Design charts for estimating the consolidation times of reclaimed marine clays in Korea

To predict the consolidation behavior of dredged and reclaimed marine clays exhibiting consolidation settlement with large strains, the finite strain consolidation theory must be used. However, challenges in appropriately applying the theory and determining input parameters make design and analysis studies difficult. To address these challenges, design charts for predicting the consolidation settlement of reclaimed marine clays are developed by a numerical approach based on the finite strain consolidation theory. To prepare the design charts, a sensitivity analysis of parameters is performed, and influencing parameters, such as initial void ratio and initial height, as well as the non-linear constitutive void ratio-effective stress -permeability relation, are confirmed. Six representative Korean marine clays obtained from different locations with different liquid limits are used. The design charts for estimating the consolidation times corresponding to various degrees of consolidation are proposed for each of the six representative clays. The consolidation settlements predicted from the design charts are compared to those in previous studies and at an actual construction site and are found to agree well with them. The proposed design charts can therefore be used to solve problems related to the consolidation of reclaimed marine clays having large strains.