Modeling Consolidation Behavior of a Finite Transversely Isotropic Soil Layer on Smooth Impermeable Base Under Plane Strain Conditions

The consolidation process of a transversely isotropic soil layer, which is placed on a smooth base (either permeable or impermeable) and subjected to uniform circular pressure on its surface, is investigated using semi-analytical methods under plane strain conditions. Using the consolidation theory of Biot that involves coupled phenomena, the solutions for solid matrix displacements, stress components, and pore water pressure are acquired in the combination of Laplace and Fourier transforms. The permeability of the soil layer is considered different in both the horizontal and vertical directions. Schapery’s technique is applied to invert Laplace domain solutions, and the trapezoidal rule is employed to evaluate the practical solutions in the space-time domain for uniform circular loading after finding solutions in the transformed domain. Some numerical results are shown in the space-time domain to further illustrate how layer thickness and material anisotropy affect settlement due to consolidation and dissipation of pore pressure. The research findings indicate that the permeability of the base significantly affects surface settlement in thin layers. Moreover, compared to an impermeable base, a permeable base leads to a faster drop in pore pressure.