TECHNICAL NOTES
Aug 1, 1999

Coefficient of Consolidation by Inflection Point Method

Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 125, Issue 8

Abstract

The coefficient of consolidation in the Terzaghi theory of consolidation has been commonly determined by fitting the theory to observed compression with time in an incremental loading oedometer test. The Terzaghi theory is applicable to compression and swelling. A similar coefficient governed by horizontal permeability is used in the Barron formulation of consolidation with vertical drains. The most widely used graphical methods of Casagrande and Taylor, which fit the theory to observed data at 50 and 90% primary compression, respectively, are rather laborious. The inflection point method requires only a visual identification of the inflection point on the compression versus log time curve. The values of coefficients of consolidation by the simple inflection point method are quite similar to those from the Casagrande method.

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Published In

Go to Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 125Issue 8August 1999
Pages: 716 - 718

History

Received: Apr 9, 1998
Published online: Aug 1, 1999
Published in print: Aug 1999

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Member, ASCE
Associate Member, ASCE
Prof. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801-2352.
Assoc. Prof. of Civ. Engrg., Chung Yuan Univ., Chung-li, Taiwan, ROC.
Post-doctoral Res. Assoc., Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL.

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