Examination of the factors affecting secondary consolidation

In soil mechanics, it is traditionally assumed that secondary consolidations are very small compared to primary consolidations and can therefore be neglected. However, many studies have shown that secondary consolidations have major effects on soil behavior and that serious consequences can be encountered if they are neglected. In this study, an experimental study was conducted on some factors said to affect secondary consolidations. The experimental study was carried out with a modified consolidation test that can measure pore water pressure. The tests were carried out by adding fine-grained inorganic soil material and organic matter corresponding to 15% of this material, thus observing the effect of organic matter. During the experiments conducted on parameters such as pre-consolidation pressure, sample size, loading type, and loading percentage between each loading, it was observed that the largest and most important effect on secondary consolidations was caused by organic matter. Secondary consolidations, which were seen to be effective in organic soils, were also numerically considered by means of an embankment constructed on organic soil. According to the results obtained, the use of soil models that take into account secondary consolidations is almost mandatory in embankments constructed on organic soil.