CONSOLIDATON TEST

Instructed By: Dr. Athula Kulathilaka Name : Ratiyala R.Y.S.I. Index No : 030458 Course : B.Sc. Engineering Field : Civil Engineering Date of Per : 04.10.2005 Date of Sub: 20.10.2005

OBJECTIVES

Gain the ability to determine the four most important soil properties furnished by a consolidation test are: 1. The pre-consolidation stress, This is the maximum stress that the soil has p. felt in the past.(Can be determined by the Log Vs e graph) 2. The compression index, Cc , which indicates the compressibility of a normally-consolidated soil. 3. The recompression index, Cr , which indicates the compressibility of an overconsolidated soil. 4. The coefficient of consolidation, cv , which indicates the rate of compression under a load increment. By root time method and log( time ) method

Having a practical experience to determined the coefficient of compressibility mv

EQUIPMENT
Consolidometer (shown in Figure) and dial indicator( oedometer ) Loading frame (lever arm controlled) Timing device

THEORY
Consolidation is defined as the reduction of the volume of a soil due to the expulsion of water. There will be a dissipation of pore water pressures in the process. Laboratory consolidation test is conducted over a number of increments. The number of increments should cover the stress range from the initial stress state of the soil to the final stress state the soil layer is expected to experience due to the proposed construction.

Coefficient of compressibility(mv) h mv = H Coefficient consolidation

a) By square root time (Taylors) method (cv)

Cv t d2 T90 d 2 Cv = t 90 b) By the Log(time) casergranders method T=

Cv =

T50 d 2 t 50

PROCEDURE
The selected soil specimen of 50mm diameter and 20mm thick was placed inside a metal ring with two porous stones, one at the top of the specimen and other at the bottom of it. The load of 25kN/mm2 was applied on the specimen through a lever arm. A micrometer dial gauge was placed to measure the compression. The specimen was kept under water during the test. The settlements were measured start from 0.5min, making the time interval double, as 1min, 2min, 4 min etc. Normal procedure was to keep the load for 24hr and double it. But due to practical reasons, in this experiment, the soil specimen was only kept under initial load for just over 17 hrs.

Specimen calculation

Coefficient of compressibility

h mv = H

mv = 1.710-4 m2 / KN
Coefficient consolidation

a) By square root time (Taylors) method (t90)1/2 = 2.20 min1/2

T= Cv t d2 T90 d 2 Cv = t 90

t90 = 4.84 min

=17.52 mm 2/min

b)

By the Log(time) casergranders method T50 = 0.197

t50 = 1 min
T d 2 C v = 50 t 50 ={0.197 x (20 / 2) 2} / 1.0 =19.7 mm 2/min

Discussion
Consolidation is defined, as the reduction of the volume of a soil due to the expulsions of water.There will be a dissipation of pore water pressures in the process. The rate at which the settlement occurs depends upon the rate at which water is expelled from the soil. This depends on the total head gradient created by the applied loading and the permeability of the soil.There are some factors that affect the rate of consolidation. They are, Permeability of soil Compressibility of soil Layer thickness Boundary consolidations of soil

A method of extrapolating laboratory test results in the settlement analysis is needed in order to predict the settlements of structures in the field. Total settlement is computed from the knowledge of the pre-consolidation pressure, and the coefficients of compression and recompression. The Terzaghi One-Dimensional Theory of Consolidation is commonly used for predicting the rate of settlement. Reasonably good predictions of a structures settlements can be made from the results of carefully run laboratory tests. But often there are some difference between the Predicted settlements and actual settlements. Time rate predictions are also rather poor in practice. When it is required to predict the time rate of settlement of soil in the field, it is necessary to know the coefficient of consolidation Cv- for the soil. In laboratory tests, we adopt some particular conditions, which could always not be true in field. For example, in lab test, we maintain one dimensional drainage condition, (preferably in vertical direction) but drainage conditions in the field are not always been vertical. Therefore, better predictions, naturally, can be made when drainage conditions in the field are accurately known. In addition, the presence of drainage boundaries through which water may be explled has a significant effect on the rate of consolidation. On the other hand, the soil involved experiences most of its settlement due to primary consolidation. Not only that, in the lab test we determined the uniform settlement throughout the whole specimen area. But in general differential settlement would be occurred. Sometimes large mass of soil strata under the ground would be subjected to a rapid shear or shock loading, from which the time required for consolidation after a load application is high. In those situations the results that drown from laboratory test would be slightly deviated. To improve the accuracy of the test result following regulations would be applicable. Become familiar with the apparatus. Specifically, How the load will be applied. Units of the dial gage, and in which direction it will move when load is applied.

Checking the dial gauge for friction. The reading error should be minimized Should keep apparatus undisturbed

In order to have a better test results, the following consideration with apparatus are important. Note that the specimen is contained by a relatively rigid ring; thus compression and consolidation are one-dimensional. The dial indicator, accurate to 0.0001 in. or 0.0025 mm, measures the change in height of the specimen after the load has been applied.

In our practical, we had large difference for Cv values from by the Log (time)-casergranders method and by square root time (Taylors) method, would be mainly because of the reading errors that have done during the practical. It would specially cause by reading of time elapsing between two readings. As it will change the whole results of the experiment, accurate measure of the starting time of applying loads has to be taken.

References

Lecture Notes University of Washington ASTM D2435: Standard Test Method for One-Dimensional Consolidation Properties of Soils. Holtz and Kovacs. (1981). An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering. Chaps 8 and 9.