Laboratory Report #3

One-Dimensional
Consolidation Test

March 22, 2050

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 California State University, Fullerton
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Laboratory Memorandum
From: Sample Student, Group X
To: Dr. Binod Tiwari
Date: March 22, 2050
Subject: One-Dimensional Consolidation Test Results
Dear Dr. Tiwari,

In order to estimate both the magnitude of settlement as well as the time rate at which
settlement occurs, a series of laboratory tests were conducted on a Silty Sand (SM) Soil
Specimen available at the CSUF Soil Mechanics Lab.

From the data collected, a void ratio (e) versus log stress (σ) curve was developed and
used to find the Compression Index (Cc). These parameters can be used to estimate the
total magnitude of settlement whereas the time rate of settlement can be estimated with
the use of the Coefficient of Consolidation (Cv), which can be found from Casagrande’s
Log of Time Method and/or Taylor’s Square Root of Time Method. Cv is not constant,
but varies with the applied stress. As the stress increases, the void ratio and
permeability decrease increasing the time required for water to flow from the soil voids.
Cv was calculated using both methods for vertical stress of 7 psi.

Using Casagrande’s Method, Cv was determined to be 0.0093 in2/min. Taylor’s Method

yielded Cv as 0.0091 in2/min. Cc was found to be 0.0804. The soil specimen had no pre-
consolidation pressure. Since we did not encounter any difficulties, we are confident in
our data.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Your help in the
laboratory procedure was highly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Sample Student
Undergraduate Student-Civil Engineering Major
samplestudent@csu.fullerton.edu

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 Laboratory Consolidation Test

Raw Data

Presented in Table 1 below is the raw data collected for the applied stress of 7 psi and
the data provided for remaining stress increments.

Table 1: Raw Data

Elapsed Time Raw Deformation
(min) (in)
Consolidation Stress = 7 psi
0 0.2095
0.25 0.3931
1 0.2527
2 0.2634
4 0.2758
6 0.2882
9 0.3032
12 0.3127
20 0.3244
25 0.3271
36 0.3291
49 0.3296
Consolidation Stress = 14 psi
0.25 0.1016
166.5 0.1292
Consolidation Stress = 28 psi
0.25 0.13736
48 0.15229
Consolidation Stress = 56 psi
0.25 0.16477
82 0.17983
Consolidation Stress = 112 psi
0.25 0.19108
740 0.20371
Consolidation Stress = 224 psi
0.00 0.20371
30.00 0.22564
35.00 0.22594
40.00 0.226
45.00 0.22609
50.00 0.22615
55.00 0.22621
60.00 0.22633

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 75.00 0.22633
90.00 0.22633
105.00 0.22642
120.00 0.22648
121.69 0.22648
Consolidation Stress = 56 psi
0.25 0.22324
119 0.2231
Consolidation Stress = 7 psi
0.25 0.21739
350 0.21532

Calculations

Calculation of Initial Void Ratio:

Dry Mass of the specimen Ms 99.16 g = 0.21861 lb

Diameter of the specimen D 0.25 in = 0.0208 ft
2
Area of the specimen A 0.034 ft
Specific Gravity of the soil solid Gs 2.65
Density of water ρw 62.4 lb/ ft3
Initial height of the specimen H 1 in = 1/12 ft
Height of soil solid Hs Calculation shown below
Initial Void Ratio e0 Calculation shown below

𝑀𝑠 0.21861
𝐻𝑠 = = = 0.0388 𝑓𝑓 = 0.46539 𝑖𝑖
𝐴𝐺𝑠 𝜌𝑤 (0.034)(2.65)(62.4)

𝐻 − 𝐻𝑠 1 − 0.46539
𝑒0 = = = 1.149
𝐻𝑠 0.46539

Sample Calculation for void ratio, e:

∆𝐻 0.1836
𝑒 = 𝑒0 − = 1.149 − = 0.754
𝐻𝑠 0.46539

Table 2: Calculations
Elapsed Time Raw Deformation Deformation, ∆H Square Root of
Void Ratio
(min) (in) (in) Time (√𝑚𝑚𝑚)
Consolidation Stress = 7 psi
0 0.2095 0 0.000 1.149

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 0.25 0.3931 0.1836 0.500 0.754
1 0.2527 0.0432 1.000 1.056
2 0.2634 0.0539 1.414 1.033
4 0.2758 0.0663 2.000 1.007
6 0.2882 0.0787 2.449 0.980
9 0.3032 0.0937 3.000 0.948
12 0.3127 0.1032 3.464 0.927
20 0.3244 0.1149 4.472 0.902
25 0.3271 0.1176 5.000 0.896
36 0.3291 0.1196 6.000 0.892
49 0.3296 0.1201 7.000 0.891
Consolidation Stress = 14 psi
0.25 0.1016 0.12707 0.500 0.876
166.5 0.1292 0.15467 12.903 0.817
Consolidation Stress = 28 psi
0.25 0.13736 0.16283 0.500 0.799
48 0.15229 0.17776 6.928 0.767
Consolidation Stress = 56 psi
0.25 0.16477 0.19024 0.500 0.740
82 0.17983 0.2053 9.055 0.708
Consolidation Stress = 112 psi
0.25 0.19108 0.21655 0.500 0.684
740 0.20371 0.22918 27.203 0.657
Consolidation Stress = 224 psi
0.00 0.20371 0.22918 0.000 0.657
121.69 0.22648 0.25195 11.031 0.608

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 Coefficient of Consolidation: Casagrande’s Method for 7 psi

d0

d50

d100

t50 t100

Figure 1: Log Time Plot for 7 psi

d0 0.02 in
d100 0.112 in
d50 0.132 in
Hd50 0.434 in
t50 4 min
0.197 (0.434)2 2
𝐶𝑣 = = 0.0093 𝑖𝑖 �𝑚𝑚𝑚
4

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 Coefficient of Consolidation: Taylor’s Method for 7 psi

d0

d90

t90 X 1.15X

Figure 2: Root of Time Plot for 7 psi

d0 0.008 in
d90 0.108 in
d100 0.120 in
d50 0.064 in
Hd50 0.468 in
t90 4.52 min

0.848(0.468)2 2
𝐶𝑣 = = 0.0091 𝑖𝑖 �𝑚𝑚𝑚
20.25

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 Calculation of Cc

Figure 5: Void Ratio versus Log of Stress Plot

𝐶𝑐 = 0.0804