Radial Consolidation Analysis Using Delayed Consolidation Approach

Abstract

The paper offers an analytical solution for radial consolidation that captures isotaches with a strain-rate dependency of preconsolidation pressure. These relationships are obtained based on constant-rate-of-strain (CRS) and long-term consolidation (LTC) tests and then used in the radial consolidation model incorporating the field strain rate, which is generally much lower compared with the typical laboratory environment. In this study, the calculated settlement and associated excess pore-water pressure are obtained using the equivalent preconsolidation pressure from the reference isotache within the (σp′/σp0′)−(εv˙) domain. Moreover, the change in Cα/Cc ratio (i.e., secondary compression index/compression index) with decreasing strain rate is used to calculate the long-term settlement. This method is then validated using various case histories in Australia and Southeast Asia, where excess pore-water pressure is dissipated at a slower rate in relation to the observed settlement.