Analytical solution for one-dimensional consolidation of structured soft soils with continuous drainage boundary

A closed form analytical solution is proposed to analyze the one-dimensional consolidation behavior of structured saturated clay soils under continuous drainage boundary. Firstly, the soil structural properties and arbitrary loading conditions are taken into account in the established mathematical model. Using the finite sine Fourier transform and characteristic function methods, analytical calculation is conducted, and the solution effectiveness is evaluated against the degradation of solutions and the results of finite difference analysis. Finally, the influences of interface parameter, properties of soil structure and structural yield stress on consolidation behaviors are discussed. Results show that the larger the interface parameter is, the easier the soil structure enters the failure stage, and the smaller the consolidation degree is. Furthermore, the time for initiating the failure stage does not change, when the interface parameter and structural yield stress keep unchanged; in the meanwhile, the greater the consolidation coefficient is, the greater the consolidation degree of foundation becomes when the soil structure begins to fail, and the earlier the soil enters the complete failure stage. When the interface parameter is determined, the ratio of structural yield stress to load can accelerate the soil consolidation rate, but all consolidation curves coincide for the same ratio.