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Consolidation: Elastic Settlement or Immediate Settlement

This document discusses consolidation in civil engineering and soil mechanics. It defines consolidation as the decrease in volume of a saturated soil mass due to the expulsion of water from voids between soil particles under an applied load. The total settlement consists of three components: immediate elastic settlement, primary consolidation settlement as water drains out over time causing rearrangement of particles, and secondary consolidation or creep settlement as particles continue to rearrange at constant effective stress. The rate of primary consolidation depends on soil permeability and pore water pressure dissipation. An analogy using a spring, container of water, and drain hole is provided to illustrate the consolidation process.

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69 views

Consolidation: Elastic Settlement or Immediate Settlement

This document discusses consolidation in civil engineering and soil mechanics. It defines consolidation as the decrease in volume of a saturated soil mass due to the expulsion of water from voids between soil particles under an applied load. The total settlement consists of three components: immediate elastic settlement, primary consolidation settlement as water drains out over time causing rearrangement of particles, and secondary consolidation or creep settlement as particles continue to rearrange at constant effective stress. The rate of primary consolidation depends on soil permeability and pore water pressure dissipation. An analogy using a spring, container of water, and drain hole is provided to illustrate the consolidation process.

Uploaded by

Nickson Koms
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LECTURE 21

CONSOLIDATION
Introduction
Civil Engineers build structures and the soil beneath these structures is loaded. This results in increase of stresses
resulting in strain leading to settlement of stratum. The settlement is due to decrease in volume of soil mass. When
water in the voids and soil particles are assumed as incompressible in a completely saturated soil system then -
reduction in volume takes place due to expulsion of water from the voids. There will be rearrangement of soil
particles in air voids created by the outflow of water from the voids. This rearrangement reflects as a volume change
leading to compression of saturated fine grained soil resulting in settlement. The rate of volume change is related to
the rate at which pore water moves out which in turn depends on the permeability of soil. Therefore the deformation
due to increase of stress depends on the “Compressibility of soils”
As Civil Engineers we need to provide answers for
1. Total settlement (volume change)
2. Time required for the settlement of compressible layer
The total settlement consists of three components
1. Immediate settlement.
2. Primary consolidation settlement
3. Secondary consolidation settlement (Creep settlement)
St = Si + Sc + Ssc
Elastic Settlement or Immediate Settlement
This settlement occurs immediately after the load is applied. This is due to distortion (change in shape) at constant
volume. There is negligible flow of water in less pervious soils. In case of pervious soils the flow of water is quick at
constant volume. This is determined by elastic theory.

Under Revision
Primary Consolidation Settlement

Figure Settlement versus Time


It occurs due to expulsion of pore water from the voids of a saturated soil. In case of saturated fine grained soils, the
deformation is due to squeezing of water from the pores leading to rearrangement of soil particles. The movement
of pore water depends on the permeability and dissipation of pore water pressure. With the passage of time the
pore water pressure dissipates, the rate of flow decreases and finally the flow of water ceases. During this process
there is gradual dissipation of pore water pressure and a simultaneous increase of effective stress as shown in the
above Figure. The consolidation settlement occurs from the time water begins move out from the pores to the time
at which flow ceases from the voids. This is also the time from which the excess pore water pressure starts
reducing (effective stress increase) to the time at which complete dissipation of excess pore water pressure (total
stress equal to effective stress). This time dependent compression is called “Consolidation settlement”.
Primary consolidation is a major component of settlement of fine grained saturated soils and this can be estimated
from the theory of consolidation.
In case of saturated soil mass the applied stress is borne by pore water alone in the initial stages

With passage of time water starts flowing out from the voids as a result the excess pore water pressure decreases and
simultaneous increase in effective stress will takes place. The volume change is basically due to the change in
effective stress After considerable amount of time (t =0) flow from the voids ceases the effective stress stabilizes and
will be is equal to external applied total stress and this stage signifies the end of primary consolidation.

Secondary Consolidation Settlement:-


This is also called Secondary compression (Creep). “It is the change in volume of a fine grained soil due to

Under Revision
rearrangement of soil particles (fabric) at constant effective stress”. The rate of secondary consolidation is very slow
when compared with primary consolidation.

Figure Effective Stress versus Time

Under Revision
Figure Mechanism of volume change in saturated fine grained soil under external loading

When saturated soil mass is subjected to external load decrease in volume takes place due to rearrangement of soil
particles. Reduction in volume is due to expulsion of water from the voids. The volume change depends on the rate
at which water is expelled and it is a function of permeability.
The total vertical deformation (Consolidation settlement) depends on
1. Magnitude of applied pressure
2. Thickness of the saturated deposit
We are concerned with
_ Measurement of volume change
_ The time duration required for the volume change

Spring Analogy
The consolidation process is often explained with an idealized system composed of a spring, a container with a hole
in its cover, and water. In this system, the spring represents the compressibility or the structure itself of the soil, and
the water which fills the container represents the pore water in the soil.
On figure , the tube on the left of the container shows the water pressure in the container.

Under Revision
Figure: process of consolidation
1. The container is completely filled with water, and the hole is closed. (Fully saturated soil)
2. A load is applied onto the cover, while the hole is still unopened. At this stage, only the
water resists the applied load. (Development of excessive pore water pressure)
3. As soon as the hole is opened, water starts to drain out through the hole and the spring
shortens. (Drainage of excessive pore water)
4. After some time, the drainage of water no longer occurs. Now, the spring alone resists the
applied load. (Full dissipation of excessive pore water pressure. End of consolidation)

Under Revision

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