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Geotechnical Engineering II: Department of Civil Engineering

This document discusses consolidation settlement in soils. It explains that when a saturated soil is loaded, the pore water pressure increases, initially carrying the load. As the water drains out over time, the load is transferred to the soil structure, reducing its volume and causing consolidation settlement. This settlement occurs more rapidly in sandy soils due to their higher permeability, while in clayey soils with lower permeability, consolidation settlement continues for a longer period after initial loading.

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33 views6 pages

Geotechnical Engineering II: Department of Civil Engineering

This document discusses consolidation settlement in soils. It explains that when a saturated soil is loaded, the pore water pressure increases, initially carrying the load. As the water drains out over time, the load is transferred to the soil structure, reducing its volume and causing consolidation settlement. This settlement occurs more rapidly in sandy soils due to their higher permeability, while in clayey soils with lower permeability, consolidation settlement continues for a longer period after initial loading.

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সামিউল হাসান শান্ত
Copyright
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CE 333

Geotechnical Engineering II

Sultan Mohammad Farooq


Sheikh Sharif Ahmed

Department of Civil Engineering


Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology
Consolidation Settlement

 When a saturated soil mass is subjected to a stress


increase, the pore water pressure is suddenly increased.

 The load is usually carried initially by the water in the


pores because the water is incompressible in comparison
with the soil structure.

 The pressure which results in the water due to the stress


increase is called Hydrostatic Excess Pressure because it
is in excess of that pressure due to the weight of water.
Consolidation Settlement

 As the water drains from the soil pores, the load


increment is shifted to the soil structure.

 Pore water drainage is accompanied by a reduction in the


volume of the soil mass equal to the volume of water
drained.

 This reduction in volume change of soil mass causes


consolidation settlement.
Consolidation Settlement

 In sandy soils, the drainage caused by the increase in the


pore water pressure is completed immediately because of
their high permeability or hydraulic conductivity.

 Hence, the immediate settlement and consolidation


settlement occurs simultaneously.
Consolidation Settlement

 But in case of clayey soils, the hydraulic conductivity is


significantly smaller than that of sandy soils.

 Therefore, the excess pore water pressure generated by


loading gradually dissipates over a long period of time.

 Thus, the associated volume change (i.e. consolidation) in


the clayey soils may continue for a long period of time
after the immediate settlement.

 The settlement caused by consolidation in clay may be


several times greater than the immediate settlement.

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