Consolidation Analysis by the Slope and Settlement Rate - Settlement Methods

This paper presents results of consolidation analysis using two recently developed methods for obtaining the coefficient of consolidation ( Cv ) and the end-of-primary (EOP) settlement δ p . The first method (the slope method, Al-Zoubi, 2008b) computes Cv and EOP δp entirely from the early stages of consolidation at U≤ 52.6 % using the observed linear section of δt - √t plot. The second method (the settlement rate - settlement method: Al-Zoubi, 2010) computes Cv and δp entirely from the later stages of consolidation at U≤ 52.6 % using the observed linear section of settlement rate - settlement curve (i.e., d δt / dt - δt curve). Extensive experimental results of oedometer tests on four clayey soils show that the two methods ive quite similar Cv and δp values that are also in good agreement with those of the Casagrande method. These results also show that the Taylor method Cv values are generally lower than those of the slope, settlement rate – settlement and Casagrande methods.