Geotechnical Engineering

CEGTEC30
(Compressibility of Soil)
Lesson Content:
• Primary Consolidation Settlement
• Normally Consolidated Soil
• Overconsolidated Soil
A stress increase caused by the construction of foundations or other loads
compresses soil layers. The compression is caused by a deformation of soil
particles, b expulsion of water from the void spaces. In general, the soil
settlement caused by loads may be divided into three broad categories:
Elastic Settlement
Primary Consolidation Settlement
Secondary Consolidation Settlement

In the last part of this Chapter we will talks about only the primary consolidation settlement
Normally Consolidated Soil
- The present overburden
pressure a.k.a in-situ stress
or effective stresses is the
most pressure that the soil S
was experience to in the past.

C H P ∆P
S log
1 e P
Normally Consolidated Soil
- The present overburden
pressure a.k.a in-situ stress
or effective stresses is the
most pressure that the soil S
was experience to in the past.

C H P ∆P
S log
1 e P
Normally Consolidated Soil
- The present overburden pressure a.k.a in-situ stress or effective stresses is the
most pressure that the soil was experience to in the past.
C H P ∆P
S log
1 e P
Over Consolidated Soil
- The present overburden pressure is less than the soil has experienced in the
past. The maximum effective past pressure is called the preconsolidation pressure
or maximum past pressure.
Over Consolidated Soil
- The present overburden
pressure is less than the soil
has experienced in the past.
The maximum effective past S
S
pressure is called the
preconsolidation pressure or
maximum past pressure.
When P P : When P P:
CH P ∆P C H P C H P ∆P
S log S log log
1 e P 1 e P 1 e P
Normally Consolidated Soil
- The present overburden pressure a.k.a in-situ stress or effective stresses is the
most pressure that the soil was experience to in the past.
C H P ∆P
S log
1 e P
Over Consolidated Soil
- The present overburden pressure is les than the soil has experienced in the past.
The maximum effective past pressure is called the preconsolidation pressure or
maximum past pressure.
When P P : When P P :
C H P ∆P C H P C H P ∆P
S log S log log
1 e P 1 e P 1 e P
Normally Consolidated Soil Over Consolidated Soil
When P P : P P ∆P
C H P ∆P
S log C H P ∆P
1 e P S log
1 e P
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒:
Cc Compression Index When P P :
Cs Swell Index C H P C H P ∆P
S log log
∆P Present Overburden Pressure 1 e P 1 e P
P Initial Effective Stress at midheight of clay.
P Preconsolidation Pressure
Swell Index Compression Index
P Final effective stress at midheight of clay
e Void Ratio of Clay
H Thickness of Clay layer
A 2 m clay layer has values of e 0.92, Gs
2.72 and a liquid limit of 40%. Above the
clay is a 3 m thick layer of sand with e 0.50 3m 𝛄 𝟏𝟕. 𝟑
𝐤𝐍
and Gs 2.62. The water table is located 𝐦𝟑
1.6m below the ground. If a 3 m thick
Ground surface
backfill is placed on the ground surface
having a unit weight of 17.3 kn/cu.m, 1.6 m
determine the following: 3m e 0.50
Gs 2.62 Sand
1. Compression index of clay.
2. Effective pressure at the midpoint of clay
before backfill. e 0.92
3. Primary settlement for normally 2m Gs 2.72
Clay
LL 40%
consolidated clay.
1. Compression index of clay.
Cc 0.009 LL-10
Cc 0.009 40-10 𝐤𝐍
3m 𝛄 𝟏𝟕. 𝟑
Cc 0.27 𝐦𝟑
2. Effective pressure at the midpoint of clay
before backfill.
Po ΣΥ h 2.62 9.81 𝑘𝑁 1.6 m 𝛄𝟏
17. 13
γ 1 0.50 𝑚 3m e 0.50
Gs e γ 2.62 0.50 9.81 𝑘𝑁 Gs 2.62 𝛄𝟐
γ 20.40 Sand
1 e 1 0.50 𝑚
Gs e γ 2.72 0.92 9.81 𝑘𝑁
γ 18.60
1 e 1 0.92 𝑚 e 0.92
2m Gs 2.72 𝛄𝟑
Po ΣΥ h 17. 13 1.6 20.40 9.81 3 1.6 LL 40% Clay
18.60 9.81 1 51.02 kPa
 1. Compression index of clay.
Cc 0.27
2. Effective pressure at the midpoint of clay. 𝐤𝐍
3m 𝛄 𝟏𝟕. 𝟑
Po 51.02 kPa 𝐦𝟑

3. Primary settlement for normally

consolidated clay.
C H P ∆P 1.6 m 𝛄𝟏
S log
1 e P 3m e 0.50
∆P γh 17.3 3 51.9 kPa Gs 2.62 𝛄𝟐 Sand

0.27 2000 51.02 51.9

Sc log
1 0.92 51.02 e 0.92
2m Gs 2.72 𝛄𝟑
Sc 85.71 mm LL 40% Clay
The soil profile shown in the figure consist
of a 9 m layer of sand underlain by 6 m layer
of clay. The location of water table is 3 m
from the ground level. The building to be
constructed will cause an additional
pressure of 50 kPa on the ground. What is
the primary settlement of the clay layer if:
1. Clay is normally consolidated.
2. Preconsolidation pressure Pc 190 kPa
3. Preconsolidation pressure Pc 170 kPa
1. Clay is normally consolidated.
C H P ∆P
S log
1 e P
Po ΣΥ h 16 3 18.5 9.81 6
19 9.81 3 127.71 kPa
0.36 6000 127.71 50
Sc log
1 0.95 127.71
Sc 158.94 mm
2. Preconsolidation pressure Pc 190 kPa
P P ∆P
P 127.71 50 177.71 kPa
When P P : Cs Cc
CH P ∆P 1
S log Cs 0.36 0.072
1 e P 5
2. Preconsolidation pressure Pc 190 kPa
P P ∆P
P 127.71 50 177.71 kPa
When P P : Cs Cc
CH P ∆P 1
S log Cs 0.36 0.072
1 e P 5
0.072 6000 127.71 50
Sc log
1 0.95 127.71
Sc 31.79 mm
3. Preconsolidation pressure Pc 170 kPa
P 177.71 kPa
C H P C H P ∆P
When P P : S log log
1 e P 1 e P
 3. Preconsolidation pressure Pc 170 kPa
P 177.71 kPa
C H P C H P ∆P
When P P : S log log
1 e P 1 e P
0.072 6000 0.36 6000
Sc log 170 log
127.71 50
1 0.95 127.71 1 0.95 170

Sc 48.86 mm
Compression Index Coefficient of volume compressibility m ,
m

Over Consolidation Ratio OCR Hydraulic Conductivity k

OCR k C m γ

Coefficient of Consolidation c ,
Coefficient of Compressibility a .

H If drained both side

divide by 2
H Thickness of clay sample
In a laboratory consolidation test on a clay sample the following results were obtained:
P 50 kPa e 0.92
P 120 kPa e 0.78
Thickness of the sample of clay 25 mm
Time for 50% consolidation 2.5 min.
T 0.197
Determine the following:
1. Coefficient of volume compressibility
Mv e 0.92 0.78
a 2
a e 0.85
Mv . .
1 e a 2𝑥10
Mv
e e 𝑚 1 0.85
e a 2𝑥10 𝑚
2 𝑘𝑁 Mv 1.081𝑥10
𝑘𝑁
In a laboratory consolidation test on a clay sample the following results were obtained:
P 50 kPa e 0.92
P 120 kPa e 0.78 1. Coefficient of volume compressibility
Thickness of the sample of clay 25 mm
Mv 𝑚
Time for 50% consolidation 2.5 min. Mv 1.081𝑥10 𝑘𝑁
T 0.197
Determine the following:
2. Coefficient of consolidation, if sample of
clay was drained on both sides. 3. Hydraulic Conductivity of the clay.
m k C m γ
C C 2.052x10
s m 𝑚 𝑘𝑁
0.025 k 2.052x10
s
1.081𝑥10
𝑘𝑁
9.81
𝑚
0.197
C 2 m
k 2.176x10
2.5 ∗ 60 s