One-Dimensional Consolidation Analysis of Unsaturated Soils under Cyclic Loadings

This paper presents analytical solutions to Fredlund and Hasan’s one-dimensional consolidation equations for unsaturated soils subjected to various cyclic loadings. Two new variables are introduced so that the governing equations for excess pore air and water pressures can be transformed to a set of conventional diffusion equations. Based on the general solutions for two introduced variables, the analytical solutions are derived for one-dimensional consolidation of unsaturated soils under trapezoidal, rectangular, triangular, and haversine cyclic loadings. It shows through the degeneration into the existing solutions for unsaturated and saturated soils that the proposed solutions are more general ones for one-dimensional consolidation of soils from unsaturated to saturated states. A comprehensive parametric study is conducted to investigate the effects of different parameters on one-dimensional consolidation of unsaturated soils under various cyclic loadings. The proposed solutions can be effectively utilized in the analysis of consolidation of unsaturated soils subjected to various cyclic loadings.