Browsing by Author "Anteneh, Masresha"

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    Software Development for Analysis of Primary Consolidation Problems and Assessment of One Dimensional Consolidation Theory
    (Addis Ababa University, 2020-06) Anteneh, Masresha; Henok, Fikre (PhD)
    Terzaghi gave the theory for determination of the rate of consolidation of a saturated soil mass subjected to a static, steady load with some assumptions and the theory gives an estimate of the total time and the time rate of settlement of a structure with simple calculations. However, as Terzaghi’s one-dimensional consolidation theory assumes the drainage of water occurs only in the vertical direction, it leads to an overestimation of the decay times of the settlement process and makes it questionable for two- and three-dimensional problems. In this research, a Finite Difference Method solution is used to develop a computer program for analysis of two-dimensional consolidation problems easily. The exact solution of a consolidation problem is used to validate the developed computer program and found to be satisfactory and reasonably in good agreement. Then, a comparison between results from one-dimensional analysis and two-dimensional analysis is made using five different models. From the comparison, it is shown that the errors from using Terzaghi’s one–dimensional consolidation analysis for two-dimensional consolidation problems are significant, which gives error up to 60.0 % and 52.6 % when calculating the 50 % and 90 % consolidation times respectively for width to depth ratio of two. Finally, this research thesis recommends conditions where a one-dimensional analysis could be implemented without a significant error.