What is Consolidation Settlement?
Consolidation settlement is the time-dependent compression of saturated clayey soils due to the expulsion of water from the voids when subjected to increased loading. This calculator estimates the primary consolidation settlement using Terzaghi's one-dimensional consolidation theory.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the basic soil properties: Initial void ratio (e₀), compression index (Cc), and clay layer thickness (H).
- Specify the stress conditions: Initial effective stress (σ′₀) and applied pressure (Δσ).
- Select the drainage condition (single or double drainage).
- For advanced analysis, enable preconsolidation pressure or secondary compression options.
- Click "Calculate Settlement" to view results.
Key Parameters Explained
| Parameter |
Description |
Typical Values |
| Initial Void Ratio (e₀) |
Ratio of void volume to solid volume in soil before loading |
0.6-1.2 for clays |
| Compression Index (Cc) |
Slope of virgin compression curve on e-logσ' plot |
0.1-0.5 for most clays |
| Initial Effective Stress (σ′₀) |
Effective overburden pressure at mid-depth of clay layer |
Depends on depth and unit weight |
| Applied Pressure (Δσ) |
Additional vertical stress from structure or fill |
Varies with loading |
Interpretation of Results
- Primary Consolidation Settlement (Sc): Immediate settlement due to water expulsion from soil voids.
- Secondary Compression (Ss): Long-term creep settlement after primary consolidation is complete.
- Total Settlement (Stotal): Sum of primary and secondary settlement components.
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