Abstract:
This note describes a faster and complete consolidation testing procedure using the inflection point
method so as to obtain the void ratio–consolidation curve at the end-of-primary consolidation and the
coefficient of consolidation. The testing procedure is similar to the conventional incremental load
consolidation test, with the only difference being that the subsequent loading is applied once the degree
of consolidation of U = 70·15% is reached. The time and settlement corresponding to U = 70·15% is
obtained using the inflection point method, from which the end-of-primary consolidation and the
coefficient of consolidation are evaluated. The validity of the proposed procedure is verified by
performing tests on four reconstituted and three undisturbed soil samples. By adopting the proposed
procedure, complete consolidation tests can be completed within 2·5 to 9 h depending on the coefficient
of consolidation of the soils.
