Consolidation behavior of clayey soils under radial drainage

Abstract

For Barron's degree of consolidation, Ur, versus the time factor, Tr, relationship for soils undergoing consolidation with radial drainage for the equal vertical strain condition, a simple method has been developed to determine the value of the coefficient of consolidation with radial drainage, cr. Theoretical log₁₀d²_e/t) versus Ur curves where de is the diameter of influence and t is the real time for the different known value of cr have been generated. A method has been developed wherein both the theoretical and experimental behaviors of soils undergoing consolidation with radial drainage can be simultaneously compared and studied on the same plot. The experimental log₁₀(d²_e/t) versus Ur curves have been compared with the theoretical curves. Effects of initial compression, secondary compression, and duration of load increment are studied. Simple procedures are presented for calculating the values of cr using the experimental log₁₀>d²_e/t) versus Ur curves. A comparative study of the coefficient of consolidation and the coefficient of permeability between the cases of vertical and radial drainage has been done.