Settlement of Foundations

Saint Mary’s University
School of Engineering, Architecture, and Information

Technology
Chapter IV
Settlement of
Foundations
CE 504 Foundation Engineering
Engr. Andres P. Gualon Jr., MSCE

Faculty of Civil Engineering – SEAIT
CE 504: Foundation Engineering Chapter 4

1
CE 504: Foundation Engineering
Topics
1. Introduction
2. Vertical Stress Increase in Soil
3. Elastic/ Immediate Settlement
4. Consolidation Settlement
a. Primary Consolidation Settlement
b. Secondary Consolidation Settlement
5. Tolerable Settlement of Buildings
SMU-SEAIT Settlement
CE 504: Foundation of Foundations
Engineering
1
Introduction
• The allowable settlement of a shallow foundation may

control the allowable bearing capacity
3
Engineering
Vertical Stress Increase of Soil

For the calculation of foundation settlement, it is required that we estimate the
vertical stress increase in the soil mass due to the net load applied on the
foundation.
Methods:
1. A point/ concentrated load
2. Rectangular loaded area
3. Embankment type of loading
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Engineering
2
1. Point/ Concentrated Load

Boussinesq developed the mathematical
relationships for determining the normal
and shear stresses at any point inside
homogeneous, elastic, and isotropic
mediums due to a concentrated point load
located at the surface
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Engineering
2. Stress below a Rectangular Area

a. Boussinesq’s Equation
The integration technique of
Boussinesq’s equation also allows the
vertical stress at any point A below the
corner of a flexible rectangular loaded
area to be evaluated
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Engineering
3

The total stress increase Δσ at the corner caused by the
entire loaded area at point A
Or see Table 6.4, for values of I.

7
Engineering

To determine the stress at a
depth z below point O
If pt O is the center.
Or see Table 6.5

for values of Ic.
8
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4

b. 2:1 Method
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Engineering

c. Stress Isobars
Plots the contours of Δσ/qo
for square footings
10
Engineering
5
Problems
A flexible rectangular area measures 2.5 m by 5 m in plan. It
supports a load of 1875 kN.
a. Considering the load as point load, what is the pressure increase
5 meters below the footing
b. Determine the vertical stress increase due to the load at a depth
of 6.25 m below the center of the rectangular area.
a. By Boussinesq Equation
b. 2:1 Method
c. By the Isobars Plot
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Engineering
3. Stress Increase under an Embankment

The vertical stress increase may be
expressed as
12
Engineering
6
Problems
An embankment is shown in Figure 6.19a. Determine the stress
increase under the embankment at points A1 and A2
13
Engineering
Foundation Settlement
The settlement of a shallow foundation can be divided

into two major categories
1. elastic, or immediate settlement
o takes place during or immediately after the construction
of the structure
2. consolidation settlement
o occurs over time. Pore water is extruded from the void
spaces of saturated clayey soils submerged in water
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Engineering
7
1. Immediate Settlement
• Settlement is based from theory of elasticity
15
Engineering
• Theoretically if the foundation is perfectly
flexible,
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8
Settlement Settlement
@ Center @ Corner
17
Engineering
• Variations of F1 and F2 with m’ and n’ are given in

Tables 7.2 and 7.3
• Variations of If with Df/B and μs is given in Table 7.4
• The elastic settlement of a rigid foundation can be
estimated as
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Engineering
9
• Due to the nonhomogeneous nature of soil deposits, the magnitude of
Es may vary with depth. Average Es can be estimated as
19
Engineering
Problem
1. A rigid shallow foundation 1m
x 2m is shown at the right.
Calculate the elastic
settlement at the center of
the foundation.
20
Engineering
10
2. Consolidation Settlement
Consolidation settlement comprises of two phases:

1. Primary Consolidation Settlement
o Pore water is extruded from the void spaces of saturated
clayey soils submerged in water
2. Secondary Consolidation Settlement
o occurs after the completion of primary consolidation caused
by slippage and reorientation of soil particles under a
sustained load
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Engineering
2a. Primary Consolidation Settlement

On the basis of the one-dimensional
consolidation settlement equations
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11

Primary Consolidation Settlement Equations
23
Engineering

Average increase in effective pressure, Δσ’av
• the increase in effective pressure, Δσ’, on the clay layer is not constant with
depth: The magnitude of Δσ’ will decrease with the increase in depth
measured from the bottom of the foundation. The average increase in
pressure may be approximated by
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Engineering
12

Three-Dimensional Effect on Primary Consolidation Settlement
𝑆 ( ) =𝐾 𝑆
Sc(p)-oed – one-dimensional (oedometer) primary
consolidation settlement
Kcr – three-dimensional correction factor (settlement ratio)
25
Engineering

Determination of Kcr
1. For Normally Consolidated Clays
o Considering a Flexible Circular Load at the top of
clay layer
o Get Kcr at Figure 7.22
o Convert the Δσt (top of clay layer) into a flexible
circular loaded area
𝑃
∆𝜎 = 𝜋
4𝐵
Beq = equivalent diameter of circular
loaded area
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Engineering
13

1. For Normally
Consolidated
Clays
27
Engineering

2. For Over
Consolidated
Clays
28
Engineering
14
Problem
1. A plan of a foundation 1m
x 2m is shown below.
Estimate the consolidation
settlement of the
foundation, taking into
account the three-
dimensional effect. Given:
A = 0.6. Use Boussinesq
equation.
29
Engineering
2b. Secondary Consolidation Setllement

At the end of primary consolidation, some settlement is observed that is
due to the plastic adjustment of soil fabrics.
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Engineering
15
2b. Secondary Consolidation Setllement

The magnitude of the secondary consolidation can be calculated as
Correlation of Secondary Compression Index Cα

1. By Mesri (1973)
2. Mesri Godlewski (1977)
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Engineering
Problem
1. Refer to the previous problem and estimate the total

consolidation settlement for five years after the
completion of the primary consolidation settlement.
(Note: Time for completion of primary consolidation
settlement is 1.3 years). Use Cα = 0.02
32
Engineering
16
Tolerable Settlement of Buildings

• In most instances of construction, the subsoil is not homogeneous and the load carried by
various shallow foundations of a given structure can vary widely. As a result, it is reasonable
to expect varying degrees of settlement in different parts of a given building.
• Types of Settlement
1. Total Settlement
2. Differential Settlement
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Engineering

Since the 1950s, various researchers and building codes have recommended allowable values
for the preceding parameters.
• Skempton and McDonald (1956)
• Polshin and Tokar (1957)
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Engineering
17

• Soviet Code of Practice
(1955)
• Bjerrum (1963)
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Engineering

• European Committee for Standardization (1994)
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Engineering
18

Settlement of Foundations

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Saint Mary’s University

School of Engineering, Architecture, and Information

Engr. Andres P. Gualon Jr., MSCE

CE 504: Foundation Engineering Chapter 4

CE 504 Foundation Engineering

• The allowable settlement of a shallow foundation may

CE 504 Foundation Engineering

Vertical Stress Increase of Soil

1. Point/ Concentrated Load

CE 504 Foundation Engineering

2. Stress below a Rectangular Area

2. Stress below a Rectangular Area

Or see Table 6.4, for values of I.

CE 504 Foundation Engineering

2. Stress below a Rectangular Area

Or see Table 6.5

2. Stress below a Rectangular Area

CE 504 Foundation Engineering

2. Stress below a Rectangular Area

CE 504 Foundation Engineering

3. Stress Increase under an Embankment

CE 504 Foundation Engineering

The settlement of a shallow foundation can be divided

• Settlement is based from theory of elasticity

CE 504 Foundation Engineering

CE 504 Foundation Engineering

• Variations of F1 and F2 with m’ and n’ are given in

CE 504 Foundation Engineering

Consolidation settlement comprises of two phases:

CE 504 Foundation Engineering

2a. Primary Consolidation Settlement

2a. Primary Consolidation Settlement

CE 504 Foundation Engineering

2a. Primary Consolidation Settlement

2a. Primary Consolidation Settlement

CE 504 Foundation Engineering

2a. Primary Consolidation Settlement

2a. Primary Consolidation Settlement

CE 504 Foundation Engineering

2a. Primary Consolidation Settlement

CE 504 Foundation Engineering

2b. Secondary Consolidation Setllement

2b. Secondary Consolidation Setllement

Correlation of Secondary Compression Index Cα

2. Mesri Godlewski (1977)

CE 504 Foundation Engineering

1. Refer to the previous problem and estimate the total

Tolerable Settlement of Buildings

CE 504 Foundation Engineering

Tolerable Settlement of Buildings

• Polshin and Tokar (1957)

Tolerable Settlement of Buildings

CE 504 Foundation Engineering

Tolerable Settlement of Buildings

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