Reassessment of Isotaches Compression Concept and Isotaches Consolidation Models
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 144, Issue 3
Abstract
A substantial body of laboratory and field observations on compression and consolidation of soft clay and silt deposits as well as organic soils, suggest a soil behavior according to Hypothesis A and the law of compressibility. Yet the isotaches compression concept and isotaches consolidation models have been used to predict and promote Hypothesis B and also create confusion regarding the law of compressibility. There is a lack of observed evidence supporting Hypothesis B as it was originally defined. The isotaches compression concept consists of expressing secondary compression observed for 20-mm thick laboratory specimens in terms of vertical strain versus effective vertical stress, for a series of vertical strain rates. The isotaches consolidation models, without justification, then either explicitly or implicitly use secondary compression observed for laboratory specimens during primary consolidation of field layers. These Hypothesis B-based settlement analyses are expected to significantly overestimate end-of-primary (EOP) settlement for field construction on soft ground.
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Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 144 • Issue 3 • March 2018
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©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 9, 2016
Accepted: Aug 4, 2017
Published online: Dec 20, 2017
Published in print: Mar 1, 2018
Discussion open until: May 20, 2018
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