Large-Strain Self-Weight Consolidation of Dredged Sludge

Abstract

Prediction for self-weight consolidation of dredged sludge is important for its reuse in civil engineering applications. In this work, considering the special nonlinear relationships of e – k and e – σ′ for dredged sludge, Gibson’s large strain consolidation equation was modified to simulate the self-weight consolidation process of dredged sludge. Using the finite difference method (FDM), the influences of four main parameters, including initial height, initial void ratio, void ratio at the liquid limit, and specific gravity of soil particles, on the consolidation process of dredged slurry were analyzed. For the aforementioned four parameters, the self-weight consolidation of dredged slurry is most sensitive to the variation of void ratio at the liquid limit, whereas its response to the change of specific gravity of soil particles is relatively subtle. Consolidation behaviors under other commonly used constitutive models were also calculated for comparison. It was found that the total settlement obtained by the present relation is larger than the results obtained using typical nonlinear constitutive relations, and the speed of consolidation is higher.