Experimental insights into consolidation rates during one-dimensional loading with special reference to excess pore water pressure

Abstract Consolidation rate has significant influence on the settlement of structures founded on soft fine-grained soil. This paper presents the results of a series of small-scale and large-scale Rowe cell consolidation tests with pore water pressure measurements to investigate the factors affecting the consolidation process. Permeability and creep/resistance structure factors were considered as the governing factors. Intact and reconstituted marine clay from the Polish Carpathian Foredeep basin as well as clay–sand mixtures was examined in the present study. The fundamental relationship correlating consolidation degrees based on compression and pore water pressure was assessed to indicate the nonlinear soil behaviour. It was observed that the instantaneous consolidation parameters vary as the process progresses. The instantaneous coefficient of consolidation first drastically increases or decreases with increase in the degree of consolidation and stabilises in the middle stage of the consolidation; it then decreases significantly due to viscoplastic effects occurring in the soil structure. Based on the characteristics of the relationship between coefficient of consolidation and degree of dissipation at the base, the consolidation range that complies with theoretical assumptions was established. Furthermore, the influence of coarser fraction in clay–sand mixtures in controlling the consolidation rates is discussed.