Abstract: Based on the non-Darcian flow in soft soil and nonlinearity during the process of consolidation, the governing equation of one-dimensional nonlinear consolidation was derived according to continuity condition of one-dimensional consolidation. Solutions for this question were obtained by adopting a semi-analytical method, and were verified by comparing with the results by finite difference method. Finally, the difference of consolidation behavior between non-Darcian flow and Darcy’s law and influence of distribution types of dead-weight stress on consolidation rate were emphatically analyzed. The results show that the rate of nonlinear consolidation will be slowed down when non-Darcian flow is considered; and the larger the exponent and threshold hydraulic gradient are, the slower the rate of nonlinear consolidation is. Furthermore, this retardation of nonlinear consolidation with non-Darcian flow will be more noticeable with an increase of thickness of soil layer and a decrease of external loading. The rate of nonlinear consolidation with linear distribution of dead-weight stress is faster than that with uniform distribution; and the difference between them will diminish with increasing the external loading and decreasing the thickness of a soil layer.

Key words: non-Darcian flow, nonlinear consolidation, linear change of dead weight stress with depth, semi-analytical method