In this paper, an a-posteriori error estimator suitable for use in axisymmetric
geotechnical analyses has been developed. The consolidation superconvergent patch recovery
with equilibrium and boundaries (CSPREB) method, developed for plane-strain coupledconsolidation
problems, is extended to axisymmetric analyses. The use of pore pressures in
the error estimator was found to improve results when predicting consolidation. Collapse
loads under undrained soil conditions are known to be over-predicted due to “locking”,
especially in axial symmetry where there are further displacement constraints. The proposed
solution technique reduced locking slightly, but could not eliminate it, as it is inherent in the
displacement formulation for lower order elements
