.20). In that casc, the

dissipation of excess pore water pressure can take place in one direction only The

length of the maximum drainage path is then equal to H = Hc

The variation of T, with Ushown in Figure 1.21 can also be approximated by

𝜋 𝑈% 2
𝑇𝑟 = ( )
4 100
(for U = 0 to 60%) (1.60)
And

𝑇𝑟 = 1.781 − 0.933 log(100 − 𝑈%) (for U>60%) (1.61)

Trapezoidal Variation Figure 122 shows a trapezoidal variation of initial excess

pore water pressure with rwo-way drainage. For this case the variation of T, with U

will be the same as shown in Figure 1.21

Figure 1.21 Plot of time actor against average degree of consolidation (Δu0 = constant)

1.13 Time Rate of Consolidation 37

 Figure 1.22 Trapezoidal initial excess pore water-pressure

Distribution.

Figure 1.23 Sinusoidal initial excess pore water –

Pressure distribution

Figure 1.24 Variation of U with T-

sinusoidal variation of initial excess pore

water-pressure

Sinusoidal Variation This variation is shown in Figures 1.23a and 1.23b. For the initial excess porc water-
pressure variation shown in Figure 1.23a,
𝜋𝑧
𝛥𝑢 = 𝛥𝑢𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝐻 (1.62)

Similarly, for the case shown in Figure 1.23b,

𝜋𝑧
𝛥𝑢 = 𝛥𝑢𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑠 4𝐻 (1.63)

The variations of T, with U for these two cases are shown in Figure 1.24
z