A 4 m thick layer of normally consolidated clay (Cc = 0.45, e₀ = 1.2) has an effective vertical stress of 85 kPa at its mid-depth. A wide fill raises the vertical stress in the clay by 40 kPa. Treat the layer as one sublayer with the stresses at its mid-depth. Find the primary consolidation settlement S in mm.
Consolidation settlement worksheet with answers
A 6 m thick layer of normally consolidated clay (Cc = 0.15, e₀ = 0.65) has an effective vertical stress of 90 kPa at its mid-depth. A wide fill raises the vertical stress in the clay by 50 kPa. Treat the layer as one sublayer with the stresses at its mid-depth. Find the primary consolidation settlement S in mm.
A 3 m thick overconsolidated clay layer has Cc = 0.5, Cr = 0.06 and e₀ = 0.75. At its mid-depth the effective vertical stress is 40 kPa and the overconsolidation ratio is OCR = 3. A new building adds 120 kPa of vertical stress at mid-depth. Find the primary consolidation settlement S in mm.
An 8 m thick overconsolidated clay layer has Cc = 0.2, Cr = 0.02 and e₀ = 0.9. At its mid-depth the effective vertical stress is 80 kPa and the preconsolidation pressure is 130 kPa. A new building adds 90 kPa of vertical stress at mid-depth. Find the primary consolidation settlement S in mm.
In a laboratory oedometer test, a clay specimen 19 mm thick, drained at the top and bottom, reaches 50% consolidation in 12 min. In the field the same clay forms a layer 4.5 m thick. It lies on impervious rock, with sand above it, so water drains out only at the top. How many days t does the field layer take to reach 50% consolidation?
In a laboratory oedometer test, a clay specimen 25 mm thick, drained at the top and bottom, reaches 50% consolidation in 15 min. In the field the same clay forms a layer 7.5 m thick. It lies on impervious rock, with sand above it, so water drains out only at the top. How many days t does the field layer take to reach 50% consolidation?
Answer key
- 1. S = 137 mm
- 2. S = 104.7 mm
- 3. S = 156.2 mm
- 4. S = 115.9 mm
- 5. t = 1870 days
- 6. t = 3750 days
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