What is the effect of consolidation on saturated soil?

Consolidation refers to the process through which saturated soil undergoes a reduction in volume due to the expulsion of pore water, resulting from applied stress or loading. During consolidation, as the load on the soil increases, water is squeezed out from the soil's voids (spaces between soil particles). This expulsion of water leads to a decrease in water content and a reduction in the overall volume of the saturated soil mass.

This phenomenon is a critical factor in civil engineering, particularly in geotechnical engineering, as it affects the strength, stability, and load-bearing capacity of soil. As pore water is expelled, the effective stress in the soil increases, which improves its overall strength and consolidation characteristics. Hence, stating that consolidation reduces water content by squeezing it from voids accurately captures the essence of the process in saturated soils.