ANALYSIS OF CONSOLIDATION DATA BY A NON-GRAPHICAL MATCHING METHOD

Conventionally the laboratory time-compression data from an odometer t est are analyzed by graphical methods. This involves the determination of initial compression, delta(i), total primary consolidation, delta( 100), and coefficient of consolidation, C-v. The advent of computer-co ntrolled data-logging systems calls for adoption of non-graphical tech niques for analysis of consolidation test data. In this Technical Note a non-graphical matching method is proposed for analyzing the time-co mpression data. The values of delta(i), delta(100), and C-v can be obt ained by direct matching with the theory. The computed time-compressio n curve for this C-v value matches very well with the experimental dat a in the primary consolidation phase. The proposed method is also appl icable to consolidation under conditions of radial drainage. The metho d will be very useful if the data are collected through computer-drive n data-logging systems.