Consolidation theory for saturated ground considering temperature effects

The consolidation theory considering temperature effect (heating) is one of the research topics that are of great concern in geotechnical engineering today. It has its application background in thermal energy geo-structure, nuclear waste disposal and thermal ground treatment technology and so on. Aiming at overcoming the shortcomings of the existing thermal consolidation researches, the formulas for calculating the consolidation settlement, excess pore water pressure and degree of consolidation are presented on the basis of coupling the temperature effects on soil consolidation behavior and pore water pressure. The rationality of different expressions is discussed according to an example. The model tests on soft ground and vertical drained ground coupling with heating are carried out. The accuracy of the proposed method is checked through the comparison between the theoretical and measured results. The method can be used to analyze the rebound and settlement of saturated ground and the raise and dissipation of the excess pore water pressure under loading and heating. Thus the traditional classical consolidation theory is expanded and it may provide a theoretical basis for the analysis of the geotechnical problems involving heating.