A 3 m thick normally consolidated clay layer (γsat = 18.5 kN/m³, Cc = 0.45, e₀ = 0.85) lies below 2.5 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 85 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 4 m thick layer of normally consolidated clay (Cc = 0.6, e₀ = 1.3) has an effective vertical stress of 80 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.
A 6.5 m thick overconsolidated clay layer has Cc = 0.2, Cr = 0.06 and e₀ = 1. At its mid-depth the effective vertical stress is 50 kPa and the preconsolidation pressure is 110 kPa. A new building adds 15 kPa of vertical stress at mid-depth. Find the primary consolidation settlement S in mm.
A 6 m thick overconsolidated clay layer has Cc = 0.45, Cr = 0.06 and e₀ = 0.7. At its mid-depth the effective vertical stress is 110 kPa and the overconsolidation ratio is OCR = 1.5. A new building adds 80 kPa of vertical stress at mid-depth. Find the primary consolidation settlement S in mm.
A clay layer 4.5 m thick has a coefficient of consolidation cv = 0.5 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 8 min. In the field the same clay forms a layer 3 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 = 278 mm
- 2. S = 183.7 mm
- 3. S = 22.22 mm
- 4. S = 134.6 mm
- 5. t = 2.906 years
- 6. t = 138.5 days
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