Abordagem matemática para a teoria do adensamento

Abstract

The clay layers, when subjected to vertical loads, deform in time, this process is called consolidation. Such deformations can cause considerable damage to buildings. In this sense, a mathematical model is proposed to predict consolidation in saturated clays, taking into account the principles presented in the Theories of Terzaghi and Frohlich (1936), Taylor (1942) and Barden (1965). The model considers the existence of a viscous portion of the effective vertical stress and incorporates a nonlinear viscosity law as a fundamental property. The obtained equation is presented in terms of dissipating excess normalized poropressure. Due to the complexity of the model, the numerical technique of finite divided differences is applied to the theoretical solution. The results found show that the viscous portion of the effective vertical stress acts by delaying the consolidation. Still, the theoretical adjustment obtained with this model for a viscosity factor equal to one is more promising than the proposals of Terzaghi and Frohlich (1936) and Andrade (2014) when compared with the respective experimental results.