CONSOLIDATION PROPERTIES OF SOIL SLURRIES FORM HYDRAULIC CONSOLIDATION TEST

Finite strain consolidation theory is commonly used for the initial de sign and later reclamation of disposal facilities far highly compressi ble waste materials such as phosphatic clays, dredgings, and mine tail ings. An alternative technique is presented for performing a hydraulic consolidation test to measure the required compressibility and hydrau lic conductivity constitutive relationships of such materials. Closed- form equations are derived for the discharge velocity and the distribu tion of total head, pore pressure, and effective stress at steady flow conditions for a hydraulic consolidation test. A two-stage test proce dure is described in which the specimen height and discharge velocity are measured for two successive hydraulic gradients. At the conclusion of the second stage, the distribution of local void ratio is obtained by slicing the specimen. Analysis of the test results has advantages in comparison to other available approaches because specialized numeri cal procedures are not required to calculate the desired constitutive relationships for a soil specimen. Theoretical predictions from the mo del are in close agreement with experimental measurements for hydrauli c consolidation tests of two clay slurries.