A Solution to Terzaghi’s Multidimensional Consolidation Differential Equation

In this paper, the general solutions to the Terzaghi’s two-dimensional and three-dimensional consolidation differential equations were given for cases when the surface of a soil layer is pervious, the bottom of a soil layer is pervious or non-perviougf and the initial pore water pressure is arbitrarily distributed. As a result, an accurate solution is obtained for concentrated loading and arbitrarily distributed loading . Compared with the result of one-dimensional problem, the dissipation of pore water pressure calculated by the accurate solutions to the two-dimensional and three-dimensional problems expedites obviously. This finding agrees with the engineering practice, and hence is of practical significance.