ENG464 Numerical analysis of consolidation

Prof. Fairfield
Terzaghis one-dimensional theory of consolidation assumes: homogeneity,

SR

1,

solids

and

pore

fluid

incompressible, compression and flow are vertical, small strains, Darcys law valid for all hydraulic gradients, k and mv
constant, and a unique, non-time-dependent, relationship between e and .
Theory will relate u, z and time.

z
2d

dx.dy

CLAY

dz

Apply v to an element of the soil undergoing consolidation:

Flow velocity (after Darcy),

v z kiz k

Change in head h due to pwp only implies:

Continuity equation gives us:

h
z

vz

k u
w z

dV
v x v z

dxdydz
z
dt
x

dV
k 2u

dxdydz
dt
w z 2

(1)

Re-express w.r.t mv (the volume change per unit volume per unit ):

dV

mv
dxdydz
dt
t

Combine (1) and (2):

where

dV
u
mv
dxdydz
dt
t

mv

u
k 2u

t w z 2

u
2u
cv 2
t
t

where cv = coefficient of consolidation and

(2)

cv

k
mv w

Solution of

Initial condition:

u =ui for 0 z 2d at t = 0

Boundary condition:

u = 0 for z = 0, z = 2d at t 0

u
2u
cv 2
t
t

n 2 2 cv t

4 d 2

1 2d
n z
n z
u u i sin
dz sin
e

2d
2d
n 1 d 0

n 2 2 cv t

4 d 2

2u
n z

u i 1 cos n sin
e
2d

n 0 n
n

If ui is constant over whole stratum;

For n even, (1-cos n) = 0 and for n odd; (1-cos n) = 2

Substitute n = 2m + 1,

2m 1 , and introduce time factor Tv where Tv

Now plot isochrones of u versus z for different values of time t.

Basically;

Consolidation settlement,

c 2d mv

ct U
Tv v2

4 100
d

for 0% U 60%

or

Tv 0.9332 log10 1 U 0.0851 for U > 60%

cv t
.
d2

Numerical solution

Finite difference method: cheap, quick, able to model

ui 0 and

0 cases with minimal error.
t

Establish a depth-time grid in the consolidating layer.

2u
1
u 1
u u 2ui, j
u i , j 1 u i , j and 2
t t
t
z 2 i 1, j i 1, j

Taylors theorem for solution

c t
u
2u
Recall that
cv 2 therefore u i , j 1 u i , j v 2 u i 1, j u i 1, j 2u i , j
t
t
z

Let operator be given by

cv t

z 2

and note that for convergence

Prove that the numerical error is minimised when

16 .

We usually specify depth intervals m which in turn restricts hence t as we select for convergence anyway. In an
open layer

Tv

cv nt

mz 2

If a boundary is impermeable;

n
n
and in a half-closed layer Tv 2 . Now we choose n such that .
2
m
m

u
0
z

1
ui1, j ui1, j 0 for a boundary at depth increment i.
2z

ui 1, j ui 1, j

u i , j 1 u i , j

cv t

z 2

2u

i 1, j

2u i , j and so on

Example
A half-closed layer (free-draining top boundary) is 10 m thick with cv = 7.9 m2/yr. Pore pressure measurements were
made as follows:

Depth/ m

10

u/ kPa

60

54

41

29

19

15

Obtain a numerical estimate of the excess pore water pressure after 1 years consolidation has occurred.

Solution at j = 10 (t = 1.01 years)

ui,0 / kPa

60

54

41

29

19

15

ui,10 / kPa

13.1

21.9

25.3

25.2

24.7

Tutorial problems

1.

Rework the class example with:

a)

cv = 3.95 m2/year

b)

cv = 15.8 m2/year

c)

a layer thickness of 5 m

d)

a layer thickness of 1 m

Comment on your answers.

2.

What errors could be expected from computer implementation of Taylors formula for the numerical modelling
of consolidation?

3.

Taking cv, t, and d = 1 in appropriate units, assess and describe the effects of different values of the operator
upon an initially linear pore water pressure versus depth distribution. Assume a half-closed layer with surface
pore water pressure equal to zero and base pore water pressure equal to one.