A Method for Estimating Consolidation Parameters from Primary Consolidation

We have already proposed the constitutive equation for one-dimensional consolidation analysis that accounts for secondary compression. To calculate the secondary consolidation from the primary consolidation, the proposed model requires the compression index * C and the coefficient of consolidation * v c , defined by the primary consolidation, which are not available from consolidation test results. Therefore, these constants are determined by trial and error until a match is obtained with the consolidation-time curve from the consolidation test. This study investigated an easier method for estimating * C and * v c , by first attempting to use the primary consolidation ratio r, calculated by the standard consolidation test, because the ratio of * C to c C indicates the ratio of primary consolidation to the total settlement. The method of square root of time using 50 t instead of 90 t was then devised. By applying these methods to undisturbed and reconstituted clays with different properties, it was found that both methods are capable of reproducing consolidation-time curves without significant differences from the conventional trial and error method.