Soil Consolidation Test
Soil Consolidation Test
Soil Consolidation Test
ABSTRACT:-
The main idea of carrying out consolidation test of clay soil was to determine nature of soil
foundation before erection of any structure. Through getting to now percentage of void ratio,
engineer on the site will easily make decisions on whether the soils should be replaced with a
different one before s structure is put in place. In this case, clients will be saving a lot of cash
because chances of structural failure and collapse will have been reduced.
INTRODUCTION:-
Consolidation is the process of time –dependant settlement of saturated clayey soil when
subjected to an increased loading. In this chapter the procedure for a one-dimensional lab.
Consolidation test will be described, and methods of calculation to obtain the void ratio-
pressure curve (e vs. log p), the preconsolidation pressure, (pc) and the coefficient of
consolidation (cv) will be outlined
OBJECTIVE:-
The procedure for one - dimensional laboratory consolidation test will be described, and
calculation of obtaining the void ratio - pressure curve, pre-consolidation pressure, and the
coefficient of consolidation (Cv).
EQUIPMENT:-
Consolidation unit.
Specimen trimming device.
Wire saw.
Balance sensitive to 0.01 g.
Stop watch.
Moisture can.7.Oven.
PROCEDURE:-
Prepare a soil specimen by molding a moist soil (this will represent the sample that is
supposed to be recovered from a site using a Shelby tube).
Collect part of the soil in a moisture can for moisture content, 𝜔1 determination
Determine the mass M1 of the consolidation ring
Place the soil specimen in the consolidation ring and trim the specimen flush with the
top and bottom of the consolidation ring. Record the height, H and diameter, D of the
specimen
Determine the M2 of the consolidated ring and the specimen
Put the lower porous stone on the base of the consolidometer and place the soil
specimen in the ring over the lower porous stone
Place the upper porous stone on the specimen in the ring
Place the consolidometer in the loading device
Attach the vertical deflection dial gauge to measure the compression of the soil
Apply load to the soil specimen and take the dial readings at the respective time
specified on the data sheet. The loads to be applied on a daily basis are also specified
on the data sheet. Also note the days designated for unloading the soil specimen
At the end of the 11th day, remove the soil specimen and determine the moisture
content and the mass of oven dry soil Ms. Mass of dry soil, Ms can also be
determined using :
𝑀s =
0.015
0.02
0.025
0.03
0.035
0.04
0.045
0.05
0.055
0.06
0.065
0.07
0.075 Series1
0.08
0.085 Series2
0.09
0.095 Series3
0.1
0.105 Series4
0.11
0.115 Series5
0.12
0.125 Series6
0.13
0.135
0.14 Series7
0.145
0.15 Series8
0.155
0.16 Series9
0.165
0.17 Series10
0.175
0.18 Series11
0.185
0.19
0.195
0.2
0.205
0.21
0.215
0.22
0.225
0.23
0.235 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000
0.24
Initial
void
D50 (cm) t50 (min) H Hdr CV Ms Area Hs Hv ratio
0.053 1.2 2 0.97 0.156 100.63 20.42 1.85963 0.14 0.075
0.0665 0.76 2 0.97 0.242 100.63 20.42 1.85963 0.14 0.075
0.095 1.76 2 0.95 0.102 100.63 20.42 1.85963 0.14 0.075
0.124 1.66 2 0.94 0.104 100.63 20.42 1.85963 0.14 0.075
0.17 1.66 2 0.92 0.099 100.63 20.42 1.85963 0.14 0.075
0.2145 1 2 0.89 0.157 100.63 20.42 1.85963 0.14 0.075
0.2185 1.24 2 0.89 0.126 100.63 20.42 1.85963 0.14 0.075
0.214 0 2 0.89 ##### 100.63 20.42 1.85963 0.14 0.075
0.211 -0.86 2 0.89 -0.18 100.63 20.42 1.85963 0.14 0.075
0.2165 2.8 2 0.89 0.056 100.63 20.42 1.85963 0.14 0.075
0.238 1.62 2 0.88 0.094 100.63 20.42 1.85963 0.14 0.075
RR = Cr/(1+e0) = 0.002184565
CONCLUSION:
The settlement pattern of the soil (<4mm) upon compression revealed the soil to be clayey in
nature, thus maintaining its consistency and resisting settlement. Besides the compression
index value is too low (<0.3) indicating more soft clayey nature in soil. Moreover the sources
of error in this experiment are measuring the weights of soil sample from digital balance. The
soil samples might not be fully saturated, soil specimens not homogenous or trapping of air
bubbles in soil. Imperfections in the drining apparatus leading to partial dissipation of pore
water pressure.