HOLY NAME UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

CONSOLIDATION TEST
EXPERIMENT NO. 3

Submitted by: Myla J. Cempron

Karen A. Lacea Rate:
Christian Rinz Perocho
Subject: CE 512 L
Date Performed: August 22, 2016
Date Submitted: August 29, 2016

Engr. Virginia Madanguit

Instructor
OBJECTIVE:

This test is performed to determine the magnitude and rate of volume decrease
that a laterally confined soil specimen undergoes when subjected to different vertical
pressures. From the measured data, the consolidation curve (pressure-void ratio
relationship) can be plotted. This data is useful in determining the compression index,
the recompression index and the pre-consolidation pressure (or maximum past
pressure) of the soil. In addition, the data obtained can also be used to determine the
coefficient of consolidation.

INTRODUCTION:

Consolidation is the compression of a saturated soil mass which involves

drainage of water from the voids, volume change, and transfer of stress from the water
to the soil grains. The rate of consolidation is variable; it is dependent on the rate of
drainage or permeability of the soil. Therefore, in granular soils, as sand, the major part
of the process takes place immediately after the load application. On the other hand, in
fine-grained soils, as clay, the process is gradual and slow, which takes many years to
complete.

Initially, all the load is carried by the water. As drainage begins, part of the load is
transferred to the soil grains. Ultimately, when drainage is complete all the load is
carried by the grains. The volume change in the soil mass is equal to the amount of
water drained from the mass. This kind of consolidation is called primary. There is also
secondary consolidation, which is due to plastic action within the soil mass. This occurs
after the completion of the primary consolidation.

In the laboratory consolidation test, an axial load increment is applied on a

laterally confined and saturated sample, until primary consolidation is complete.
Extensometer readings are taken at definite time intervals to measure volume change in
the sample. |Subsequent load increments, twice the preceding, are applied and the
procedure is repeated.

The data obtained from this test are used in calculation of the rate and amount of
settlement of structure. The important soil properties obtained are:
1. Compression Index – an indicator of the compressibility of the soil.

2. Coefficient of consolidation – rate of compression under the imposed load.

Data from all the load increments should be combined to draw the e vs log σ graph and
to obtain the compression index Cc - the parameter used to estimate the consolidation
settlement.

The rate of consolidation settlement is estimated using the Coefficient of consolidation

Cv. This parameter is determined for each load increment in the test. In this laboratory
assignment, the coefficient of consolidation should be estimated using two methods -
the root time method (Taylor's method) and the log (time) method - Casagrande's
method.

EQUIPMENT:

 Consolidometer
 Extensometer assembly with dial gage reading to 0.01 mm (or 0.0001 in)
 Loading device
 Stop watch or timer
 Sample trimming equipment as available or necessary.
 Balance
 Drying Oven
 Moisture cans
 Caliper
PROCEDURE:

The sample preparation should be in accordance with the procedure on the

preparation of undisturbed samples for test

1. Determine the initial load due to lever, hanger, and other accessories. Add this
load to the weights of known magnitude placed on the hanger in computing the
desired pressure on the sample.
2. Measure the height and inside diameter of the sample container.
3. Place the prepared sample in the sample container. Trim carefully the top and
bottom faces of the sample flushed from the container with a wire saw or knife.
4. Center carefully two porous stones, which have been soaked in water, on the top
and bottom surface of the sample.
5. Place the specimen in the consolidometer. Check that it is centered in the base
and the porous stones are not in contact with the container during the test.
6. Center the loading piston on the upper porous stone and adjust the lever to
ascertain that the loads are properly applied.
7. Attach the extensometer assembly to the consolidometer.
8. Throughput the test, check that the sample is completely submerged to assure
saturation and to simulate a soil condition below water table.
9. Apply the first load increment on the sample to give a pressure of about ¼ kg
/sq.cm. Take vertical deflection reading at a total elapsed times of ¼, 1, 2 ¼ 4, 6
¼, 9 minutes, etc, until 90% consolidation is reached. This point is determined by
the Root fitting method, where dial reading and time are plotted in arithmetic
scales during the test. Dial readings may be stopped at 98% consolidation.
However, if sufficient time is available, readings should be taken until the sample
had passed the primary consolidation. Primary or 100% consolidation is
determined by the Log Fitting Method, where dial readings are plotted against log
of time, during the test. By continuing the readings, say for every 12- or 24-hour
period, the consolidation time computed from the two fitting methods can be
compared.
 10. Repeat the procedure of applying the load, taking dial readings at predetermined
time intervals, and plotting the time against dial readings curve, on successive
load increments to give pressure of about ½, 1, 2, 4, and 8 kg/sq. cm.
11. At the completion of the 8 kg/sq.cm. loading, decrease the load to about 2, then
to ¼ kg/sq. cm., to get the rebound curve. Take only the final dial readings at
about the point of maximum expansion.
12. Dismantle the apparatus.
13. Remove the surface water on the sample. Determine the water content of the
entire sample.

DATA AND RESULTS:

Diameter of soil sample = 6.4 cm

Height of soil sample = 2.1 cm

Specific gravity = 2.62

Dry mass = 119.4 g

1. Height of Solids, 𝐻𝑠

𝑊𝑠
𝐻𝑠 =
𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤 𝐴

1𝑘𝑔
(119.4𝑔) (
1000𝑔)
=
(2.62)(1000)(0.064)2

𝐻𝑠 = 1.113 𝑐𝑚

2. Initial Void’s Ratio, 𝑒𝑜

𝐻 = 𝐻𝑠 (1 + 𝑒𝑜 )

2.1 = 1.113(1 + 𝑒𝑜 )

𝑒𝑜 = 0.89

3. Compression Index, 𝐶𝑐

Using Nishida

𝐶𝑐 = 1.15(𝑒𝑜 − 0.27)
 = 1.15(0.89 − 0.27)

𝐶𝑐 = 0.71

4. Recompression Index (Swell Index), 𝐶𝑠

1
𝐶𝑠 = 𝐶
6 𝑐
1
= (0.71)
6
𝐶𝑠 = 0.12

5. Coefficient of Consolidation, 𝐶𝑣

Root Time Method

0.848(𝐻𝑑𝑟 )2
𝐶𝑣 =
𝑡90

𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡90 = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 90% 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

LOAD: 2.04 KG

Time Elapse, Min. Square root of time Dial Reading, mm

0.3 0.55 10.1

0.5 0.71 11.3

1.5 1.22 11.5

1.75 1.32 11.9

2.5 1.58 12.2

3.0 1.73 12.5

 Square Root of Time, min. for 2.04 kg
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8
6

8
Dial Reading

10

11
t90=0.75 min.

12

0.848(𝐻𝑑𝑟 )2
𝐶𝑣 =
𝑡90

1
𝐻𝑑𝑟 = 𝐻 = 1.05 𝑐𝑚
2
0.848(1.05)2
𝐶𝑣 =
60
0.75( 1 )

𝐶𝑣 = 0.021
6. Preconsolidation Pressure, 𝑃𝑐
𝑚
9.81 2
2.04𝑘𝑔( 1000 𝑠 )
𝑝𝑜 = 𝜋
2
4 (0.064)
𝑝𝑜 = 6.22 𝑘𝑃𝑎

𝐶𝑐 𝑝𝑓
∆𝐻 = 𝐻 𝑙𝑜𝑔
1 + 𝑒𝑜 𝑝𝑜

0.43 𝑝𝑓
12.5 = 2.1 ( ) 𝑙𝑜𝑔
1 + 0.64 6.63
𝑝𝑓 = 555.11 𝑘𝑃𝑎
 𝐶𝑠 𝑝𝑐 𝐶𝑐 𝑝𝑓
∆𝐻 = 𝐻 log + 𝐻 log
1 + 𝑒𝑜 𝑝𝑜 1 + 𝑒𝑜 𝑝𝑐

0.072 𝑝𝑐 0.43 555.11

12.1 = 24 ( ) log + 24 ( ) log
1 + 0.64 6.63 1 + 0.64 𝑝𝑐

𝑝𝑐 = 6.63 𝑘𝑃𝑎

CONCLUSION:
Therefore, the compression index (Cc) of the soil sample is 0.43, its
recompression index (Cs) also known as swell index is 0.072, the coefficient of
consolidation (Cv) is 0.027, and the pre-consolidation pressure is 6.63 kPa.