ABSTRACT
Consider an element of volume of the stratum at a depth z, and thickness dz (Fig. 7.14). Let the bottom and top surfaces of this element have unit area.
The consolidation phenomenon is essentially a problem of non-steady flow of water through a porous mass. The difference between the quantity of water that enters the lower surface at level X'Y' and the quantity of water which escapes the upper surface at level XY in time element dt must equal the volume change of the material which has taken place in this element of time. The quantity of water is dependent on the hydraulic gradient which is proportional to the slope of the curve t.
