Coefficient of consolidation by inflection point method

The coefficient of consolidation in the Terzaghi theory of consolidation ha s been commonly determined by fitting the theory to observed compression wi th time in an incremental loading oedometer test. The Terzaghi theory is ap plicable to compression and swelling. A similar coefficient governed by hor izontal permeability is used in the Barren formulation of consolidation wit h vertical drains. The most widely used graphical methods of Casagrande and Taylor, which fit the theory to observed data at 50 and 90% primary compre ssion, respectively, are rather laborious. The inflection point method requ ires only a visual identification of the inflection point on the compressio n versus log time curve. The values of coefficients of consolidation by the simple inflection point method are quite similar to those from the Casagra nde method.