Experimental evidence about misconception of Terzaghi's 1-D consolidation theory in terms of degree of consolidation

Terzaghi's 1-D consolidation theory is commonly used for prediction of embankment settlement in soft fine-grained soil. Application of this theory is not always effective due to the simplifications of assumed soil behavior under load. This paper examines relationship between the degrees of consolidation determined by pore water pressure measured at the base of the sample and one-dimensional strain. Theoretically, this relationship should be unique, however experimental relationships correlating the degrees of consolidation are found to be non-linear. The article presents the results of multistage consolidation tests with pore water pressure measurements, carried out on intact and reconstituted deep marine clay. Consolidation tests were conducted with uniform stress distribution and single-sided drainage conditions. It was observed that the relationship between degrees of consolidation for intact and reconstituted samples largely divergent from theoretical unique line.