ALLOWABLE SETTLEMENT OF FOUNDATION

SETTLEMENT OF FOUNDATION
(a) Settlement under loads
(b) Settlement due to other causes.

(a) Settlement under loads:

(1) Immediate or elastic settlement (si)

(2) Consolidation settlement (sc)

(3) Secondary Consolidation Settlement (ss).

(b) Settlement due to other causes:

(1) Underground erosion

(2) Structural collapse of soil

(3) Thermal changes

(4) Frost heave

(5) Vibration and shocks

(6) Mining subsidence

(7) Land slides

(9) Changes in the vicinity.

Fig. Total Settlement.

Immediate or Elastic Settlement (si):

Immediate or elastic settlement takes place during or immediately after the construction of the structure,
which is also known as the distortion settlement as it is due to distortions (and not the volume change)
within the foundation soil.

(i) COHESIVE SOILS:

Although the settlement is not truly elastic, it is computed using elastic theory, especially for cohesive soils.

The linear theory of elasticity is used to determine the elastic settlement of the footings on saturated clay.

Schleicher (1926) gave the following formula for the vertical settlement under a uniformly distributed
flexible area:

 
si = q.B.( 
).I
Where,

q = uniformly distributed load,

B = characteristic length of the loaded area,

Es = modulus of elasticity of the soil,

μ = Poisson’s ratio = ½ (for saturated clay),

I = influence factor

(‘I’ depends on:

* The shape of footing: Circular/ Square/ Rectangular

* Type of footing: Flexible / Rigid

* Position of flexible footing: Centre/ Corner/ Average.)

# The value of Es can be determined from the stress-strain curve of triaxial consolidated-undrained test

 
# Alternatively the value of B.( ).I can also be determined from the plate load test.


(ii) COHESIONLESS SOILS:

As cohesionless soils do not follow Hooke's law, immediate settlements are computed using a semi-
empirical approach proposed by Schmcrtmann and Hartman (1978):


si = C1.C2.(q - q).∑  
  .Δz


where,

C1 = correction factor for the depth of foundation embedment = 1 – ½ [ ]
 

  
C2 = correction factor for creep in soils = 1 + 0.2 log10[ ]
.

q  pressure at the foundation level

q = surcharge = γ.Df

Es = modulus of elasticity

Iz = strain influence factor (varies linearly for a square or circular foundation)

Fig. Variation of Iz & Es with depth (z).

The value of Es can be determined from SPT number (N) using Schmertmann (1970) equation:

Es = 766.N (in kN/m2)

Es can also be estimated from the static cone penetration resistance (qc):

Es = 2.qc

For the calculation of immediate settlement (si), the soil layer is divided into several layers of thickness (Δz).

The immediate settlement of each layer is calculated using the equation given by Schmertmann
Schme and Hartman
(1978), using corresponding values of Es and Iz.

The required immediate settlement is equal to the sum of the settlements of all individual small layers.
laye
 MENT (sc): [For Clays]
CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT

This component of the settlement occurs due to gradual expulsion of water from the voids of the soil.

The consolidation settlement (sc) occurs in saturated, clayey soils when these are subjected to increased
loads caused by the foundation pressure.

This component is determined using Terzaghi

Terzaghi's theory of consolidation.

The settlement (st) at any time t after the application of load may be estimated using Terzaghi's consolidation
theory as
st = si + U.sf

where

U = degree of consolidation (as ratio)

sf = final consolidation settlement

si = immediate settlement

The degree of consolidation (U) depends upon the time factor (Tv), which iis given by
/0 .1
Tv = 2
where

cv = average coefficient of consolidation

t = time at which settlement is required

d = distance of the drainage path.

For the final settlement, U = 1.0 and the total settlement is given by

s = si + sf

Open layer:: Double drainage Half-closed layer:: Single drainage

SETTLEMENT OF FOUNDATION ON COHESIONLESS SOILS

Settlements of foundations on cohesionless soils take place quite rapidly after the application of the load.

The immediate settlements calculated using Schmerlmann and Hartman method would also be the final
settlement in most cases [using the following equation]:


si = C1.C2.(q - q).∑  
 .Δz 

The settlements of cohesionless soils are generally determined indirectly using the semi-empirical methods:

(i) Static cone penetration method

(ii) Standard penetration test

(iii) Plate load test.

(i) STATIC CONE PENETRATION METHOD:

In this method, the sand layer is divided into small layers such that each small layer has approximately
constant value of the cone resistance.

The average value of the cone resistance of each small layer is determined.

The settlement of each small layer is estimated using the following equation [De Beer and Martens (1957)]:

3  7 8 9σ
6
s = . log e [ 7
]
4 6


C = 1.5. 6;
7
where

qc = static cone resistance,

σ
 = mean effective overburden pressure

Δσ = increase in pressure at the centre of the layer due to the net foundation pressure

H = layer thickness.

The total settlement of the entire layer is equal to the sum of settlements of individual layers.
(ii) STANDARD PENETRATION TEST
TEST:

Standard penetration test can be used for the determination of the settlement on cohcsionless soils.

According to IS : 8009 (Part I)—1976,

1976, a chart is available for the calculation of settlement per unit pressure
as a function of the width of the foolting
ing and the standard penetration number:

Fig. SPT chart for settlement calculation [IS : 8009 (Part I)

I)—
—1976]

The settlement under any other pressure is computed assuming that the settlement is proportional to the
intensity of pressure.

(iii) PLATE LOAD TEST:

The settlement of the footing can be estimated from the settlement of the plate in the plate load test .
Accuracy of Foundation Settlement Prediction

It is very difficult to estimate the probable settlement of a footing accurately because of the following
reasons:

* The soil deposits are seldom isotropic and linearly elastic. The deposits are generally non-homogeneous.

* It is not possible to estimate the increase in stresses caused by loads. The Boussinesq solution gives only
approximate results.

* For estimation of the settlement due to consolidation, it is not possible to locate exactly the drainage faces.

* For computation of immediate settlements, it is not possible to estimate the correct value of the modulus of
elasticity

* The rigidity of the foundation is usually neglected and the pressure distribution is assumed to be uniform.

* It is difficult to obtain undisturbed samples of cohesionless soils. The semi-empirical methods do not give
accurate results.

* Settlements may occur due to causes other than that due to loads. It is not possible to estimate these
settlements accurately.

In spite of all the above reasons, the settlements in most cases can be estimated to an accuracy of about 25 to
30%, which is good enough considering the complexity of the problem.