In: Civil Engineering
A 20 m thick saturated clay layer is normally consolidated. At mid-depth in this layer, the void ratio (e) is 1.110, the coefficient of compressibility (av) is 5.74 x103 cm2=N. Recall that w = 9.81 kN/m3. a) Assuming that a 122 cm lowering of the ground water table (GWT) occurs in the soil overlying the clay layer, what settlement will occur in the soil overlying the clay layer because of the ultimate primary consolidation of the clay layer? Express your answer in units of centimeters. It may be assumed that the lowering of the ground water table does not change the moisture content (and thus unit weight) in the soil above the groundwater table. NOTE: the thickness of the overlying soil layer, as well as it material properties (e.g., the unit weight) are not needed to solve this problem. b) What is the volumetric strain associated with the ultimate primary consolidation of the clay layer? Express your answer in percent (%).