Numerical Analysis of 1-D Consolidation of Two-layered Soils with Different Initial Excess Pore Water Pressure

This article presents the consolidation behaviour of two-layered clays by considering various pre-assumed distributions of initial excess pore water pressure (u₀). The considered distributions of u₀ with depth are symmetric/ asymmetric, linear/nonlinear in nature. A total number of ten u₀ -loadings are considered in the present analysis. The classical Terzaghi’s one-dimensional linear parabolic diffusion equation is used for performing the consolidation analysis. The numerical simulations are carried out with the aid of Crank-Nicolson implicit scheme. The results are presented in terms of normalized isochrones and consolidating curves. The consolidation process of the two-layered clayey stratum is rigorously examined by varying the permeability (k₁/k₂), compressibility (m_v1/m_v2), and depth (z₁/z₂) ratios; here, the subscript 1 and 2 indicates the properties of top and the bottom layers, respectively. The analysis is carried out for both the drainage conditions- one-way and two-way. The isochrones obtained from the conventional rectangular u₀ distribution significantly deviate in size and shape when other u₀ -loadings are considered.