Consolidation of Soil
When a load is applied to a dry soil, the soil particles are forced
closer together. In contrast, when a load is applied to a saturated
soil, the soil particles cannot move closer together, since water fills
the voids between them. Instead, the load is transferred to the
pore-water. This creates excess pore-water pressure and causes the
water to flow into soil where pore-water pressure is lower. As the
water flows out of the voids, the soil particles are able to consoli-
date, to move closer together.
Consolidation occurs rapidly at first, because there is a high pres-
sure-gradient between the loaded soil and the non-loaded soil. As
the pressure-gradient decreases, consolidation slows.
The rate at which excess pore-water pressure dissipates and the soil
consolidates depends on the permeability of the soil. In a granular
soil such as sand, the pore-water flows away quickly and consolida-
tion occurs quickly. In less permeable soils such as clays, dissipation
of the excess pore-water pressure is much slower, and consolidation
can take many months or even years.
As consolidation occurs, the volume occupied by the soil decreases
and settlement occurs. By monitoring settlement, the engineer deter-
mines how far consolidation has progressed. Construction can begin
when the degree of settlement has reached an acceptable level.
Basic Soil Mechanics
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Rembco Geotechnical Contractors specializes in
slope stabilization,
soil nail wall,
foundation repair
and support,
grouting,
shoring,
micropile
construction,
rock drilling, and we remediate
sinkholes. We use a
problem-solving approach in the geotechnical portions of buildings, bridges, water plants, sewage plants, tunnels,
installing caisson bottom, and roads. We are experienced in these applications:
micro piles,
sinkhole repair,
permeation and
pressure
grouting,
soil nails,
cement grouting,
chemical grouting,
micropiles,
compaction grouting, and
rock anchors.
Rembco techniques apply when adding new structures: especially
rock anchor,
microfine cement,
soil nailing, and
micropile
installations for foundation support. Our specialties are
soil nails,
rock anchor,
chemical and
compaction grouting,
mini piles,
sinkhole repair,
micropiles, and
soil nailing.
