Identification of preferable method for the precise estimation of coefficient of consolidation (C_v) for coal ash

Abstract

The exact determination of settlement and the time required to complete that settlement is very important from the safety point of view. There are several methods available to find the rate of consolidation that is highly dependent on the settlement versus time curve. Here, it has been attempted to identify the suitable method for the determination of the rate of consolidation of coal ash. After analyzing the value of the coefficient of consolidation (C_v) estimated from various methods, the rectangular hyperbola method (RH method) is found to be in best linear correlation between the measured C_v and calculated C_v. The coal ash shows an increment in C_v with the increase in effective pressure. The C_v obtained from the RH method is higher than the C_v obtained from Taylor’s and Casagrande method that helps in close approximation with field C_v. The precise determination of C_v helps in better prediction of the time required for the consolidation settlement that will increase the performance of the structure.

Keywords:

• Consolidation
• settlement
• coefficient of consolidation
• coal ash
• rectangular hyperbola method

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

Authors are grateful for the financial assistance provided by the SERB Division, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.