A Study of the Effect of Vertical Sand Drains as a Means for the Rapid Consolidation of Soils of Low Permeability

Citation

Swatta, Frank Albert (1947) A Study of the Effect of Vertical Sand Drains as a Means for the Rapid Consolidation of Soils of Low Permeability. Master's thesis, California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/FB0G-N523. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-10062005-131350

Abstract

The phenomenon of consolidation or the settlement of soils under load is well known to civil engineering practice in all works dealing with earth movement and foundations. Unlike true elastic materials, this deformation takes place at a variable rate over an extended period of time and is especially apparent in clays saturated with water. This phenomenon was first explained by K. Terzaghi who assumed the soil mass to be an elastic porous medium with voids filled with water or the concept of a saturated rubber sponge. The deformation of such a mass upon application of a load would then be variable, depending upon the rate at which water was forced from the voids. The application of mathematical analysis to this concept led to the complete solution by Terzaghi for the one dimensional process to be followed by the studies of M. A. Biot, L. Rendulic and N. Carillo dealing with the three dimensional case.

Thesis Files