Estimation of the Coefficient of Consolidation from Incomplete Cone Penetration Test Dissipation Tests
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 141, Issue 2
Abstract
Determining the consolidation coefficient of clay is necessary for estimating the consolidation behavior of stratigraphic units during and after construction. Use of piezocone dissipation tests is one in situ method that is advantageous to estimate consolidation behavior because it uses equipment typically mobilized as part of the site investigation effort. The routine use of cone dissipation tests in practice remains limited because of the time required to reach 50% dissipation of excess pore pressures. In low permeability clays, the value may be on the order of 6–24 h, rendering it costly and difficult to complete a cone sounding in 1 day. This paper presents a method for fitting incomplete piezocone dissipation tests using a hyperbolic function to estimate the value and therefore . Results are presented from evaluation of the simplified approach applied to 20 dissipation tests reaching at least 50% dissipation in soils ranging from clayey silts to high-plasticity clays. Results show that only 30% dissipation may be necessary to reasonably estimate and , resulting in potential time savings, which can motivate the increased use of pore-pressure dissipation tests in site investigation programs.
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Acknowledgments
The support of the USGS (Grant No. G12AP20013) is appreciated.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 141 • Issue 2 • February 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 15, 2013
Accepted: Sep 17, 2014
Published online: Oct 30, 2014
Published in print: Feb 1, 2015
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