One-dimensional Consolidation Prediction of Peaty Soft Grounds Using the Oedometer Test Results

We present comparisons of test results using oedometers of various sizes and case records of long-term settlement observation in the field for investigating hypothesis of scale and time effects during one-dimensional consolidation. Observational results correspond to hypothesis A that the volumetric strain versus log(time) relationship for a given load increment is simply displaced in proportion to H2, as commonly assumed in practice. An example is presented for the prediction of one-dimensional consolidation settlement including a secondary consolidation stage. In this method the rate of secondary consolidation during primary consolidation is expressed by the function for the magnitude of secondary consolidation occurring in the one-dimensional consolidation stage. The necessary soil constants are gained from the consolidation-time curve observed in a conventional standard oedometer test. The calculated results coincide with the observed consolidation-time curves including the primary and secondary consolidations. Also, the proposed secondary compression model is promising for the prediction using hypothesis B based on Suklje's Isotaches concept.