Solutions for a completely saturated porous elastic solid with impeded boundaries

Analytical solutions are presented for the consolidation of a semi-infinite stratum and a finite soil layer with an impeding layer located on the surface subjected to a vertical point loading. The Laplace transform and the Hankel transform are used with respect to time and the radial coordinate, respectively. Solutions of other distributed loadings, including the circular loading, can be easily obtained by integrating those of the point loading. The consolidation degree, excess pore water pressure, vertical total stress, and the shear stress of the consolidating layer are analyzed in this study. The consolidation rate decreases with the increase in the thickness of the impeding layer. Stresses of the consolidating layer vary during the consolidation due to the coupling of the excess pore water dissipation and the soil skeleton deformation. Further, the Mandel-Cryer effect is also analyzed in this study. © 2007 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag.