Nonlinear radial consolidation of vertical drains under a general time‐variable loading |
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| Authors: | Mengmeng Lu Shanyong Wang Scott W Sloan Buddhima Indraratna Kanghe Xie |
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| Institution: | 1. State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China;2. ARC Centre of Excellence for Geotechnical Science and Engineering, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia;3. Geomechanics and Railway Engineering Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia;4. Research Center of Coastal and Urban Geotechnical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China |
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| Abstract: | By incorporating the nonlinear variation of a soil's compressibility and permeability during the process of consolidation, an analytical solution for the radial consolidation of vertical drains has been developed for a general time‐variable loading. The general solution was verified for the cases of instantaneous loading and ramp loading. Detailed solutions were further derived for two special loading schemes: multistage loading and preloading–unloading–reloading. The nonlinear consolidation behavior of a vertical drain subjected to these two types of loading schemes was then investigated by a parametric study. The results show that the loading rate, the ratio of the compressibility index to the permeability index (Cc/Ck), and the initial stress state have a significant influence on the consolidation rate. A smaller value of Cc/Ck, a larger initial stress, or a fast loading rate always leads to a rapid consolidation rate. During the unloading period, a negative excess pore water pressure may occur, and a slower unloading rate may reduce this negative value. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
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| Keywords: | consolidation nonlinearity vertical drain multistage loading preloading– unloading– reloading |
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