Factors affecting the assessment of degree of consolidation

摘要

An assessment of degree of consolidation of soil during consolidation is essential in checking the performance of vertical drains and the extent of improvement. A proper field instrumentation and monitoring scheme is normally required for assessing degree of consolidation. The degree of consolidation can be assessed using either the settlement or pore water pressure data. However, the assessment can be affected considerably by factors such as the prediction of the final settlement or the initial excess pore pressure. Factors that affect the assessment of degree of consolidation are discussed in this paper. The discrepancies in the degree of consolidation assessed based on settlement and pore presure are also analysed.