Evaluation of soil permeability from consolidation analysis based on Terzaghi’s and Biot’s theory

Abstract

Proper evaluation of permeability parameters has a crucial signification in multi-scale prediction of consolidation. Drainage path is connected with the time of one-dimensional consolidation in Terzaghi’s theory and numerous later solutions. That is why the evaluation of permeability factor allows to model the settlement’s time of geological layers based on results obtained on a laboratory scale. Numerous tests show a difference of the consolidation degree obtained from one-dimensional strain course and pore pressure distribution. Evaluation of consolidation coefficient c_v based on a newly proposed method allows better understanding of the basic reasons of unconventional behaviour of tested soils. Unparallel characteristics of strain and pore pressure distribution show important role of soil’s skeleton creep and its relation to permeability aspects. Solutions proposed by Biot’s theory allow analysing the different velocity of strain and pore pressure distribution. The article presents a new approximated method based on Terzaghi’s theory and evaluation of parameters which are necessary in application of Biot’s one–dimensional solution. These parameters are connected with compressibility and coefficient of permeability. The goal of presented methodological studies is comparison between permeability obtained from application of Terzaghi’s and Biot’s theory. It allows trying to explain physical reasons of differences between applied models and testing results, and improving the methodology of one–dimensional consolidations tests.