Consolidation of unsaturated lumpy clays

Coupled flow-deformation analysis of consolidation in unsaturated lumpy clays is presented. The governing differential equations are discretised using the Galerkin method and the finite difference technique for space and time, respectively. Particular attention is given to the cross coupling coefficients arising from the pore scale deformation compatibility between micro and macro voids.

Two examples are analysed: a one-dimensional soil column, and a strip footing acting on a two-dimensional medium of lumpy clay. A range of sensitivity analyses are preformed using different values of degree of saturation and volume fraction of macro voids. All results are carefully analysed and salient features of consolation in lumpy clays are highlighted.

The significance of the cross coupling coefficients in the numerical results obtained are also examined.