Tute 4: Soil Consolidation (15% of Soil Tutes)

Due: 5:00 pm Thursday 30th May

Question 1: An oedometer test on a saturated clay soil gave the following results: ,
, . The existing vertical effective stress in the field is 0.4
130 kPa. A

0.08 4.5
building foundation will increase the vertical stress at the center of the clay by 150 kPa. The
thickness of the clay layer is 2 m and its water content is 28%. Calculate the primary
consolidation settlement. What would be the difference in settlement if the OCR were 1.5
instead of 4.5?

Question 2: The excess porewater pressure distribution in a 10 m thick clay varies linearly
from 100 kPa at the top to 10 kPa at the bottom of the layer when a vertical stress was
applied. Assuming drainage only at the top of the clay layer, determine the excess porewater
pressure in 1 year’s time using the finite different method if 1.5 ⁄ .
Question 3: Water is pumped from an aquifer as shown in the following figure for domestic
use. The groundwater level drops by 10 m and the surface subsides. Assuming that the
subsidence is due to the settlement of the soft clay, estimate the settlement of the ground
surface using a single clay layer. A decision was made to recharge the aquifer by pumping
water from a canal. If the groundwater level were to return to its original level, would the
ground surface return to its original elevations? If so, why? If not, why not? Show
calculations to support your answer. How much recovery (expansion of soil) is possible
using the one-dimensional consolidation theory?

Original ground surface elevation

Lightly cemented sand/gravel

20m 17 ⁄ Clay properties

5m Soft clay 0.4
Original ground water level 55%
0.05
0.04 ⁄
15m Aquifer: sand/gravel
1 10 ⁄

10%
5 10 ⁄

1
Question 4: An 8 m depth of sand overlies a 6 m layer of clay, below which is an
impermeable rock. The water table is 2 m below the surface of the sand. After several years,
a 3 m depth of fill with a unit weight of 20 k ⁄ is to be dumped on the surface over an
extensive area. Above the water table the water content of the sand is 23% and the degree
of saturation is 90%. Below the water table, the saturated unit weight of the sand is 20 k ⁄
. The water content of the clay is 50%. An oedometer test on a 20 mm thick sample of the
clay gave 0.4, 0.08 and 1.5 and revealed that the time for 50% consolidation on the sample
occurred in 20 minutes. The sample was drained on the upper and lower boundaries.
Assume the unit weight of water is 9.8 k ⁄ and the specific gravity of the clay is 2.7.
1) Divide the clay into three layers of equal thickness to calculate the settlement in
each layer and the total settlement due to consolidation of the clay.
2) How long will it take for 90% consolidation of the clay layer is achieved?

Fill 3m 20k

⁄ 3

GWL 2m 23%, 90%

Sand 6m ⁄ 3

20 k

Clay 6m 50%, 0.4,

Impervious rock 0.08,1.5