Abstract

The successful calculation of the progress of consolidation requires that both the theory used to model the field problem and the material properties used by the theory must be appropriate and suitable. Thus the testing procedure must provide reliable and consistent information on the material behavior. Further, the test procedure must be accompanied by methods of analysis that will produce values of the material properties that are appropriate to the theory.

This paper presents a summary of the existing laboratory methods that are used to determine the consolidation properties of soils. Emphasis is placed on the analysis of the test data. It is shown that all the methods that are currently used contain inherent simplifying assumptions. These methods are restricted in their applicability to problems where linear or constant material properties or both are good approximations to real behavior.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
clays, consolidation rate, soils, laboratory tests

References

1.
Terzaghi
,
K.
, “
Die Berechnung der Durchlassigkeitisziffer des Tones aus dem Verlauf der Hydrodynamischen Spannungserscheinungen
,”
Akademie der Wissenchaften in Wien, Sitzungsberichte, Mathematisch-naturwissenschaftliche Klasse
, Part IIa, Vol.
132
, No.
3/4
,
1923
, pp.
125
-
138
.
2.
Gibson
,
R. E.
,
England
,
G. L.
, and
Hussey
,
M. J. L.
, “
The Theory of One-Dimensional Consolidation of Saturated Clays, I. Finite Non-Linear Consolidation of Thin Homogeneous Layers
,”
Geotechnique
 0016-8505, Vol.
17
,
09
1967
, pp.
261
-
273
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
3.
Gibson
,
R. E.
,
Schiffman
,
R. L.
, and
Cargill
,
K. W.
, “
The Theory of One-Dimensional Consolidation of Saturated Clays, II. Finite Non-Linear Consolidation of Thick Homogeneous Layers
,”
Canadian Geotechnical Journal
 0008-3674, Vol.
18
,
05
1981
, pp.
280
-
293
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
4.
McNabb
,
A.
, “
A Mathematic Treatment of One-Dimensional Soil Consideration
,”
Quarterly of Applied Mathematics
 0033-569X, Vol.
17
,
01
1960
, pp.
337
-
347
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
5.
Schiffman
,
R. L.
, “
Finite and Infinitesimal Strain Consolidation
,”
Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers
, Vol.
106
, No.
GT2
,
02
1980
, pp.
115
-
119
.
6.
Terzaghi
,
K.
 and
Frohlich
,
O. K.
,
Theorie der Setzung von Tonschichten: eine Einfuhrung in die Analytische Tonmechanik
,
F. Deutike
,
Leipzig, Germany
,
1936
.
7.
Znidarcic
,
D.
 and
Schiffman
,
R. L.
, “
On Terzaghi's Concept of Consolidation
,”
Geotechnique
 0016-8505, Vol.
32
,
12
1982
, pp.
387
-
389
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
8.
Pane
,
V.
,
Croce
,
P.
,
Znidarcic
,
D.
,
Ko
,
H.-Y.
,
Olsen
,
H. W.
, and
Schiffman
,
R. L.
, “
Effects of Consolidation on Permeability Measurements for Soft Clay
,”
Geotechnique
 0016-8505, Vol.
33
,
03
1982
, pp.
67
-
72
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
9.
Marchulk
,
G. I.
,
Methods of Numerical Mathematics, Applications of Mathematics
, Translation of Metody Vychislitel'noi Mathematiki, Vol.
2
,
Springer-Verlag, Inc.
,
New York
,
1975
.
10.
Ko
,
H.-Y.
 and
Scott
,
R. F.
, “
Deconvolution Techniques for Linear Systems
,”
Bulletin of Seismological Society of America
, Vol.
57
,
12
1967
, pp.
1393
-
1408
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
11.
Aboshi
,
H.
,
Yoshikuni
,
H.
, and
Maruyama
,
S.
, “
Constant Loading Rate Consolidation Test
,”
Soils and Foundations
, Vol.
10
, No.
1
,
03
1979
, pp.
43
-
56
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
12.
Gorman
,
C. T.
,
Hopkins
,
T. C.
,
Deen
,
R. D.
, and
Drenevich
,
V. P.
, “
Constant-Rate of Strain and Controlled Gradient Consolidation Testing
,”
Geotechnical Testing Journal
 0149-6115, Vol.
1
, No.
1
,
03
1978
, pp.
3
-
15
.
13.
Smith
,
R. E.
, “
A Study of Consolidation of Cohesive Soils Under Constant Rates of Strain
,” Ph.D. dissertation,
Department of Civil Engineering, North Carolina State University of Raleigh
, Raleigh, NC,
1967
.
14.
Smith
,
R. E.
 and
Wahls
,
H. E.
, “
Consolidation Under Constant Rates of Strain
,”
Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division, Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers
, Vol.
95
, No.
SM2
,
03
1969
, pp.
519
-
539
.
15.
Lee
,
K.
, “
Consolidation with Constant Rate of Deformation
,”
Geotechnique
 0016-8505, Vol.
31
,
06
1981
, pp.
295
-
329
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
16.
Lowe
,
J.
 III,
Jonas
,
E.
, and
Obrcian
,
V.
, “
Controlled Gradient Consolidation Test
,”
Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division, Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers
, Vol.
95
, No.
SM1
,
1969
, pp.
77
-
97
.
17.
Janbu
,
N.
,
Tokheim
,
O.
, and
Senneset
,
K.
, “
Consolidation Tests with Continuous Loading
,”
Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering
, Vol.
1
,
1981
, pp.
645
-
654
.
18.
Imai
,
G.
, “
Development of a New Consolidation Test Procedure Using Seepage Force
,”
Soils and Foundations
, Vol.
19
, No.
3
,
09
1979
, pp.
45
-
60
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
19.
Znidarcic
,
D.
, “
Laboratory Determination of Consolidation Properties of Cohesive Soil
,” Ph.D. dissertation,
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado
, Boulder, CO,
1982
.
20.
Terzaghi
,
C.
, “
Principles of Final Soil Classification
,”
Public Roads
 0033-3735, Vol.
8
, No.
3
,
04
1927
, pp.
41
-
53
.
21.
Terzaghi
,
K.
,
Erdbaumechanik auf bodenphysikalischer Grundlage
,
Deuticke
,
Wien, Austria
,
1925
.
22.
Scott
,
R. F.
, “
New Method of Consolidation-Coefficient Evaluation
,”
Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers
, Vol.
106
, No.
GT2
,
1980
, pp.
115
-
119
.
23.
Crawford
,
C. G.
, “
Interpretation of the Consolidation Test
,”
Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division, Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers
, Vol.
90
, No.
SM5
,
09
1964
, pp.
87
-
102
.
24.
Gilboy
,
G.
, “
Improved Soil Testing Methods
,”
Engineering News Record
,
21
05
1936
, pp.
732
-
734
.
25.
“
Soil Mechanics Nomenclature
,”
Manuals of Engineering Practice
, No.
22
,
American Society of Civil Engineers
,
New York
,
1941
.
26.
Taylor
,
D. W.
, “
Research on Consolidation of Clays
,” Serial 82,
Department of Civil and Sanitary Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
,
Cambridge, MA
,
1942
.
27.
Lee
,
K.
, “
An Analytical and Experimental Study of Large Strain Consolidation
,” Ph.D. dissertation,
University of Oxford
, Oxford, United Kingdom,
1979
.
28.
Been
,
K.
 and
Sills
,
G. C.
, “
Self-weight Consolidation of Soft Soils: An Experimental and Theoretical Study
,”
Geotechnique
 0016-8505, Vol.
31
,
1981
, pp.
519
-
535
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
29.
Hamilton
,
J. J.
 and
Crawford
,
C. B.
, “
Improved Determination of Preconsolidation Pressure of a Sensitive Clay
,”
Paper on Soils, 1959 Meetings
, STP 254,
American Society for Testing and Materials
,
Philadelphia
, pp.
254
-
271
.
30.
Wissa
,
A. E. Z.
,
Christian
,
J. T.
,
Davis
,
E. H.
, and
Heiberg
,
S.
, “
Analysis of Consolidation at Constant Strain Rate
,”
Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division, Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers
, Vol.
97
, No.
SM10
,
10
1971
, pp.
1393
-
1413
.
31.
Umehara
,
Y.
 and
Zen
,
K.
, “
Constant Rate of Strain Consolidation for Very Soft Clayey Soils
,”
Soils and Foundations
, Vol.
20
, No.
2
,
06
1980
, pp.
79
-
95
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
32.
Mikasa
,
M.
,
The Consolidation of Soft Clay, A New Consolidation Theory and its Application
,
Kajima Institution Publishing Co., Ltd.
,
Tokyo, Japan
,
1963
, in Japanese.
33.
Mikasa
,
M.
, “
The Consolidation of Soft Clay, A New Consolidation Theory and Its Application
,”
Japanese Society of Civil Engineers
(reprint from Civil Engineering in Japan,
1965
, pp.
21
-
26
).
34.
Pane
,
V.
 and
Schiffman
,
R. L.
, “
A Comparison Between Two Theories of Finite Strain Consolidation
,”
Soils and Foundations
, Vol.
21
, No.
4
,
12
1981
, pp.
81
-
84
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
35.
Schiffman
,
R. L.
, “
Consolidation of Soil Under Time-Dependent Loading and Varying Permeability
,”
Proceedings of the Highway Research Board
, Vol.
37
,
1958
, pp.
584
-
617
.
This content is only available via PDF.
All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or copied, in whole or in part, in any printed, mechanical, electronic, film, or other distribution and storage media, without the written consent of ASTM International.
You do not currently have access to this content.