SEDL / STP / STP892-EB / STP34618S

Constant-Rate-of-Loading (CRL) Consolidation Test

von Fay, KF
Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO

Cotton, CE
Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO

Pages: 21    Published: Jan 1986

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Abstract

For the past 50 years, the information used to estimate soil settlement characteristics has been obtained using a standard-incremental-loading (STD) consolidation test. Recently, several other test methods have been developed, among them the constant-rate-of-loading (CRL) consolidation test. A versatile CRL apparatus, developed by the Bureau of Reclamation Engineering and Research Laboratory, is described. Test results from the CRL apparatus are compared with results from the STD apparatus. The results show that test completion times for the CRL test are much shorter than for the STD test, that agreement between the results of the CRL and STD tests are within reasonable limits, and that the CRL apparatus and test procedure offer an alternative to the STD test.