Conceptual data model and method of settlement calculation for deformation and water release from saturated soft soil

Research on the seepage deformation of saturated soft soil has resulted in many achievements based, mainly, on existing seepage-deformation control equations. In reality, however, these control equations and related parameters suffer from many problems. The conductivity coefficient in the seepage control equation and the consolidation coefficient in the consolidation equation clearly resemble each other in form. However, in existing regulations and practice, soil deformation is rarely calculated by substituting the conductivity coefficient obtained from field hydrogeological experiments for the consolidation coefficient. Similarly, seepage is seldom calculated by substituting the conductivity coefficient with the consolidation coefficient obtained from consolidation experiments. This can be attributed to the fact that the two coefficients have some obvious differences. Moreover, the settlement deformation of soil calculated using the existing seepage and consolidation models does not agree very well with the measured deformation. Also, the values calculated using different models usually deviate markedly. Research indicates that these problems derive from the fact that the seepage and consolidation equations are based on different concepts of elementary volume. This study proposes using two separate elementary volume concepts: deformation elementary volume and control elementary volume. The concepts are adopted for saturated soft soil and the results used to analyze the relationships and differences between the two concepts. Moreover, we developed a conceptual data model (CDM) for the water released from and the deformation of the saturated soil. The model discloses the differences between the consolidation and conductivity coefficients both in their physical significances and magnitudes. The inter-relationship between the two coefficients is also revealed. An analytical solution for the deformation and water released from saturated soft soil is deduced based on the CDM model and the relationship between the hydrogeological and consolidation deformation parameters is established. A physical test model for saturated soft soil under certain conditions is also designed to verify the analytical solution using a method of curve fitting. Seepage and deformation tests and case studies show that the parameters calculated using the consolidation model are in agreement with those obtained from the CDM seepage model based on the measured data for flux and settlement vs. time. Furthermore, the relationship between conductivity and consolidation coefficients is verified. The method suggested in this paper is generally applicable to problems involving the consolidation coefficient, volume compressibility, conductivity coefficient, hydraulic conductivity, and specific storage of saturated soft soil, etc. Thus, its potential applications are numerous.