GATE 2019 CE (CE2) – Question 35
Construction of a building on clay finished in January 2010. In January 2014 its average consolidation settlement was 10 mm. Design ultimate settlement was 40 mm. With double drainage, find expected settlement in January 2019 (mm), to the nearest integer.
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Correct answer: 15 to 15
Explanation
At four years, degree of consolidation is U = 10/40 = 0.25. In this early range $U\propto\sqrt t$ for unchanged drainage. At nine years, $U=0.25\sqrt{9/4}=0.375$, still below 0.6. Settlement is $40(0.375)=$ **15 mm**.