Solution to 1-D consolidation of non-homogeneous soft clay

In this work, semi-analytical methods were used to solve the problem of 1-D consolidation of non-homogeneous soft clay with spatially varying coefficients of permeability and compressibility. The semi-analytical solution was programmed and then verified by comparison with the obtained analytical solution of a special case. Based on the results of some computations and comparisons with the 1-D homogeneous consolidation (by Terzaghi) and the 1-D non-linear consolidation theory (by Davis et al.) of soft clay, some diagrams were prepared and the relevant consolidation behavior of non-homogeneous soils is discussed. It was shown that the result obtained differs greatly from Terzaghi’s theory and that of the non-linear consolidation theory when the coefficients of permeability and compressibility vary greatly.