R. Jamshidi Chenari, P. Pishgah ,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (Transaction B: Geotechnical Engineering April 2014)
Abstract
In this technical note, a methodology is introduced for reliability calculation of consolidation settlement based on cone
penetration test (CPT) data. The present study considers inherent soil variability which influences consolidation settlements
results. To proceed reliability analysis, the measured data of a sample corrected cone tip resistance () is detrended using a
quadratic trend and the residuals are assumed to be lognormally distributed random field. Realizations of is generated by
using spatial variability of residuals including standard deviation and the scale of fluctuation. The quadratic trend and the
generated residuals are then combined to correlate shear and bulk modulus as input consolidation properties for coupled
analysis and subsequently consolidation settlement was calculated by using finite difference method adopted in Monte Carlo
simulations. The results of reliability analysis are presented describing the range of possible settlements by considering
characteristics of uncertainties involved at the particular site. Number of realizations rendering settlements smaller than the
allowable settlement must be such that guarantee proper performance or acceptable reliability index.