Nonuniform pore-water pressure distributions in soil can affect how well it consolidates. This study looked at how different patterns of pore-water pressure impact soil consolidation. By analyzing data and using computer simulations, the researchers found that assuming uniform pore-water pressure can lead to overestimating consolidation. It's important to consider the actual distribution of pore-water pressure to get more accurate estimates of how much consolidation will occur in a soil layer.