CONSOLIDATION TEST

INTRODUCTION:

Consolidation settlement occurs due to gradual expulsion of water from the voids of
the soil. Consolidation is the process of time dependent settlement of saturated clayey
soil when subjected to loading.

OBJECTIVES:

1.To determine important parameters related to consolidation.

coefficient of consolidation ( Cv)
compression index ( Cc).

2. To determine the amount of settlement due to primary consolidation of soil by

conducting uni. dimensional test.

NEED AND SCOPE:

This test is carried out to determine the settlement due to primary consolidation. The
main scope is to determine:

i. Rate of consolidation under normal load.

ii. Degree of consolidation at any time.
iii. Pressure-void ratio relationship.
iv. Coefficient of consolidation at various pressures.
v. Compression index.

By determination of the above parameters it will be possible for us to predict the time
rate and extent of settlement of structures having foundation on fine-grained soils. It is
also helpful in analyzing the stress history of soil. Since the settlement analysis of the
foundation depends mainly on the values determined by the test, this test is very
important for foundation design.
EQUIPMENTS:

1. Consolidation unit.
2. Specimen trimming device.
3. Wire saw.
4. Balance sensitive to 0.01 g.
5. Stop watch.
6. Moisture can.
7. Oven.

PROCEDURE:

1. Prepare a soil specimen for the test. The specimen is prepared by

trimming an undisturbed natural sample obtained in Shelby tubes. The
Shelby tube sample should be about (6.35 mm to 12.7 mm) larger in
diameter than the specimen diameter to be prepared for the test.

2. Collect some excess soil that has been trimmed in a moisture can for
moisture content determination.

3. Collect some of the excess soil trimmed in step 1 for determination of the
specific gravity of soil solids, Gs.

4. Determine the weight of the consolidation ring (W1).

5. Place the soil specimen in the consolidation ring. Use the wire saw to trim
the specimen flush with the top and bottom of the consolidation ring. Record
the size of the specimen.

6. Determine the weight of the consolidation ring and the specimen (W2).

7. Saturate the lower porous stone on the base of the consolidometer.

8. Place the soil specimen in the ring over the lower porous stone.

9. Place the upper porous stone on the specimen in the ring.

10. Attach the top ring to the base of the consolidometer.

11. Add water to the consolidometer to submerge the soil and keep it
saturated. In the case of the fixed ring consolidometer, the outside ring
(attached to the top of the base) and the stand pipe connection attached to the
base should be kept full with water. This needs to be done for the entire
period of the test.
 12. Place the consolidometer in the loading device.

13. Attach the vertical deflection dial gauge to measure the compression of
soil. It should be fixed in such a way that the dial is at the beginning of its
release run. The dial gauge should be calibrated to read as 1 small div= 0.01
mm.

14. Apply load to the specimen such that the magnitude of pressure, p, on the
specimen is 1/2 ton/ft2 (47.88 kN/m2). Take the vertical deflection dial gauge
reading at the following times, t, counted from the time of the load
application: 0 min, 25 sec, 60 sec, 120 sec, 240 sec, 480 sec …….etc.

15. The next day, add more load to the specimen such that the total magnitude
of pressure on the specimen. Take the vertical dial gauge reading at similar
time intervals stated in step 14. Note, here we have Δp/p=1 (where
Δp=increase of pressure and p= the existing pressure).

16. Repeat Step 15 for soil pressure etc… Note: In all cases ( Δp/p=1).

17. At the end of the test, remove the soil specimen and determine its
moisture content.

DATA AND OBSERVATION:

Specific gravity of soil: 2.76 (clay) O.W.C : 24 %

Dry density : 1.78 g/cm^3 . D = 7.5 cm , H=2 cm

Dial Gauge = 0.01 mm (least count)

1st day 2nd day 3rd day 4th day 5th day

Time Dial reading Dial reading Dial reading Dial reading Dial reading
(Min.) at 4 kg at 8 kg at 16 kg at 24 kg at 32 kg
0.25 60 88 125 207 308
0.5 64 90 129 210 310
0.75 65 91 134 211 312
1 68 92 134 213 316
2 70 94 136 217 320
4 71 96 138 220 322
8 72 98 141 224 325
15 73 101 143 227 327
30 73 103 147 234 332
60 73 106 152 243 342
120 74 107 157 251 350
240 74 109 164 257 356
1440 75 111 183 281 372
* each of the above dial readings are in (mm).
* each division = 0.01 mm.

RESULTS:
The following graphs show the results;
CALCULATIONS:

1. Height of solids (HS) is calculated from the equation

HS = WS / (Gs ´ A x ρ)

2. Voids ratio at the end of various pressures are calculated from equation

e = (H – HS)/HS

3. The Coefficient of consolidation at each pressures increment is calculated by using

the following equations:

i. Cv = 0.197 d2/t50 (Log fitting method)

ii. Cv = 0.848 d2/t90 (Square fitting method)

In the log fitting method, a plot is made between dial reading and logarithmic of time,
the time corresponding to 50% consolidation is determined.

In the square root fitting method, a plot is made between dial readings and square root
of time and the time corresponding to 90% consolidation is determined. The values of
Cv are recorded in table II.

4. Compression Index. To determine the compression index, a plot of voids ratio (e)
Vs log t is made. The initial compression curve would be a straight line and the slope
of this line would give the compression index Cc.

5. Coefficient of compressibility. It is calculated as follows

av = 0.435 Cc/Avg. pressure  for the increment

where Cc = Coefficient of compressibility

6. Coefficient of permeability. It is calculated as follows

K = Cv.av *(unit weight of water)/(1+e).

GRAPHS:

1. Dial reading VS log of time or

Dial reading VS square root of time.

2. Voids ratio VS log¢s (average pressure for the increment).

DISCUSSION:

1.when a soil specimen is subjected to an incremental loading it will be deformed and

the value of the void ratio will be decreased.

2.If clayey soils are found at the site the consolidation will occur depending on:
a. degree of saturation
b. coefficient of permeability.
c. viscosity of the fluid.
d. hydraulic gradient.
Depending on the above parameters consolidation can be considered as a function of
time.
3. The principle of consolidation could be interpreted by a model consist of container
filled of water and perfectly closed by plate fixed on a spring. Then water represents
the moisture in the soil and the spring represents the soil particles.
4.The initial stage represents the instrument with the closed openings to prevent
seepage and from influencing on the sample (because water is incompressible
material).
5. Then openings of the instrument will be opened to release the load to the sample
(you must remove the pivot) pressure from the external load will occur when water
flow out of the sample and make the deformation in the spring.

CONCLUSION:

IT MAY BE CONCLUDED THAT:

The above-mentioned parameters are very important for the foundations design to
specify the amount and type of settlement which may occur in the soil with time and
to determine its effects in the structures and generally it considered that consolidation
test is one of the very important investigation tests.
References:

&) soil mechanics laboratory by Braja M. Das .

&) soil mechanics book by R.Whitlow , third edition .

&) searching in the web google.com .

Jordan University of science & technology

Soil mechanics lab. CE463

Submitted by : Husam Hussein Moh. Al-shurayqi

20030023027

EXP .# (11)

CONSOLIDATION TEST

Instructor : Osama nusair

T.A / Eng: Wesam te3ani