CONSOLIDATION

ANALYSIS
-stuff you should know to complete your lab
assignment

CIE 366: Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Originally by Mike St. Pierre, 2007
Modified by Will Manion, 2008

Coefficient of Consolidation
(cv)

For every load increment

10 increments -- 10 plots

Holtz and Kovacs(1981) section 9.4, pg 395

Use the Casagrande logarithm of time curve
fitting method.

Fig. 9.7 on page 398 shows it nicely.

Coefficient of Consolidation
(cv)

cv

T50 H dr50
t50

cv (cm2/sec)
T50 = time factor at U = 50%
Hdr50 = height of drainage at
U = 50%
t50 = time at U = 50%
U = percent of primary consolidation

From Table 9-1 pg 390

If Uavg = 50%, T50 = 0.197

Coefficient of Consolidation (cv)

Casagrande log time method

Construct a plot of dial reading vs. log of time

Figure 9.7, pg 398

To determine

Ho = Initial height of specimen

Rstart = 0 (if you zeroed the dial at the beginning of the test)

R50 you determine from the plot

H dr50

H o ( R50 Rstart )

Coefficient of Consolidation (cv)

Casagrande log time method:

have to plot data points and complete

RMay
50
construction on paper see next slide

determine Ro, when U = 0%

this is NOT your first reading

determine R100, when U = 100%

then average to find R50,

which then graphically corresponds to t50

Ro

R, the same distance

R1
R2

R
R1 at t1
R2 at t2 (t2 = t1 x 4)
R = R2 R1

Ro

R100

Ro

R50 = (R100-Ro) / 2

R100

Void Ratio (e) versus Log

Stress ()

Determine initial height and final height for

load increment
Calculate the void ratio for each load
increment
Plot e versus log effective stress

You will have to print the plot and perform the

construction on paper show all work
Holtz and Kovacs (1981) Figure 8.6, pg 296

On paper, determine values

from the

Void
(e) versus
Log
UsingRatio
methodology
from Figure
8.6 Stress

()
plot the (most probable)
Determine
preconsolidation pressure (p)

Steps from Holtz and Kovacs pg 296

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Choose point of maximum curvature (point A)

Draw horizontal line from point A
Draw tangent to curve at point A
Bisect angle made in Steps 2 and 3
Extend straight line portion of virgin compression curve
through bisector line

Minimum Possible

Most Probable
eo

5
2
1
4
Maximum Possible
3

On paper, determine values

from the

Void
Ratio
(e) versus
Determine
compression
indexLog
(Cc) Stress
Slope
()
plotof virgin compression curve aka the steep

part of curve
Holtz and Kovacs Figure 8.9 pg 316 graphically
Holtz and Kovacs Figure 8.7 pg 313 analytically

Determine recompression index (Cr)

Slope of the unloading/reloading part of curve

Holtz and Kovacs Figure 8.9 pg 316

Details, Details, Details

Consolidation Memo

Due three weeks from today

ONE PAPER COPY for the whole group
Hand draw constructions (Make them neat)
11 plot attachments (label them appropriately)

Each lab member responsible for ONE

loading increment and cv plot

Sign bottom right hand corner