Exact Solutions of Two-dimensional and Tri-dimensional Consolidation Equations

Abstract

The exact solution of Terzaghi's consolidation equation has further highlighted the limits of this theory in the one-dimensional field as, like Taylor's approximate solution, it overestimates the decay times of the phenomenon; on the other hand, one only needs to think about the accumulation pattern of sedimentary-basin soils to understand how their internal structure fits in more with the model of transversely isotropic medium, so as to result in the development of two- and three-dimensional consolidation models. This is the reason why, using Terzaghi's theory and his exact solution as starting point, two-dimensional and three-dimensional consolidation equations have been proposed, in an attempt to find their corresponding exact solutions which constitute more reliable forecasting models. Lastly, results show how this phenomenon is predominantly influenced by the dimensions of the horizontal plane affected by soil consolidation and permeabilities that behave according to three coordinate axes.