Large Strain Consolidation Model for Land Subsidence

Abstract

This note presents a numerical model and investigation of one-dimensional large strain consolidation-induced land subsidence due to groundwater pumping. The model, called CLS1, employs the CS2 methodology and is applicable for settlement of a compressible soil layer due to a reduction in boundary pore pressure under constant overburden stress. Verification checks show excellent agreement with analytical solutions for local degree of consolidation through time. Several numeric examples are presented to highlight capabilities of the new model and emphasize the effect of soil constitutive relationships, soil self-weight, and variable groundwater pumping on consolidation-induced land subsidence. The examples indicate that failure to account for these aspects can yield significant errors in predictions of settlement through time.