Abstract
This paper presents the experimental results from several conventional oedometer tests conducted on compacted and unsaturated soils. Soil samples of medium plasticity, but with different grain size distribution and degree of saturation were tested. Some of these tests were interrupted before consolidation was achieved, and the water content of the soil was measured both before and after each test. The results point out that the recorded time-settlement curves consist of two distinct stages that are characterized by a different settlement rate. The early stage should essentially be ascribed to the faster dissipation of air pressure, while the final stage should be caused by the gradual expulsion of water from the soil. The results are also analysed using Terzaghi’s theory [1] in order to ascertain whether this theory is suited to simulating the time-histories of settlement recorded during the tests.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Terzaghi, K., Erdbaumechanik auf bodenphysikalischer Grundlage, Leipzig Deuticke, Vienna, 1925.
Alonso, E. E., Gens, A., and Hight, D. W., General Report: special problem soils, Proc. European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering 9, Dublin, Ireland, 1087–1146 (1987).
Fredlund, D. G., and Rahardjo, R, Soil mechanics for unsaturated soils, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1993.
Rahardjo, H., and Fredlund, D. G., Experimental verification of the theory of consolidation for unsaturated soils, Canadian Geotechnical Journal 32, 749–766 (1995).
Barden, L., Consolidation of compacted and unsaturated clays, Géotechnique 15, 267–286 (1965).
Olson, R. E., State-of-the-art: consolidation testing, in Consolidation of soils, testing and evaluation (R. N. Yong and F. C. Townsend, Eds), American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM STP 892, Philadelphia, 1986.
Fredlund, D. G., and Hasan, J. U., One-dimensional consolidation theory: unsaturated soils, Canadian Geotechnical Journal 16, 521–531 (1979).
Lloret, A., and Alonso, E. E., Consolidation of unsaturated soils including swelling and collapse behaviour, Géotechnique 30, 449–477 (1980).
Fredlund, D. G., and Morgenstern, N. R., Constitutive relations for volume change in unsaturated soils, Canadian Geotechnical Journal 13, 386–396 (1976).
Ausilio, E., and Conte, E., Settlement rate of foundations on unsaturated soils, Canadian Geotechnical Journal 36, 940–946 (1999).
Ausilio, E., Conte, E., and Dente, G., An analysis of the consolidation of unsaturated soils, Proc. International Conference on Unsaturated Soils 3, Racife, Brazil, 239–243 (2002).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2005 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Ausilio, E., Conte, E. (2005). Remarks on consolidation in unsaturated soils from experimental results. In: Schanz, T. (eds) Unsaturated Soils: Experimental Studies. Springer Proceedings in Physics, vol 93. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-26736-0_28
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-26736-0_28
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-21121-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-26736-2
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)