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Soil Mechanics Project 2

NUST Institute of Civil Engineering (NICE)
 Abdullah
 Muhammad Hashir Aziz
 Saad Salman
 Shahryar Qaisar
 Syed Ubaidul Amin

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Soil consolidation refers to the mechanical process by which soil changes volume
gradually in response to a change in pressure.
 Immediate Consolidation
 Primary Consolidation
 Secondary Consolidation

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In Terzaghi’s (1923) theory of one-dimensional (1-D) consolidation, it was assumed
that the soil is laterally confined so that the excess hydrostatic pressure varies
vertically only and the strains are also vertical but
Definition:
 In most of the actual problems surface loadings cause excess pore pressure
which may vary both horizontally and vertically. The resulting consolidation
will involve horizontal and vertical flow, as well as horizontal and vertical
strains. Such a consolidation is called 3D consolidation.

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 Common example of 3D consolidation is due to installation of sand drains. This is a
combination of radial (2D) drainage in horizontal plane and vertical drainage.
However, strain in both drainages is kept vertical only

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3D CONSOLIDATION
 In actual problems surface loadings cause excess pore pressure
which may vary both horizontally and vertically

 The resulting consolidation will involve horizontal and vertical flow,

as well as horizontal and vertical strains. Such a consolidation is
called 3D consolidation

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 Following is the basic 3D consolidation equation (Biot, 1941) in cartesian
coordinates (as referred by Punmia et al., 2008)

 where u is pore pressure, t is time, cx, cy and cz are coefficients of consolidation in

X, Y and Z directions respectively. In polar coordinates, this can be expressed as

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 Similar to this three curves can be drawn for X, Y and Z direction’s drainage and
repeating the above process following equation can be obtained:

 where Uxyz is the average degree of consolidation due to the drainage in X, Y and
Z directions

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 Following equation is the governing consolidation equation for the case of a sand
drain which is a special case of 3D consolidation having radial symmetry. The
general solution of this for a given set of boundary conditions may become
mathematically involved.

 Cr and Cz are coefficient of radial consolidation and consolidation coefficient in z

direction respectively

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 For equal vertical strain condition solution was given by Barron (1948) as

 where cr is coefficient of radial consolidation and n is the drain spacing ratio, given
by: n=de/dw
 where de is the diameter of influence (i.e. twice the effective radial drainage path)
and dw is the diameter of the drain.

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EXAMPLE OF 3D CONSOLIDATION:
 Installation of Sand drains
 Consolidation by Sand drains are combination of radial (2D) drainage in horizontal
plane and vertical drainage But Strain in both drainages is kept vertical only
 Prefabricated Vertical Drains (PVDs) or ‘Wick Drains are used in field for 3D
consolidation which use

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 These are used to accelerate the process of consolidation settlement
 Constructed by Driving down casings and hollow mandrels into soil filled with
sand to facilitates the process of consolidation
 Objective is to develop increased soil resistance and support for superimposed
loads

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 In some special cases, where vertical sand drains or sand wicks are
installed to accelerate the consolidation of a natural or man-made fill,
the compressible soil layer is surrounded by vertical drainage face,
facilitating the pore water flow in horizontal direction from the
stressed zone of compressible soil.

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 In the 1920s, a technique for installing sand drains, a PVD
predecessor, was patented in the U.S. The California Division of
Highways, Materials and Research Department conducted laboratory
and field tests on vertical sand drain performance beginning in 1933.
 Cardboard wick drains, and subsequently paper-wrapped plastic
drains, were installed outside of the U.S. though the 1970s.
 A decade after that, entirely plastic PVDs were introduced as a more
durable, reliable, and inexpensive option over the sand drains.

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 PVDs have a channeled or studded plastic core wrapped with a
geotextile. The plastic core functions as support for the filter fabric,
and provides longitudinal flow paths along the drain length. It also
provides resistance to longitudinal stretching as well as buckling of
the drain. The drain jacket acts as a filter to limit the passage of fine
grained soil into the core area. It also functions to prevent closure of
the interval water flow paths under lateral soil pressure.

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 Expediting consolidation of slow draining soils
 Coupled with surcharging to expedite preconstruction soil consolidation.
 Exerts stress of usually equivalent or greater magnitude than the anticipated
design stresses
 These prefabricated wick drains are used to shorten pore water travel distance,
reducing the preloading time. The intent is to accelerate primary settlement

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 Close placement of vertical drains
 Increasing surcharge load

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 1D theory of consolidation grossly underestimates the rate of
consolidation
 the permeability of soils in horizontal direction is several times (up to
25 times or more) more than that in vertical direction.

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 Construction of the New Istana (Royal Palace) of the Sultan of Brunei was to be
completed before Brunei became independent in July 1983.
 Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah
 For the 60 foot thickness of compressible soil, 50% of the settlement was estimated
to take 3 years to complete, and 90% of the settlement was estimated to take 13
years by using PVDs
 Fill placement started in mid-September 1981 and was completed by the end of
March 1982.
 Mid sep 81 July of 1982 and the maximum settlement occurred was 7 feet.
 Increasing rate of consolidation by a factor of 25

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 3-D consolidation increases rate of consolidation so this is very helpful in
construction industry very more consolidation will be achieved in less time by
using PVD & Sand Drain.

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