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Accelerated Consolidation Test Using \( \sqrt t \) Method

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Abstract

Consolidation parameters are essential for the design of a variety of geotechnical structures. These parameters are commonly determined by performing laboratory one-dimensional consolidation test. The conventional one-dimensional consolidation test takes about 10–14 days to complete one test. This paper describes an accelerated consolidation testing procedure, in which the standard \( \sqrt t \) method is used to decide the subsequent increment. To validate the suggested testing procedure, tests were conducted on five reconstituted and three undisturbed soil samples. Results from the suggested procedure and the conventional incremental load one-dimensional consolidation data are analysed and compared. The time required to complete the test using the accelerated consolidation method could be as low as 2–5 h for most of the soils compared to 10–14 days in the case of the conventional consolidation test. Soils with very low coefficient of consolidation, of the order of 10−9 m2/s, requires about 30 h (11 h during loading stage and 19 h during unloading stage) to complete the test.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, India

    M. Raheena & Retnamony G. Robinson

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  1. M. Raheena
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  2. Retnamony G. Robinson
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Correspondence to M. Raheena.

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Raheena, M., Robinson, R.G. Accelerated Consolidation Test Using \( \sqrt t \) Method. Indian Geotech J 48, 84–91 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-017-0237-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-017-0237-7

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