Analysis of 1D consolidation with non-Darcian flow described by exponent and threshold gradient

Abstract

Numerous experiments have shown that the water flow in fine-grained soils can obey an exponential relationship at small gradients and a linear relationship when the hydraulic gradient exceeds a certain limit. Based on the non-Darcian flow described by exponent and threshold gradient, the theory of 1D consolidation is modified in this paper to consider a linear variation in the vertical total stress with depth and the effect of ramp loading. The numerical solutions were derived in detail by the finite difference method for excess pore water pressure and the average degree of consolidation. Finally, the influence of various parameters on consolidation behavior was investigated. The results show that the rate of consolidation is reduced when non-Darcian flow described by exponent and threshold gradient is adopted in the theory of 1D consolidation. As well the distribution of vertical total stress has a great influence on the dissipation of excess pore water pressure, either for pervious top and pervious bottom (PTPB) or for pervious top and impervious bottom (PTIB). For the case of PTIB, the distribution of vertical total stress in a foundation has a great influence on the rate of consolidation; however, for the case of PTPB, the rate of consolidation is independent of the distribution of vertical total stress. The rate of consolidation is dependent on the ratio of the thickness of a soil layer to the equivalent head of the final average vertical total stress; the greater the value of this ratio, the slower the rate of consolidation. Finally, an increase in construction time reduces the consolidation rate of a foundation. Thus, consolidation behavior of 1D consolidation with non-Darcian flow has been thoroughly acquainted in this paper.