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A simple approach to predict settlement due to constant rate loading in clays

Abstract

Classical theory of consolidation was conceived considering loads instantaneously applied. Since then, researchers have addressed this issue by suggesting graphical and/or analytical solutions to incorporate different time-depending load schemes. The simplest alternative is to assume a linearly increasing load. Another approach to predict the average degree of consolidation caused by a constant rate loading is based on instantaneous excess pore pressures during and at the end of construction. This technical note explains why and how this approach leads to substantial errors after the end of construction. A corrected solution is then proposed, based on the concept of superposition of effects. The final set of equations agree with the theoretical ones. A new simple approximate methodology is also presented. Numerical examples using the proposed approach showed an excellent agreement with the analytical solution. The validity of this new approach was also proven by reproducing oedometer test results with a good agreement.

Keywords
Consolidation; Settlement prediction; Soft clays; Linearly increasing load

1. Introduction

Consolidation is one of the most relevant and most studied phenomena in Geotechnical Engineering. The process involves volume change due to water flow in response to stress increase and it is particularly relevant with saturated clayey soils. Due to the extremely low permeability of clays, consolidation can last for decades.

Terzaghi and Fröhlich's (1936)Terzaghi, T., & Fröhlich, A. (1936). Theorie der Setzung von Tonschichten. Leipzig-Wein: Franz Deutick. (in German). one-dimensional consolidation theory is based on Darcy's law and uses a set of simplifying hypotheses. One of the main assumptions imposes that load is applied instantaneously. The average degree of consolidation U is given by

U T = 1 m = 0 2 M 2 e M 2 T (1)

where

M = 2 m + 1 π / 2 (2)

for m = 1, 2, 3… and the Time Factor T is defined as

T = c v t / H d 2 (3)

Where t is time, Hd is the maximum length of the drainage path and cv is the coefficient of consolidation.

The consideration of instantaneous load is unlikely to occur in engineering practice. Loading is generally carried out gradually, in stages, during a given construction period. Therefore, consolidation takes place while loading is still in progress.

Several methods have addressed the time-dependent loading issue (Terzaghi, 1943Terzaghi, K. (1943). Theoretical soil mechanics. New York: Wiley.; Schiffman, 1958Schiffman, R.L. (1958). Consolidation of soil under time dependent loading and varying permeability. Proceedings of the Highway Research Board, 37, 584-615.; Schiffman and Stein, 1970Schiffman, R.L., & Stein, J.R. (1970). One-dimensional consolidation of layered systems. Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division, 96(4), 1499-1504. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/JSFEAQ.0001453.
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; Olson, 1977Olson, R. (1977). Consolidation under time dependence loading. Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 103(1), 55-60.; Zhu and Yin, 1998Zhu, G., & Yin, J. (1998). Consolidation of soil under depth-dependent ramp load. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 35, 344-350. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/t97-092.
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; Conte and Troncone, 2006Conte, E., & Troncone, A. (2006). One-dimensional consolidation under general time-dependent loading. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 43, 1107-1116. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/t06-064.
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; Liu and Ma, 2011Liu, J., & Ma, Q. (2011). One-dimensional consolidation of soft ground with impeded boundaries under depth-dependent ramp load. In Proceedings of First International Symposium on Pavement and Geotechnical Engineering for Transportation Infrastructure (pp. 127-134), Nanchang, China. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784412817.015.
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, Hanna et al. 2013Hanna, D., Sivakugan, N., & Lovisa, J. (2013). Simple approach to consolidation due to constant rate loading in clays. International Journal of Geomechanics, 13(2), 193-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000195.
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; Gerscovich et al., 2018Gerscovich, D., Carneiro, R., & Danziger, B. (2018). Extension of Terzaghi’s graphical method to predict settlement due to stepped load. International Journal of Geomechanics, 18(12), 06018033. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001266.
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). The two most worldwide known approaches for linearly increasing loading are Terzaghi’s (1943)Terzaghi, K. (1943). Theoretical soil mechanics. New York: Wiley. graphical method and Olson’s (1977)Olson, R. (1977). Consolidation under time dependence loading. Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 103(1), 55-60. theoretical solution.

Terzaghi’s (1943)Terzaghi, K. (1943). Theoretical soil mechanics. New York: Wiley. empirical method is a graphical procedure performed differently before and after construction. After the end of construction, the settlement curve is shifted by half the construction period tc. During construction, the calculation considers only a fraction of the total load as if applied instantaneously in half the time. Despite being a graphical method, whose accuracy is subject to the operator expertise, it can be expressed by the following set of equations (Gerscovich et al., 2018Gerscovich, D., Carneiro, R., & Danziger, B. (2018). Extension of Terzaghi’s graphical method to predict settlement due to stepped load. International Journal of Geomechanics, 18(12), 06018033. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001266.
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):

U ' T = T T c U T 2 T T c U T T c 2 T T c (4)

Where U'T is the corrected average degree of consolidation, UT is the corresponding value for instantaneous loading (Equation 1) and Tc is the Time Factor corresponding to the end of construction tc.

Olson (1977)Olson, R. (1977). Consolidation under time dependence loading. Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 103(1), 55-60. developed a mathematical solution for a linearly increasing loading as an extension of Terzaghi and Fröhlich’s (1936)Terzaghi, T., & Fröhlich, A. (1936). Theorie der Setzung von Tonschichten. Leipzig-Wein: Franz Deutick. (in German). theory. The ramp load was discretized into small instantaneous incremental loads. Using the principle of superposition, Olson (1977)Olson, R. (1977). Consolidation under time dependence loading. Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 103(1), 55-60. could express the average degree of consolidation (U') both during and after construction. The solution is divided into two equations:

U ' T = T T c 1 1 T m = 0 2 M 4 1 e M 2 T T T c 1 1 T C m = 0 2 M 4 e M 2 T c 1 e M 2 T T T c (5)

where M and T were formerly defined in Equations 2 and 3, respectively.

Mota (1996)Mota, J.L.C.P. (1996). Study of one-dimensional consolidation under gradual application of load [Master’s thesis]. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. (in Portuguese). and Hanna et al. (2013)Hanna, D., Sivakugan, N., & Lovisa, J. (2013). Simple approach to consolidation due to constant rate loading in clays. International Journal of Geomechanics, 13(2), 193-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000195.
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showed that Terzaghi's (1943)Terzaghi, K. (1943). Theoretical soil mechanics. New York: Wiley. empirical method tends to overestimate the average degree of consolidation when compared with Olson's (1977)Olson, R. (1977). Consolidation under time dependence loading. Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 103(1), 55-60. solution; the higher the value of Tc, the higher the error. The maximum divergence occurs at T=Tc. The method overestimates the average degree of consolidation by approximately 10%.

For this reason, Hanna et al. (2013)Hanna, D., Sivakugan, N., & Lovisa, J. (2013). Simple approach to consolidation due to constant rate loading in clays. International Journal of Geomechanics, 13(2), 193-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000195.
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proposed a new approach to construct the consolidation curve due to a ramp load. During construction, the analytical development agrees with Olson’s (1977)Olson, R. (1977). Consolidation under time dependence loading. Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 103(1), 55-60.. After construction, a simple equation is proposed, assuming that the remaining excess pore water pressure at the end of construction Tc is an instantaneous load applied at T=Tc.

This technical note reveals that Hanna et al.’s approach (2013) may lead to considerable errors in predicting the average degree of consolidation after the construction period. A corrected solution to the development is then proposed. Besides, a new simple approximate method is suggested, aiming to be more accurate than Terzaghi's (1943)Terzaghi, K. (1943). Theoretical soil mechanics. New York: Wiley..

2. Method based on instantaneous excess pore pressures

2.1 Hanna et al.’s (2013)Hanna, D., Sivakugan, N., & Lovisa, J. (2013). Simple approach to consolidation due to constant rate loading in clays. International Journal of Geomechanics, 13(2), 193-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000195.
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proposition

Hanna et al. (2013)Hanna, D., Sivakugan, N., & Lovisa, J. (2013). Simple approach to consolidation due to constant rate loading in clays. International Journal of Geomechanics, 13(2), 193-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000195.
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discretized the ramp load into infinitesimal increments at a rate of λ per unit of time. As shown in Figure 1, Hanna et al. (2013)Hanna, D., Sivakugan, N., & Lovisa, J. (2013). Simple approach to consolidation due to constant rate loading in clays. International Journal of Geomechanics, 13(2), 193-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000195.
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assume that after an infinitesimal increment dt, the loading is increased by λdt. At the end of construction, the total applied load (qC) is λtc. Each load increment results in an infinitesimal increase in pore pressure Δu0, which is assumed constant with depth. At the end of construction (tc), only part of each increment of pore pressure will have been dissipated.

Figure 1
Discretization of the applied load into infinitesimal increments (adapted from Hanna et al., 2013Hanna, D., Sivakugan, N., & Lovisa, J. (2013). Simple approach to consolidation due to constant rate loading in clays. International Journal of Geomechanics, 13(2), 193-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000195.
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).

Each infinitesimal load increment is applied instantaneously. The dissipation of each excess pore pressure may be expressed by Terzaghi and Fröhlich's (1936)Terzaghi, T., & Fröhlich, A. (1936). Theorie der Setzung von Tonschichten. Leipzig-Wein: Franz Deutick. (in German). theory. The dissipated excess pore water pressure at the end of loading is Utctλdt. Considering all intervals, the average degree of consolidation at a time tc is given by:

U ´ ( T c ) = 1 λ t c 0 t c U t c t λ d t = 1 t c 0 t c U t c t d t (6)

Due to loading linearity (Figure 1), Equation 6 can also be expressed as:

U ´ ( T c ) = 1 t c 0 t c U t d t = 1 T c 0 T c U T d T = 1 1 T c m = 0 2 M 4 1 e M 2 T c (7)

By taking T as Tc, Hanna et al. (2013)Hanna, D., Sivakugan, N., & Lovisa, J. (2013). Simple approach to consolidation due to constant rate loading in clays. International Journal of Geomechanics, 13(2), 193-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000195.
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extended Equation 7 for any time during construction. Thus, the final equation is given by:

U ' T T c = 1 T c 0 T U T d T = T T c 1 1 T m = 0 2 M 4 1 e M 2 T (8)

which agrees with Olson’s (1977)Olson, R. (1977). Consolidation under time dependence loading. Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 103(1), 55-60. solution during construction (Equation 5).

After the end of construction, Hanna et al. (2013)Hanna, D., Sivakugan, N., & Lovisa, J. (2013). Simple approach to consolidation due to constant rate loading in clays. International Journal of Geomechanics, 13(2), 193-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000195.
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proposed another methodology. The remaining excess pore pressure ue¯at the end of construction T=Tc is expressed as a fraction of the final load by:

u e ¯ = 1 U ' ( T c ] q c (9)

If ue¯ is interpreted as the excess pore pressure due to an instantaneously applied load, the average degree of consolidation after the end of construction becomes the sum of the corresponding value at the end of loading and the one due toue¯ dissipation:

U ' T T c = U ' ( T c ) + 1 U ' ( T c ] U T T c (10)

Hanna et al. (2013)Hanna, D., Sivakugan, N., & Lovisa, J. (2013). Simple approach to consolidation due to constant rate loading in clays. International Journal of Geomechanics, 13(2), 193-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000195.
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applied their method to a practical example of an embankment on a 4 m thick, single-drained clay deposit, with a coefficient of consolidation cv of 2.0 m2/year and a coefficient of volume change mv of 1.2 MPa-1. The construction period was nine months (Tc=0.0938). At the end of construction, the loading achieved 120 kPa. Hanna et al. (2013)Hanna, D., Sivakugan, N., & Lovisa, J. (2013). Simple approach to consolidation due to constant rate loading in clays. International Journal of Geomechanics, 13(2), 193-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000195.
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calculated the average degrees of consolidation UT equal to 12,5% after six months of construction, and equal to 57% after two years.

Figure 2 compares Hanna et al.’s (2013)Hanna, D., Sivakugan, N., & Lovisa, J. (2013). Simple approach to consolidation due to constant rate loading in clays. International Journal of Geomechanics, 13(2), 193-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000195.
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method with the analytical solutions. After the end of loading, the curve quickly deviates and approaches Terzaghi and Fröhlich’s (1936)Terzaghi, T., & Fröhlich, A. (1936). Theorie der Setzung von Tonschichten. Leipzig-Wein: Franz Deutick. (in German). consolidation curve for instantaneous loading. The results revealed that Hanna et al.’s (2013)Hanna, D., Sivakugan, N., & Lovisa, J. (2013). Simple approach to consolidation due to constant rate loading in clays. International Journal of Geomechanics, 13(2), 193-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000195.
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proposition is inappropriate after the end of construction.

Figure 2
Predictions of the average degree of consolidation due to the construction of an embankment on a 4 m thick, single-drained clay deposit.

The error is due to an overestimation of the consolidation rate at the end of construction. Each infinitesimal increase of pore pressure is associated with a different value of the average degree of consolidation. The dissipation of the remaining excess pore pressure at T=Tc is certainly slower than if it was applied instantaneously at that moment.

2.2 Correcting post-construction consolidation prediction

Hanna et al. (2013)Hanna, D., Sivakugan, N., & Lovisa, J. (2013). Simple approach to consolidation due to constant rate loading in clays. International Journal of Geomechanics, 13(2), 193-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000195.
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’s procedure may be corrected by the simple application of superposition principle. As shown in Figure 3, the first step consists in a loading extrapolation beyond the end of construction (t'tc) to q't. Then, the average degree of consolidation is computed by subtracting from U'1t' the corresponding value U'2t' due to the excess load; i.e.:

Figure 3
Calculation scheme for t > tc.
U ' t ' = U ' 1 t ' U ' 2 t (11)

The first term U'1t' comprises all the real and the virtual infinitesimal load increments. The fraction of the excess pore pressure that is dissipated at any time t'tc is Ut'tλdt. Thus, for all time intervals, the average degree of consolidation at time t’ is given by:

U ' 1 = 1 λ t c 0 t ' U t ' t λ d t = 1 t c 0 t ' U t d t (12)

The second term contains only the virtual load increments. The average degree of consolidation U'2t' is determined similarly by shifting the origin of the Cartesian axis. The fraction of excess pore water pressure that is dissipated at time t'tc is Ut´tctλdt; so:

U ' 2 = 1 λ t c 0 t ' t c U t ´ t c t λ d t = 1 t c 0 t ' t c U t d t (13)

Thus, the average degree of consolidation at any time after the end of loading is given by:

U t ' = 1 t c 0 t ' U t d t 0 t t c U t d t = 1 t c t ' t c t ' U t d t (14)

Finally, the average degree of consolidation at any time after the end of construction is expressed by:

U ' T T c = 1 1 T c m = 0 2 M 4 e M 2 T T c e M 2 T (15)

This equation is analogous to Olson's (1977)Olson, R. (1977). Consolidation under time dependence loading. Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 103(1), 55-60. solution (Equation 5) for ttc.

3. A new simple approach to predict the average degree of consolidation

Alternatively, a new simple procedure is proposed to calculate the average degree of consolidation. Its goal is to be as simple and accurate as possible.

3.1 During construction

An approximate solution for the definite integral in Equation 7 can be obtained by numerical integration methods, such as Simpson's rule (Davis and Rabinowitz, 1984Davis, P.J., & Rabinowitz, P. (1984). Methods of numerical integration (2nd ed.). New York: Academic Press.). Given three points, Simpson's rule approximates the integrand into a quadratic function.

Applying Simpson's rule on Equation 7, the approximated average degree of consolidation can be expressed by the function values at the lower limit, midpoint, and upper limit:

t a t b U t d t T b T a 6 U T a + 4 U T b + T a 2 + U T b (16)

The loading process initiates at ta=0. Thus, at any Time Factor (T) during construction, the approximate value of the average degree of consolidation is given by:

U T T c = 1 T c 0 T U T d T T T c U 0 + 4 U T 2 + U T 6 (17)

It is worth noting that Equation 17 incorporates an error that increases with the decrease in the rate of loading. If Tc tends to infinity, the average degree of consolidation at the end of construction should be 100%, since consolidation and loading would occur simultaneously. However, Equation 17 gives U'Tc=5/683.3%, since U0=0.

To overcome this inherent error, a slight adjustment on the first term in Equation 16 is recommended, as shown in Equation 18. This correction improves the accuracy of Equation 17 and it has no significant influence on predicting the average degree of consolidation for any speed of construction.

U ' T T c T T c U T 24 + 4 U T 2 + U T 6 (18)

It is worth noting that Equation 18 is close to Terzaghi's (1943)Terzaghi, K. (1943). Theoretical soil mechanics. New York: Wiley. graphical method for TTc (Equation 4), but it provides average degrees of consolidation that are always lower. As shown in Figure 4, the higher the value of Tc, the higher the difference between Terzaghi’s (1943)Terzaghi, K. (1943). Theoretical soil mechanics. New York: Wiley. curve and both Olson’s (1977)Olson, R. (1977). Consolidation under time dependence loading. Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 103(1), 55-60. and the method herein proposed.

Figure 4
Influence of the construction period on the average degree of consolidation prediction at the end of construction U'Tc for ramp loads.

The error of the approximate propositions relative to Olson’s (1977)Olson, R. (1977). Consolidation under time dependence loading. Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 103(1), 55-60. theoretical solution can be expressed by:

R e l a t i v e e r r o r = Δ U ' U t h e o r e t i c a l = U a p p r o x i m a t e ' U t h e o r e t i c a l U t h e o r e t i c a l (19)

Figure 5 compares the relative error of the two approximate methods. The relative error of Terzaghi's (1943)Terzaghi, K. (1943). Theoretical soil mechanics. New York: Wiley. method reaches magnitudes that cannot be neglected, exceeding 10% for Time Factors Tc higher than 1.0. The proposed approach is less sensitive to the construction duration, with an acceptable error close to 1%.

Figure 5
Relative error of the approximate propositions for ramp load.

3.2. After the end of construction

Since the load no longer varies, a procedure similar to Terzaghi's (1943)Terzaghi, K. (1943). Theoretical soil mechanics. New York: Wiley. can be used. The consolidation is approximated considering that the load was instantaneously applied at a Time Factor TTc. Thus, the corrected average degree of consolidation can be estimated by determining which Time Fator T*Tc would provide the same average degree of consolidation at the end of construction. In other words, according to Equation 18, UT* is given by:

U T * = U ' T c = U T c 24 + 4 U T c 2 + U T c 6 (20)

This equivalent instantaneous loading was therefore applied at T=TcT*. After the end of construction, the instantaneous loading settlement curve is always shifted by TcT*. This procedure leads to:

U ' ( T > T c ) U T + T * T c (21)

As expected, both Equation 18 and Equation 21 predict the same average degree of consolidation at the end of construction T=Tc.

The proposed method was applied to Hanna et al.’s (2013)Hanna, D., Sivakugan, N., & Lovisa, J. (2013). Simple approach to consolidation due to constant rate loading in clays. International Journal of Geomechanics, 13(2), 193-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000195.
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example (embankment on a 4 m thick, single-drained clay deposit). After six months (T=0.0625), one has:

U 0.0625 = 0.0625 0.0938 28.2 % + 4 19.9 % + 5.8 % 6 = 12,6 %

After nine months, at the end of construction (Tc=0.0938), one has:

U 0.0938 = 0.0938 0.0938 34,5 % + 4 24.4 % + 7.1 % 6 = 23.2 %

And after two years (T=0.25), one has:

U T * = 23.2 % T * = 0.0423
U 0.25 = U 0.25 + 0.0423 0.0938 = 50.2 %

Olson’s (1977)Olson, R. (1977). Consolidation under time dependence loading. Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 103(1), 55-60. exact solution for Tc=0.0938 gives U0.0625=12.5%, U0.0938=23.0% and U0.25=50.7%.

4. Predicting laboratory test results

The accuracy of the proposed method was also verified in its ability to predict the experimental oedometer test curves.

Sivakugan et al. (2014)Sivakugan, N., Lovisa, J., Ameratunga, J., & Das, B.M. (2014). Consolidation settlement due to ramp loading. International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 8(2), 191-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/1939787913Y.0000000017.
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carried out laboratory oedometer tests with ramp loading on an artificially mixed kaolinite/sand blend. The ramp loading was performed by filling a bucket, located on the loading arm, with sand scoops over varying periods.

Figure 6 shows the oedometer test data for a 2 hours loading test. The specimen was 18.241 mm thick, and the coefficient of consolidation was cv=0.6 m2/year, determined by conventional oedometer tests on the same soil with instantaneous loading. Total stress increase was 215.1 kPa, and settlement at the end of loading was ρc =0.22 mm. Experimental normalized settlement was defined as the ratio of vertical displacement ρ to final settlement ρc. Estimated normalized settlement, based on the estimations from the distinct propositions shown in previous sections, was calculated as the ratio of estimated average degree of consolidation U' to Uc' at the end of loading (Tc=1.6). It worth noting that the average degree of consolidation Uc' is around 80% for both methods.

Figure 6
Predicted and measured normalized settlements versus normalized time.

There is a reasonable agreement, despite the slight difference between the experimental and numerical results. Olson’s (1977)Olson, R. (1977). Consolidation under time dependence loading. Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 103(1), 55-60. theory and the proposed method only include primary consolidation. If the specimen develops secondary consolidation, the final settlement is higher than the primary compression value. As a result, the experimental normalized settlement becomes lower than the predicted ones. The maximum difference is 5.25%, at T/Tc=0.45.

Mota (1996)Mota, J.L.C.P. (1996). Study of one-dimensional consolidation under gradual application of load [Master’s thesis]. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. (in Portuguese). performed laboratory tests with ramp loading on 2 cm thick specimens of very soft clay from Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Soil characterization revealed natural water content ranging from 132% to 626%. Liquid and plastic limits range from 64% to 488% and 36% to 214%, respectively. The ramp loading test was performed by filling a bucket on the loading arm in steps of 1% of the total load at each 1% of the total period of loading.

The coefficient of consolidation was cv=4.3105 cm2/s. Both the coefficient of consolidation and the vertical displacement corresponding to the end of primary (U=100%) were determined via Taylor’s method in a conventional oedometer test.

Figure 7 compares the experimental data with Olson’s (1977)Olson, R. (1977). Consolidation under time dependence loading. Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 103(1), 55-60. theoretical solution and the proposed method for a 2 hours loading test (Tc=0.63) and a total stress increase of 100 kPa. The analytical and proposed methods agreed with the experimental results, although small deviations are observed after approximately 60% of primary consolidation. The differences are attributed mainly due to secondary consolidation. At a Time Factor of 2.5, the experimental curve reaches an average degree of consolidation of 106%.

Figure 7
Predicted and measured average degree of consolidation versus Time Factor for ramp load.

5. Conclusions

This technical note revisited some approximate methods for predicting consolidation settlements due to ramp loading. Terzaghi's method (1943) has shown to be accurate only for small values of Tc values (Tc<0.2). Hanna et al.’s (2013)Hanna, D., Sivakugan, N., & Lovisa, J. (2013). Simple approach to consolidation due to constant rate loading in clays. International Journal of Geomechanics, 13(2), 193-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000195.
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approach provides exact results during construction, but it leads to significant errors after the end of construction.

Two procedures have been proposed herein to overcome these issues. The first one improved Hanna et al.’s (2013)Hanna, D., Sivakugan, N., & Lovisa, J. (2013). Simple approach to consolidation due to constant rate loading in clays. International Journal of Geomechanics, 13(2), 193-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000195.
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approach by combining the applied load discretization with the concept of superposition effects. The correction solved the inaccuracies. The new set of equations was identical to Olson's (1977)Olson, R. (1977). Consolidation under time dependence loading. Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 103(1), 55-60. solution for any construction time.

Finally, a new approximate method was developed. Simple and easy to apply, it revealed to be much more accurate than Terzaghi’s (1943)Terzaghi, K. (1943). Theoretical soil mechanics. New York: Wiley. method when compared to Olson's (1977)Olson, R. (1977). Consolidation under time dependence loading. Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 103(1), 55-60. solution. Numerical examples have shown that the difference between the proposed method and Olson's (1977)Olson, R. (1977). Consolidation under time dependence loading. Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 103(1), 55-60. theory is negligible for the whole time range.

The approximate method was also validated by very good reproductions of oedometer tests results in clayey soils subjected to ramp loading. The differences were mainly due to secondary consolidation.

List of symbols

  • Hd  maximum length of drainage path
  • M  count parameter
  • T  Time factor
  • T’  Time factor at time t’
  • Tc  Time factor at the end of construction
  • T*  a Time Factor such that U (T*) = U’ (Tc)
  • U  average degree of consolidation (instantaneous loading)
  • U’  average degree of consolidation (non-instantaneous loading)
  • U’c  average degree of consolidation at the end of loading
  • c v  coefficient of consolidation
  • dt  time increment
  • m v  coefficient of volume change
  • q c  total load;
  • t  time;
  • ta  lower integral limit
  • tb  upper integral limit
  • tc  time at the end of construction
  • t’  any time after the end of construction
  • eu  remaining excess pore pressure at the end of construction
  • λ  rate of loading
  • ρ  settlement
  • ρc  settlement at the end of loading
  • Discussion open until August 31, 2021.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Brazilian research agency CAPES and the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) for their support.

References

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    09 June 2021
  • Date of issue
    2021

History

  • Received
    01 Sept 2020
  • Accepted
    11 Feb 2021
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