A critical reappraisal of compression index equations

It is revealed that the ratio of the void ratio e to the void ratio at the liquid limit eL versus the net repulsive pressure R — A relation is more general and fundamental than the half-space distance d versus R — A relation. With the possibility of two modes of linearization of e/eL versus the effective consolidation pressure p relation, two generalized compression index equations for normally consolidated saturated fine-grained soils have been derived. Most of the existing empirical compression index equations have been re-examined for their rationale and applicability by comparing them with the generalized compression index equations. L'article montre que la relation entre le rapport de l'indice des vides eet de l'indice des vides a la limite de liquidite eL et la pression repulsive totale R — A est d'une nature plus generale et fondamentale que celle reliant la distance de semi-espace d a la relation R — A. Avec la possibilite de deux modes de linearisation de e/eL en fonction de la pression de consol...