A 4 m thick normally consolidated clay layer (γsat = 18 kN/m³, Cc = 0.2, e₀ = 1.35) lies below 2.5 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 30 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 9 m thick normally consolidated clay layer (γsat = 18.5 kN/m³, Cc = 0.6, e₀ = 0.9) lies below 2 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 150 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 = 0.3, Cr = 0.03 and e₀ = 1.2. At its mid-depth the effective vertical stress is 50 kPa and the preconsolidation pressure is 110 kPa. A new building adds 90 kPa of vertical stress at mid-depth. Find the primary consolidation settlement S in mm.
An 8 m thick overconsolidated clay layer has Cc = 0.4, Cr = 0.04 and e₀ = 1.1. At its mid-depth the effective vertical stress is 60 kPa and the preconsolidation pressure is 120 kPa. A new building adds 80 kPa of vertical stress at mid-depth. Find the primary consolidation settlement S in mm.
A clay layer 9.5 m thick has a coefficient of consolidation cv = 2.5 m²/year. It lies between two sand layers, so water drains out at the top and the bottom. For 60% average consolidation the time factor is Tv = 0.287. How many years t does the layer take to reach 60% consolidation?
In a laboratory oedometer test, a clay specimen 19 mm thick, drained at the top and bottom, reaches 50% consolidation in 4 min. In the field the same clay forms a layer 9.5 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?
Answer key
- 1. S = 59.84 mm
- 2. S = 1333 mm
- 3. S = 56.85 mm
- 4. S = 147.9 mm
- 5. t = 2.59 years
- 6. t = 694.4 days
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