Benchmark Problems for Large Strain Consolidation

Abstract

Modeling of the one-dimensional consolidation process for soil and other compressible porous media is important for a variety of engineering applications. This paper presents solutions for two benchmark problems for large strain consolidation of a saturated soil layer that can be used to check other analytical and numerical analysis methods. The solutions include effects of vertical strain, soil self-weight, nonlinear constitutive relationships, and changing material properties during the consolidation process. High-accuracy data are presented for each problem and include changes of settlement, void ratio, and excess pore pressure with time.