ECI 171L Soil Mechanics Laboratory Memorandum

Assignment #7

By Ying Song
May 19, 2011

Subject: Sample Preparation and Consolidation of Fine Grained Soils

Purpose: First, we will prepare undisturbed field sample through cutting thin-wall Shelby
tube for the 1-D Consolidation test. Second, this test is performed to determine the magnitude
and rate of height decrease that a laterally confined soil specimen undergoes when subjected
to certain vertical pressure. Then we can determine the coefficient of consolidation (Cv), and
the permeability (k) of the given soil from the consolidation curve.

Materials: Reconstituted sample of Yolo Loam (LL=28%) will be used in this test.
The equipments used in the tests are provided in the guidelines entitled “Assignment 7”.
.
Procedure:
Sample preparation of undisturbed field sample:
Extrude the soil sample from the thin-walled Shelby tube. Cut approximately a three-inch
long sample. Place consolidation cutting ring on top of the specimen and trim specimen with
the trimming jig into the ring by incrementally pressing the ring into the specimen 1/16”
-1/8”. Remove the portion of the soil protruding above and below the ring.
Consolidation test:
Part A- Consolidometer Apparatus Assembly and preparation of the reconstituted Yolo Loam;
Determine the initial moisture content of the given soil. Center the porous stones that have
been soaking, on the top and bottom surfaces of the test specimen. Place the filter papers
between porous stones and soil specimen. Make sure the stones adhere to the sample tightly.
Place the rubber ring on top of the bottom apparatus. Tighten locking screws. Saturate with
water on top porous stone and bottom drains.
Part B- Incremental Load Consolidation Test;
Adjust the dial gauge to a zero reading. Adjust pressure valve to desired pressure.
Record the consolidation dial readings at the elapsed times given on the data sheet.

Results:

Coefficient of consolidation, Cv = 1.7062*10(-3) (cm2/s)

Hydraulic conductivity, k =1.674* 10 (-9) m/s = 1.446 *10(-4) m/day

Discussion:
We know that the liquid limit of Yolo Loam we obtained from Lab 3 is about 28. According
to Figure 1, we can conclude that the given soil sample Yolo Loam in this test is a completely
remolded sample.
The calculated coefficient of permeability of given soil Yolo Loam is agreed with Figure 2
highlighted as following:
Hydraulic conductivity, k =1.674* 10 (-7) cm/s
Drainage property Practically impervious;
Application in earth dams and
Impervious sections of earth dams and dikes;
dikes
very fine sands, organic and inorganic silts, mixtures of
Types of soil
sand, silt and clay, glacial till, stratified clay deposits, etc;
Impervious soils which are modified by the effect of

vegetation and weathering, fissured, weathered clays

fractured OC clays.
Direct determination of coefficient Constant head test in triaxial cell; reliable with experience

of permeability and no leaks.

Fairly reliable, considerable experience necessary;

Besides the inherent errors come form the consolidometer itself, any other types of errors will
be happened through the consolidation process. First, the specimen layer had some frictional
forces against the inner side of the ring which is difficult to eliminate completely with the
handling process before test. Second, it’s very difficult to ensure a fully saturated soils in
general consolidation test. Third, Consolidation is defined as the reduction of the volume of a
soil due to the expulsion of water. This will be accompanied by the dissipation of pore water
pressures. Through above calculation, we know that the hydraulic conductivity of given soil
Yolo loam is equal to 1.674* 10 (-9) m/s, so the pore water pressures can’t be dissipated
immediately during the consolidation process, which will cause some deviation from the test
result.

Summary:
Through this consolidation test of Fine Grained Soils, we learned how to process the
undisturbed soil samples in Shelby tube in laboratory. Also, two important soil properties
were determined: the coefficient of consolidation (Cv) which is the parameter used to
describe the rate at which saturated soils undergoes consolidation when subjected to an
increase in pressure, and the hydraulic conductivity (k), which indicated the permeability of
the specimen.

Attachments:

Table 1. Time settlement data;

Figure 1. Height Versus. Time;
Figure 2. Approximate correlations of the coefficient of consolidation Cv with the liquid limit;
Figure 3. Range of permeability for different types of soil (from Holtz and Kovacs 1981);
Appendix1.Sample Calculations.

Appendix 1:
Sample Calculations
Before test
Inside diameter of the ring =6.332cm
Height of the ring =1.905cm
Area of specimen, A = П/4 *D 2=31.492 cm2
Height of specimen, H0 =1.905cm

From the plotted curve

Specimen height corresponding
to 100% consolidation, H100 =1.8290 cm

Theoretical specimen height, H0 =1.8935 cm

Specimen height corresponding to

50% consolidation, H50 = (H0+H100)/2= (1.8290+1.8935)/2
=1.8613 cm
Time corresponding to
50% consolidation , t50 = 100.0 sec

Theoretical time factor for

50% consolidation, T50 =0.197

Coefficient of consolidation, Cv = (H50/2)2*(T50/t50)

= (1.8613/2)2*(0.197/100) =1.7062*10(-3) (cm2/s)

Hydraulic conductivity, k =Cv*ρw*g*mv

=1.7062*10(-3) (cm2/s) *103 kg/m3*9.81 N/kg*10(-3) m2/KN

=1.674* 10 (-9) m/s = 1.446 *10(-4) m/day