CONSOLIDATION BEHAVIOR OF SOILS

Based on Terzaghi's consolidation theory, percent of consolidation, Ii . versus the time factor, T, relationship for constant/ linear excess pore water pressure distribution, it is possible to generate theoretic al log(10)(H-2/t) versus U curves where H is the length of the drainag e path of a consolidating layer, and r is the time for different known values of the coefficient of consolidation, c(v). A method has been d eveloped wherein both the theoretical and experimental behavior of soi ls during consolidation can be simultaneously compared and studied on the same plot. The experimental log (10)(H-2/t) versus U curves have b een compared with the theoretical curves. The deviations of the experi mental behavior from the theory are explained in terms of initial comp ression and secondary compression. Analysis of results indicates that the secondary compression essentially starts from about 60% consolidat ion. A simple procedure is presented for calculating the value of c(v) from the delta-t data using log(10)(H-2/t) versus U plot.