Lab. Report NO.

11
CONSOLIDATION TEST

DEFINITION

The process whereby soil particles are packed more closely together over a period of time
under the application of continued pressure. It is accompanied by drainage of water
from the pore spaces between solid particles.

 For analytical purpose the compression (settlement) of clays under load can be
divided into three phases as shown in Fig. (1):-

1- Initial settlement. 2- Primary settlement. 3- Secondary settlement.

Figure 1: Phases of settlement and analysis of log-time (settlement curve).

PURPOSES

The consolidation test is used to determine the compression index (Cc) which
indicates the compressibility of the specimen, swelling index (Cs) and pre-
consolidated pressure (σc΄) the coefficient of consolidation (Cv) which characterize
the rate of primary compression.

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 Lab. Report NO. 11
APPARATUS
1. Consolidation loading frame as shown in Fig. (2).
2. Consolidation cell as shown in Fig. (3), which is consist of
- Fixed ring.
- Cell body and base water tight.
- Consolidation ring retainer and fixing screws or nuts.
- Loading cap.
- Two porous discs.
3. One dial gauge for measuring vertical deformation.
4. Specimen trimmer and accessories.
5. Balance, drying oven, timer, and moisture content can.

Figure 2: General arrangement of a typical oedometer loading frame.

Figure 3: Details of a typical oedometer consolidation cell (Fixed ring).

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 Lab. Report NO. 11
PROCEDURE
1. Prepare and check apparatus.
2. Weigh and measure the diameter of consolidation ring.
3. Cut and trim specimen into ring. Determine water content and specific gravity from
trimmings.
4. Weigh specimen in ring and measure the initial height (Hi) of the specimen.
5. Assemble specimen in consolidation cell.
6. Fit cell in the load frame and set up loading yoke.
7. Set the vertical displacement dial so that its full range is available during
compression.
8. Apply the first increment of load to give a pressure intensity of 1/2 Kg/cm 2 on the
soil specimen (the applied load are (1/4 ,1/2 ,1 ,2 ,4 ,8 ,16 Kg) take dial reading at
exactly 0,0.25 ,0.5 ,1 ,2 ,4 ,8 ,16 ,30 ,and 60 min and 2,4,8 and 24 hr of elapsed
time.
9. After 24 hr change the load to the next value and take readings at the same elapsed
time intervals as those give in step 8.
[Link] step 9 until all loading steps are completed.
[Link] load is decreased to 4 Kg (2Kg/cm 2) and then to 1/4 Kg (1/2 Kg/cm 2) rebound
loads; no time readings are normally taken during the rebound (unloading).
[Link] dismantle the consolidometer cell and weigh the wet sample.
13. Dry the specimen in the oven and measure its weigh of solids W s to determine final
water content w f

CALCULATION

1- Find height of soil solids (Hs), initial height of voids ( Hv), and initial void ratio of
the sample (ei) as follow:-
( H i  A)  (H final  A  Vw final)
Hs = ., V w = Ww (final) / γw
A
Where A = area of the sample. Vw = volume of water.
Ww = weight of water at end of the test. Hi= initial height of the sample.
Hv
Hv = Hi – Hs ei = .
Hs

2- Find e at any load increment:-

H anyin cremen t
e = ei - = ei - Δ e.
Hs

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 Lab. Report NO. 11
3- Find average height at any load increment:
(H a 1  Ha)
Average height = Hi -
2
Where ΔH a= is any final dial reading of a load increment.

4- Find coefficient of consolidation (Cv) as follows:

0.197( H 2 avr. )
cv  mm2 / min
t50
H: length of drainage.
Note: Take H= 1/2 H ---- if drainage two way.
Take H = H ---- if drainage one way.
Find t50 from relationship between dial reading versus log time as shown in Fig. (1)
and table (1) .
The above steps are applied for each stress to find cv for each stress.
Table (1): Dial gage reading (settlement) mm
Elapsed 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9
(min) 800Kpa
25Kpa 50Kpa 100Kpa 200Kpa 400Kpa 1600Kpa 25Kpa

0 0.00 0.085 0.265 0.53 0.942 1.63 2.518 3.50

0.5 - - 0.270 - - - 2.59 -
1.0 - - 0.280 - - - 2.67 -
2.0 - - 0.30 - - - 2.70 -
4.0 - - 0.335 - - - 2.75 -
10 - - 0.40 - - - 2.87 -
15 - - 0.425 - - - 3.00 -
25 - - 0.455 - - - 3.10 -
40 - - 0.475 - - - 3.18 -
50 - - 0.480 - - - 3.21 -
60 - - 0.487 - - - 3.24 -
80 - - 0.495 - - - 3.27 -
100 - - 0.50 - - - 3.30 -
150 - - 0.505 - - - 3.35 -
200 - - 0.510 - - - 3.37 -
400 - - 0.520 - - - 3.40 -
1000 - -. 0.525 - - - 3.470 -
1440 0.085 0.265 0.530 0.942 1.63 2.518 3.50 2.45
(24hr)

5- Find initial, primary and secondary settlement on the graph as same as

shown in Fig. (2) by using elapsed time vs dial gauge reading (settlement) for
100 KPa only in table1.

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 Lab. Report NO. 11
6- Find compression index (Cc) & swell index (Cs):

From the semi-log plot of void ratio vs log pressure (e-log σ) curve as shown in
Fig. (4), we obtain the straight line part, the compression index Cc as

e
Cc =
2
log
1

From the unloading branch of the curve obtain the swell index Cs as

e
Cs =
2
log
1

0.90

0.85
loading
0.80

Void 0.75 Cc
ratio
( e)
0.70
Cs
unloading
0.65

0.60
1 10 100 1000 10000
Pressure σ ( kPa)

Figure 4: Typical e/log σ curve.

DISCUSSION
1- What are the factors that affect on the rate of drainage in consolidation test?
2- What is the affect of soil skeleton on the consolidation test?
3- When the greatest amount of the total compression of the sample occurs?

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 Lab. Report NO. 11
CONSOLIDATION TEST DATA SHEET

Analyst name: Class: Group:

Hi = initial height of the sample =20 mm.

D = diameter of the sample = 50 mm.

Cross sectional Area = mm2.

Ww final = gm.

Average Time for

Dial Change in
Load height 50% Coeff. Of
reading at sample Δe =
increment e = ei - Δe for load consoli. consol. cv
end of height ΔH ΔH/Hs
kPa (cm) t50 min. cm2/min
load (cm)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
0
25
50
100
200
400
800
1600
50

Signature: .................... Test date: 14 / 5 /2017