Consolidation settlement worksheet with answers

Free printable Consolidation settlement worksheet: 6 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy
Δσ = 65 kPasandγ = 17.5 kN/m³4 mclayγsat​ = 18 kN/m³Cc​ = 0.5, e0​ = 1.14 mwater tableX

A 4 m thick normally consolidated clay layer (γsat = 18 kN/m³, Cc = 0.5, e₀ = 1.1) lies below 4 m of sand (γ = 17.5 kN/m³). The water table is at the top of the clay; use γw = 9.81 kN/m³. A wide fill raises the vertical stress throughout the clay by 65 kPa. Treat the layer as one sublayer with the stresses at its mid-depth. Find the primary consolidation settlement S in mm.

sand: Hs = 4 m, γ = 17.5 kN/m³clay: H = 4 m, γsat = 18 kN/m³γw = 9.81 kN/m³Cc = 0.5e0 = 1.1Δσ = 65 kPa
S = mm
2.Easy
Δσ = 20 kPasandγ = 19 kN/m³5 mclayγsat​ = 18.5 kN/m³Cc​ = 0.4, e0​ = 0.955 mwater tableX

A 5 m thick normally consolidated clay layer (γsat = 18.5 kN/m³, Cc = 0.4, e₀ = 0.95) lies below 5 m of sand (γ = 19 kN/m³). The water table is at the top of the clay; use γw = 9.81 kN/m³. A wide fill raises the vertical stress throughout the clay by 20 kPa. Treat the layer as one sublayer with the stresses at its mid-depth. Find the primary consolidation settlement S in mm.

sand: Hs = 5 m, γ = 19 kN/m³clay: H = 5 m, γsat = 18.5 kN/m³γw = 9.81 kN/m³Cc = 0.4e0 = 0.95Δσ = 20 kPa
S = mm
3.Medium
Δσ = 140 kPasandclayCc​ = 0.45, Cr​ = 0.02e0​ = 0.85σ′0​ = 55 kPaOCR = 36.5 mwater table

A 6.5 m thick overconsolidated clay layer has Cc = 0.45, Cr = 0.02 and e₀ = 0.85. At its mid-depth the effective vertical stress is 55 kPa and the overconsolidation ratio is OCR = 3. A new building adds 140 kPa of vertical stress at mid-depth. Find the primary consolidation settlement S in mm.

H = 6.5 mCc = 0.45Cr = 0.02e0 = 0.85σ′0 = 55 kPaOCR = 3Δσ = 140 kPa
S = mm
4.Medium
Δσ = 110 kPasandclayCc​ = 0.2, Cr​ = 0.04e0​ = 0.6σ′0​ = 40 kPaOCR = 2.57 mwater table

A 7 m thick overconsolidated clay layer has Cc = 0.2, Cr = 0.04 and e₀ = 0.6. At its mid-depth the effective vertical stress is 40 kPa and the overconsolidation ratio is OCR = 2.5. A new building adds 110 kPa of vertical stress at mid-depth. Find the primary consolidation settlement S in mm.

H = 7 mCc = 0.2Cr = 0.04e0 = 0.6σ′0 = 40 kPaOCR = 2.5Δσ = 110 kPa
S = mm
5.Hard
sandclayH = 6.5 m6.5 msandwater table

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 6.5 m thick. It lies between two sand layers, so water drains out at the top and the bottom. How many days t does the field layer take to reach 50% consolidation?

hlab = 19 mmtlab = 12 minH = 6.5 mfield: double drainage
t = days
6.Hard
sandclayH = 6 m6 msandwater table

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 6 m thick. It lies between two sand layers, so water drains out at the top and the bottom. How many days t does the field layer take to reach 50% consolidation?

hlab = 19 mmtlab = 12 minH = 6 mfield: double drainage
t = days

Answer key

  1. 1. S = 232.1 mm
  2. 2. S = 70.45 mm
  3. 3. S = 148.2 mm
  4. 4. S = 223.7 mm
  5. 5. t = 975.3 days
  6. 6. t = 831 days

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