Analysis and Estimation of the Coefficient of Consolidation
Narasimha, Raju PSR, Pandian NS, Nagaraj TS
(Received 0 0; accepted 0 0)

Abstract
Consolidation is one of the most important behaviors of saturated fine-grained soils that needs to be understood for settlement analysis of these soils. The two most important aspects of laboratory consolidation tests are: (1) estimation of the compression index (C_n), used to predict total settlement of normally consolidated soils provided the void ratio versus log (effective stress) is linear; and (2) the coefficient of consolidation (C_n), used to predict the rate of settlement in the range of primary consolidation. Several researchers have proposed various graphical methods for obtaining estimates of C_n from laboratory oedometer tests. Olson (1985) concluded that since different graphical methods estimate different values for C_n for the same data, the only rational way to estimate the C_n value is to base it on the coefficient of volume compressibility (m_n) and the coefficient of permeability (k). Guided by these considerations, an attempt has been made to establish the feasibility of estimating C_n using stress state-permeability relationships (Nagaraj et al. 1993). The input parameters are the liquid-limit void ratio (e_L) and the overburden pressure (p).

Keywords:
clays, coefficient of consolidation, compressibility, liquid limit, permeability, prediction

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Author Narasimha, Raju PSR, Pandian NS, Nagaraj TS Title Analysis and Estimation of the Coefficient of Consolidation Symposium , Committee on