Full-Match Approach to Determine the Coefficient of Vertical Consolidation from Incremental Loading Consolidation Tests

Abstract

This study presents a novel method for determining the coefficient of vertical consolidation (c(v)) by combining the complete range of theoretical and experimental consolidation behaviors. The Taylor model, which nearly precisely simulated the theoretical solution of Terzaghi, was adopted for this purpose. The primary consolidation settlement (delta(100)) from the 24-h test data was determined based on the variation in the theoretical settlement rate. The estimated ultimate settlement and c(v) values were validated via inverse analysis. Thereafter, the proposed method and eight other existing methods were applied to the results of the oedometer tests on high-quality samples, which were obtained at a deltaic deposit. The proposed methods produced the approximately familiar variations in c(v) versus the stress increments along the entire depths. The delta(100) values obtained using the existing methods were 70-140 % of those using the proposed method, whereas most of the c(v) values were inconsistently underestimated (i.e., 30-110 %). The irregular estimation from the existing methods is attributed to the use of specific points or segments of the experimental relationships, which are different from the theoretical one. Moreover, the applicability of the theoretical determination of c(v) was discussed.