Development and Verification of a New Simplified Method for Calculating Settlement of a Thick Soil Layer with Nonlinear Compressibility and Creep
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 20, Issue 3
Abstract
Variable compressibility must be considered in settlement calculation of soft soil stratums, especially for thick soil layers. This study proposes a new simplified method to calculate the settlement of a thick soil layer with creep. It is a new simplified method because tedious numerical methods are avoided to obtain the total settlement including consolidation and creep settlement. The new simplified method is based on a mathematical solution for the consolidation analysis of a soil layer to consider nonlinear compressibility, and it is proposed to take as a variable instead of a constant as in previous studies. A series of cases including different thicknesses of soil stratums, different OCR values, different surcharge loadings, and different values of creep parameter are studied to verify the new simplified method by comparing our calculated values with the finite-element (FE) simulated results. Subsequently, a typical and well-known Väsby test fill project with 50-year measured data was selected as a thick soil layer example to illustrate the feasibility of the new simplified method to be used in practice. Both the new simplified method and finite-element modeling were used to obtain ground settlements. It was found from the comparison that the calculated results from the new simplified method and the FE modeling were in good agreement with the measured data.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data and models used during the study are available in the published article, and the generated code [e.g., MATLAB code using Zhu and Yin (2012) for the average degree of consolidation] is available from the corresponding author by request.
Acknowledgments
The work in this paper is supported by a CRF project (Grant No. PolyU 12/CRF/13E) from Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) of China, two GRF projects (PolyU 152196/14E; PolyU 152796/16E) from RGC of HKSARG of China. The authors also acknowledge the financial support from the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, grants (1-ZVCR, 1-ZVEH, 4-BCAU, 4-BCAW, 5-ZDAF, G-YN97) from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The authors are grateful to reviewers for their kind reviewing and constructive suggestions.
References
Abbasi, N., H. Rahimi, A. A. Javadi, and A. Fakher. 2007. “Finite difference approach for consolidation with variable compressibility and permeability.” Comput. Geotech. 34 (1): 41–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2006.09.003.
Abuel-Naga, H., and M. Pender. 2012. “Modified Terzaghi consolidation curves with effective stress-dependent coefficient of consolidation.” Géotech. Lett. 2 (2): 43–48. https://doi.org/10.1680/geolett.12.00005.
Abuel-Naga, H. M., D. T. Bergado, and J. Gniel. 2015. “Design chart for prefabricated vertical drains improved ground.” Geotext. Geomembr. 43 (6): 537–546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2015.04.021.
Becker, D. E., M. G. Jefferies, S. B. Shinde, and J. H. A. Crooks. 1985. “Pore water pressure in clays below caisson islands.” In Civil engineering in the arctic offshore, 75–83. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Bjerrum, L. 1967. “Engineering geology of Norwegian normally-consolidated marine clays as related to settlements of buildings.” Géotechnique 17 (2): 83–118. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1967.17.2.83.
Brandenberg, S. J. 2016. “iConsol.js: JavaScript implicit finite-difference code for nonlinear consolidation and secondary compression.” Int. J. Geomech. 17 (6): 04016149. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000843.
Chang, Y. C. E. 1969. Long-term consolidation beneath the test fills at Väsby Sweden. Champaign, IL: Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champain.
Chang, Y. C. E. 1981. Long-term consolidation beneath the test fills at Väsby, Sweden. Linköping, Sweden: Statens Geotekniska Institut.
Craig, R. F. 2004. Soil mechanics. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Davis, E. H., and G. P. Raymond. 1965. “A non-linear theory of consolidation.” Géotechnique 15 (2): 161–173. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1965.15.2.161.
Degago, S. A., G. Grimstad, H. P. Jostad, S. Nordal, and M. Olsson. 2011. “Use and misuse of the isotache concept with respect to creep Hypotheses A and B.” Géotechnique 61 (10): 897–908. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.9.P.112.
Deng, Y. F., A. M. Tang, Y. J. Cui, and X. L. Li. 2011. “Study on the hydraulic conductivity of Boom clay.” Can. Geotech. J. 48 (10): 1461–1470. https://doi.org/10.1139/t11-048.
Den Haan, E. J. 1996. “A compression model for non-brittle soft clays and peat.” Géotechnique 46 (1): 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1996.46.1.1.
Duncan, J. M. 1993. “Limitations of conventional analysis of consolidation settlement.” J. Geotech. Eng. 119 (9): 1333–1359. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1993)119:9(1333).
Fatahi, B., T. M. Le, M. Q. Le, and H. Khabbaz. 2013. “Soil creep effects on ground lateral deformation and pore water pressure under embankments.” Geomech. Geoeng. 8 (2): 107–124. https://doi.org/10.1080/17486025.2012.727037.
Feng, W. Q., B. Lalit, Z. Y. Yin, and J. H. Yin. 2017. “Long-term non-linear creep and swelling behavior of Hong Kong marine deposits in oedometer condition.” Comput. Geotech. 84 (Apr): 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2016.11.009.
Feng, W. Q., and J. H. Yin. 2017. “A new simplified Hypothesis B method for calculating consolidation settlements of double soil layers exhibiting creep.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech. 41 (6): 899–917. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.2635.
Feng, W. Q., and J. H. Yin. 2018. “A new simplified Hypothesis B method for calculating the consolidation settlement of ground improved by vertical drains.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech. 42 (2): 295–311. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.2743.
Gibson, R. E., G. L. England, and M. J. L. Hussey. 1967. “The theory of one-dimensional consolidation of saturated clays: 1. Finite non-linear consolidation of thin homogeneous layers.” Geotechnique 17 (3): 261–273. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1967.17.3.261.
Grimstad, G., and S. A. Degago. 2010. “A non-associated creep model for structured anisotropic clay (n-SAC).” In Proc., 7th European Conf. on Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering, edited by T. Benz and S. Nordal, 3–8. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Hawley, J. G., and D. L. Borin. 1973. “A unified theory for consolidation of clays.” In Proc., 8th ICSMFE, 107–119. New York: Plenum Publishing Corporation.
Imai, G. 1995. “Analytical examination of the foundations to formulate consolidation phenomena with inherent time-dependence.” In Proc., Int. Symp. on Compression and Consolidation of Clayey Soils, 891–935. Rotterdam, Netherlands: A.A. Balkema.
Kabbaj, M., F. Tavenas, and S. Leroueil. 1988. “In situ and laboratory stress–strain relationships.” Géotechnique 38 (1): 83–100. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1988.38.1.83.
Kim, Y. T., and S. Leroueil. 2001. “Modeling the viscoplastic behavior of clays during consolidation: Application to Berthierville clay in both laboratory and field conditions.” Can. Geotech. J. 38 (3): 484–497. https://doi.org/10.1139/t00-108.
Ladd, C. C., R. Foott, K. Ishihara, F. Schlosser, and H. G. Poulos. 1977. “Stress-deformation and strength characteristics. State-of the-art report.” In Vol. 2 of Proc., 9th Int. Conf. Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, 421–494. Tokyo: Japanese Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering.
Larsson, R., and H. Mattsson. 2003. Settlements and shear strength increase below embankments. Linköping, Sweden: Swedish Geotechnical Institute.
Le, T. M. 2015. Analysing consolidation data to optimise elastic visco-plastic model parameters for soft clay. Ultimo, Australia: Univ. of Technology, Sydney.
Li, B., Y. G. Fang, and Z. F. Ou. 2018. “Asymptotic solution for the one-dimensional nonlinear consolidation equation including the pore evolution effect.” Int. J. Geomech. 18 (10): 04018125. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001239.
Liu, Q., Y. B. Deng, and T. Y. Wang. 2018. “One-dimensional nonlinear consolidation theory for soft ground considering secondary consolidation and the thermal effect.” Comput. Geotech. 104 (Dec): 22–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2018.08.007.
Menéndez, C., P. G. Nieto, F. A. Ortega, and A. Bello. 2010. “Non-linear analysis of the consolidation of an elastic saturated soil with incompressible fluid and variable permeability by FEM.” Appl. Math. Comput. 216 (2): 458–476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amc.2010.01.039.
Mesri, G., and Y. K. Choi. 1985. “The uniqueness of the end-of primary (EOP) void ratio-effective stress relationship.” In Vol. 2 of Proc., 11th Int. Conf. Soil Mech. Foundation Engineering, 587–590. Rotterdam, Netherlands: A.A. Balkema.
Mesri, G., and B. Vardhanabhuti. 2006. “Closure of ‘Secondary compression’ by Mesri & Vardhanabhuti (2005).” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 132 (6): 817–818. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2006)132:6(817).
Nash, D. F. T. 2010. “Influence of destructuration of soft clay on time-dependent settlements.” In Proc., European Conf. on Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering, 75–80. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Nash, D. F. T., and S. J. Ryde. 2001. “Modelling the consolidation of compressible soils subject to creep around vertical drains.” Géotechnique 51 (3): 257–273. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2001.51.3.257.
Neher, H. P., M. Wehnert, and P. G. Bonnier. 2001. “An evaluation of soft soil models based on trial embankments.” In Computer methods and advances in geomechanics, edited by C. S. Desai, 373–378. Rotterdam, Netherlands: A.A. Balkema.
Olson, R. E., and C. C. Ladd. 1979. “One-dimensional consolidation problems.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 105 (1): 11–30.
Poskitt, T. J. 1969. “The consolidation of saturated clay with variable permeability and compressibility.” Géotechnique 19 (2): 234–252. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1969.19.2.234.
Pu, H., P. J. Fox, and C. D. Shackelford. 2018a. “Benchmark problem for large strain consolidation-induced solute transport.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 144 (3): 06018001. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001826.
Pu, H., D. Song, and P. J. Fox. 2018b. “Benchmark problem for large strain self-weight consolidation.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 144 (5): 06018002. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001872.
Qu, G., S. D. Hinchberger, and K. Y. Lo. 2010. “Evaluation of the viscous behaviour of clay using generalised overstress viscoplastic theory.” Géotechnique 60 (10): 777–789. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.8.P.031.
Stolle, D. F. E., P. A. Vermeer, and P. G. Bonnier. 1999. “A consolidation model for a creeping clay.” Can. Geotech. J. 36 (4): 754–759. https://doi.org/10.1139/t99-034.
Tavenas, F., P. Jean, P. Leblond, and S. Leroueil. 1983. “The permeability of natural soft clays. Part II: Permeability characteristics.” Can. Geotech. J. 20 (4): 645–660. https://doi.org/10.1139/t83-073.
Vermeer, P. A., and H. P. Neher. 1999. “A soft soil model that accounts for creep.” In Beyond 2000 in computational geotechnics: 10 years of Plaxis International, edited by R. B. J. Brinkgreve, 249–261. Rotterdam, Netherlands: A.A. Balkema.
Wu, H., L. Hu, W. Qi, and Q. Wen. 2016. “Analytical solution for electroosmotic consolidation considering nonlinear variation of soil parameters.” Int. J. Geomech. 17 (5): 06016032. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000821.
Yin, J. H. 2015. “Fundamental issues of constitutive modelling of the time-dependent stress-strain behavior of geomaterials.” Int. J. Geomech. 15 (5): A4015002. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000485.
Yin, J. H., and W. Q. Feng. 2017. “A new simplified method and its verification for calculation of consolidation settlement of a clayey soil with creep.” Can. Geotech. J. 54 (3): 333–347. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2015-0290.
Yin, J. H., and J. Graham. 1989. “Viscous–elastic–plastic modelling of one-dimensional time-dependent behaviour of clays.” Can. Geotech. J. 26 (2): 199–209. https://doi.org/10.1139/t89-029.
Yin, J. H., and J. Graham. 1994. “Equivalent times and one-dimensional elastic viscoplastic modelling of time-dependent stress–strain behaviour of clays.” Can. Geotech. J. 31 (1): 42–52. https://doi.org/10.1139/t94-005.
Yin, J. H., and J. Graham. 1996. “Elastic visco-plastic modelling of one-dimensional consolidation.” Géotechnique 46 (3): 515–527. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1996.46.3.515.
Yin, J. H., and J. Graham. 1999. “Elastic viscoplastic modelling of the time-dependent stress-strain behaviour of soils.” Can. Geotech. J. 36 (4): 736–745. https://doi.org/10.1139/t99-042.
Yin, J. H., J. Graham, J. I. Clark, and L. Gao. 1994. “Modelling unanticipated pore-water pressures in soft clays.” Can. Geotech. J. 31 (5): 773–778. https://doi.org/10.1139/t94-088.
Yin, J. H., and J. G. Zhu. 1999. “Elastic viscoplastic consolidation modelling and interpretation of pore-water pressure responses in clay underneath Tarsiut Island.” Can. Geotech. J. 36 (4): 708–717. https://doi.org/10.1139/t99-041.
Yin, Z. Y., C. S. Chang, M. Karstunen, and P. Y. Hicher. 2010. “An anisotropic elastic–viscoplastic model for soft clays.” Int. J. Solids Struct. 47 (5): 665–677. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2009.11.004.
Yin, Z. Y., and M. Karstunen. 2008. “Influence of anisotropy, destructuration and viscosity on the behavior of an embankment on soft clay.” In Proc., 12th Int. Conf. of Int. Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics (IACMAG), edited by Ed. Mahendra and N. Jadhav, 4728–4735. Red hook, NY: Curran Associates.
Yin, Z. Y., M. Karstunen, C. S. Chang, M. Koskinen, and M. Lojander. 2011. “Modeling time-dependent behavior of soft sensitive clay.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 137 (11): 1103–1113. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000527.
Yin, Z. Y., D. M. Zhang, P. Y. Hicher, and H. Huang. 2008. “Modelling of time-dependent behaviour of soft soils using simple elasto-viscoplastic model.” Chin. J. Geotech. Eng. 30 (6): 880–888.
Yuan, Y., and A. J. Whittle. 2013. “Examination on time-dependent soil models in one-dimensional consolidation.” In Constitutive modeling of geomaterials, 159–166. Berlin: Springer.
Yuan, Y., and A. J. Whittle. 2018. “A novel elasto-viscoplastic formulation for compression behaviour of clays.” Géotechnique 68 (12): 1044–1055.
Zagorščak, R., M. Sedighi, and H. R. Thomas. 2017. “Effects of thermo-osmosis on hydraulic behavior of saturated clays.” Int. J. Geomech. 17 (3): 04016068. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000742.
Zhu, G. F., and J. H. Yin. 1999. “Consolidation of double soil layers under depth-dependent ramp load.” Géotechnique 49 (3): 415–421.
Zhu, G. F., and J. H. Yin. 2005. “Solution charts for the consolidation of double soil layers.” Can. Geotech. J. 42 (3): 949–956. https://doi.org/10.1139/t05-001.
Zhu, G. F., and J. H. Yin. 2012. “Analysis and mathematical solutions for consolidation of a soil layer with depth-dependent parameters under confined compression.” Int. J. Geomech. 12 (4): 451–461. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000152.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 20 • Issue 3 • March 2020
Copyright
©2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 15, 2018
Accepted: Jul 9, 2019
Published online: Dec 19, 2019
Published in print: Mar 1, 2020
Discussion open until: May 19, 2020
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.