Finite Element Analysis of One Dimention Large Strain Consolidation of Clays with Variable Compressibility and Permeability

Abstract

The coefficient of compressibility av and the coefficient of permeability kv of clays decrease during the one dimention consolidation process, especially when the strain of clays in the process are large. This paper studies the effects of large strain, decreasing compressibility and decreasing permeability during the one dimention large strain consolidation process by analyzing results obtained from the nonlinear finite element method and comparing with results from the conventional consolidation theory. The research results of this paper shows that the compression index Cc and the permeability change index Ck are two important clay parameters which influence one dimention large strain consolidation process.When the instantaneous load increment remains unchanged, the larger the value of the Cc , the larger the value of the final settlement and the slower the settlement development; the larger the value of the Ck, the faster the dissipation of excess pore water pressure in one dimention large strain consolidation process.