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Journals / Maden Tetkik ve Arama Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 176 Sayı: 176

Effect of Degree of Saturation on Consolidation Parameters of Fine-Grained Soils

Deniz Yılmaz(FUGRO Türkiye, Ankara, Türkiye.)0000-0003-2860-6154
Kamil Kayabalı(0000-0002-0228-0777)0000-0002-0228-0777
Pages
31–45
Publication Date
2025-04-25
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Results indicated a meaningful relationship between the compression index and the degree of saturation, though the relationship with the recompression index was less certain.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Terzaghi (1943)'s theory of consolidation phenomenon has some limitations for unsaturated geological environments in nature.
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Key Findings & Data:The scope of this study is to illustrate the effect of degree of saturation (Sr) on the consolidation parameters using remolded soil samples.
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Conclusion & Impact:Results indicated a meaningful relationship between the compression index and the degree of saturation, though the relationship with the recompression index was less certain.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Degree of saturation · coefficient of consolidation · pre-consolidation pressure

Abstract

Terzaghi (1943)'s theory of consolidation phenomenon has some limitations for unsaturated geological environments in nature. Additionally, soils are subjected to consolidation tests under partially saturation conditions. The scope of this study is to illustrate the effect of degree of saturation (Sr) on the consolidation parameters using remolded soil samples. For this purpose, swelling pressure, compression index (cc), re-compression index (cr), coefficient of consolidation (cv), and pre-consolidation stress (σp') were determined for the samples having different degrees of saturation and plasticity (PI). The consolidation parameters obtained from “undersaturated” remolded samples with varying degrees of saturation were compared with the consolidation parameters obtained from “fully saturated” remolded samples to illustrate which parameters of consolidation are affected most by the degree of saturation. The effect of swelling of partially saturated samples was eliminated prior to conducting oedometer tests. Results indicated a meaningful relationship between the compression index and the degree of saturation, though the relationship with the recompression index was less certain. Pre-consolidation stress generally decreased as saturation increased, while no definitive trend was observed between the degree of saturation and the consolidation coefficient. Overall, most consolidation parameters were found to be somewhat affected by the degree of saturation.

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Cite This Article

Yılmaz, D., Kayabalı, K. (2025). Effect of Degree of Saturation on Consolidation Parameters of Fine-Grained Soils. Maden Tetkik ve Arama Dergisi, Cilt: 176 Sayı: 176, 31–45. https://doi.org/10.19111/bulletinofmre.1652439

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