Multidimensional Probabilistic Consolidation

Abstract

A numerical procedure is developed for a rational quantification of uncertainties in the probabilistic consolidation solution of soil mediums with spatial variability. The Alternating Direction Explicit Procedure (ADEP), combined with an Integrated Finite Difference Method (IFDM), is extended to multidimensional systems with unknown boundary conditions. Multidimensional soil variability and water flow, ensemble property of the soil medium and scaledependent variability are considered in the development of the solution model. The assessment and influence of soil variability input is based upon an extensive consolidation test program conducted on samples taken from a tidal marsh deposit in Maryland. The results of the analyses indicate that the expected value of the probabilistic solution is almost identical to the conventional deterministic solution, and that the uncertainty due to material variability, for most soils, is not as significant as reported previously by other researchers.