Comparison of Conventional Incremental Load and Constant Rate of Strain Consolidation Test Results for Red Clay of Addis Ababa

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Date

2016-11

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

The conventional incremental loading consolidation tests are carried out for determining consolidation parameters. Due to the longer duration taken for the conventional incremental loading (CIL) consolidation tests, nowadays constant rate of strain consolidation (CRSC) tests are also used to study the consolidation behavior of clayey soils. The results of conventional incremental loading (CIL) consolidation tests and constant rate of strain consolidation (CRSC) tests for undisturbed red clay soil samples from 3 boreholes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, have been presented, compared and discussed. The main parameters investigated are compression index (Cc), pre-consolidation pressure (σ'p) and coefficient of consolidation (Cv). For undisturbed red clay of Addis Ababa, e – log σ'v curve of CRSC test is more non-linear than that of CIL test. Considering the slope (Cc) of e – log σ'v curve just after pre-consolidation pressure (σ'ρ), CRSC test resulted in a larger Cc and σ'p value than CIL test for Kolfe and Rufa’el soil samples. But for Addisu Gebeya CRSC test, values are smaller than CIL test. To get comparable result the strain rate should be increased. The values of the coefficient of consolidation (Cv) from CIL and CRSC tests are comparable after the pre-consolidation stress. The excess pore pressures produced during the CRSC test show condition of CRSC test in which Cv values are acceptable and compatible with conventional consolidation test. The steady state condition is achieved when the Cv values from drained and undrained face of CRSC test converge with the Cv value from conventional (CIL) consolidation test. The time required to complete a CIL consolidation test in this study was 12 days. Whereas CRSC tests required an average of 1.8 days, consider only loading stage.

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Geotechnical Engineering

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