FOUNDATION ENGINEERING:

SOIL COMPRESSIBILITY
CE 543/511D: GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 02 - FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

This material is for use and distribution only within the CE

543/511D: Geotechnical Engineering 02 - Foundation
Engineering
PALACIO DE BELLAS ARTES, CIUDAD DE MEXICO
PALACIO DE BELLAS ARTES, CIUDAD DE MEXICO
PALACIO DE BELLAS ARTES, CIUDAD DE MEXICO

APPROXIMATE ORIGINAL GROUND SURFACE

THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA
IN 1990, 5.5°
6” PER YEAR

SOUTH
THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA
THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA
IN 2009
<0.26” PER YEAR

NORTH
THE KANSAI AIRPORT
THE KANSAI AIRPORT
THE KANSAI AIRPORT

3.2m
THE KANSAI AIRPORT
THE KANSAI AIRPORT
THE KANSAI AIRPORT
THE KANSAI AIRPORT
ELASTIC SETTLEMENT 𝑷

IT IS CAUSED BY THE ELASTIC DEFORMATION OF 𝑷

THE SOIL WITHOUT ANY CHANGE IN VOLUME. IT 𝒒=
𝑨
IS THE ELASTIC COMPRESSION OF THE
UNDERLYING SOIL THAT TAKES PLACE 𝜹𝑬
IMMEDIATELY UPON THE APPLICATION OF THE
LOAD ON FOOTING. WHEN A SATURATED
COMPRESSIBLE CLAY LAYER IS SUBJECTED TO
A STRESS INCREASE, ELASTIC SETTLEMENT
OCCURS IMMEDIATELY. THIS AMOUNT OF VOIDS

SETTLEMENT IS USUALLY VERY SMALL. SOLIDS

𝑞𝐵(1 − µ2 )
𝑆𝐸 = 𝐼𝑝
𝐸
 𝑷
PRIMARY CONSOLIDATION
SETTLEMENT 𝒒=
𝑷
𝑨

IT IS CAUSED BY THE INCREASE IN EFFECTIVE 𝜹𝑬

STRESS CAUSED BY THE EXTERNAL APPLIED
LOAD IN THE SOIL LAYER AND WILL RESULT TO
DEFORMATION IN SOIL MASS,
REARRANGEMENT OF THE SOIL PARTICLE AND
THE DISSIPATION OF WATER THAT OCCUPIES VOIDS
THE VOID SPACES. SOLIDS
PRIMARY CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT 𝑷

∆𝝈′
𝝈′ 𝒒=
𝑷
𝑨

𝜹𝑷
𝜹𝑬

𝜹𝑷
VOIDS

SOLIDS
VOIDS

SOLIDS

𝝈′
∆𝝈′
 𝑷
SECONDARY CONSOLIDATION
SETTLEMENT 𝒒=
𝑷
𝑨

IT IS CAUSED BY PLASTIC ADJUSTMENT OF SOIL 𝜹𝑬

FABRICS. IT IS AN ADDITIONAL FORM OF
COMPRESSION THAT OCCURS AT CONSTANT
EFFECTIVE STRESS WITH RESPECT TO TIME. IT IS
PRIMARILY DUE TO PARTICLE REORIENTATION,
CREEP AND DECOMPOSITION OF ORGANIC VOIDS
MATERIALS. IT ALWAYS TIME DEPENDENT. SOLIDS
SECONDARY CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT 𝑷

∆𝝈′ 𝑷
𝒒=
𝝈′ 𝑨

𝜹𝑷
𝜹𝑺 𝜹𝑬

𝜹𝑷
𝜹𝑺 VOIDS

SOLIDS

𝝈′
∆𝝈′
 𝑷

SOIL SETTLEMENT 𝑷
𝒒=
𝑨
𝜹T = 𝜹𝐸 + 𝜹𝑃 + 𝜹𝑆

𝜹
ELASTIC SETTLEMENT: FAST
CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT:
SAND GRAVEL FAST
VOIDS
SILT CLAY SLOW
SOLIDS
SECONDARY COMPRESSION SETTLEMENT: SLOW
SOIL SETTLEMENT
FGS CGS
TIME FRAME PROCESS MAGNITUDE PROCESS MAGNITUDE
NEGLIGIBLE TO SMALL
DISTORTION
SHORT TERM DISTORTION NEGLIGIBLE TO SMALL
CONSOLIDATION SMALL TO MODERATE
CONSOLIDATION MODERATE TO LARGE SECONDARY
NEGLIGIBLE TO SMALL
LONG TERM SECONDARY COMPRESSION
SMALL TO LARGE
COMPRESSION
 𝑷

ELASTIC SETTLEMENT 𝒒=
𝑷
𝑨
𝑞𝐵(1 − µ2 )
𝑆𝐸 = 𝐼𝑝
𝐸
𝜹𝑬
WHERE:
𝑞 - PRESSURE FROM THE FOOTING
𝐵 - BASE OF THR FOOTING
VOIDS
µ - POISSON’S RATIO OF THE SOIL
𝐸 - MODULUS OF ELASTICITY OF THE SOIL SOLIDS

𝐼𝑃 - INFLUENCE FACTOR
 𝑷
PRIMARY CONSOLIDATION
SETTLEMENT
𝑷
𝒒=
𝑨

′ ′
𝜎𝑣0 + ∆𝜎𝑣′ = 𝜎𝑣𝑓 𝜹𝑷

CONSOLIDATION

SOURCES OF CHANGE IN EFFECTIVE STRESS:

𝜎𝑣′ = 𝜎𝑣 − 𝑢
𝜎𝑣 VOIDS
PLACEMENT OF LARGE AREAL FILL
SOLIDS
PLACEMENT OF A FINITE SIZED INDUCED LOAD 𝑢
CHANGE IN THE LEVEL OF GROUNDWATER TABLE
 PRIMARY CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT
∆𝝈′ ∆𝝈′
𝝈′ 𝝈′

𝜹𝑷 𝜹𝑷

∆𝑽𝒗 ∆𝑽𝒗
VOIDS VOIDS
𝑢0
𝑢𝑒
SOLIDS SOLIDS
PRESSURE
GAUGE
′ ′ ′ ′
𝜎𝑣0 + ∆𝜎𝑣′ = 𝜎𝑣𝑓 𝜎𝑣0 + ∆𝜎𝑣′ = 𝜎𝑣𝑓

CONSOLIDATION 𝝈′ CONSOLIDATION 𝝈′
∆𝝈′ ∆𝝈′
 𝝈𝒗𝟎

∆𝑷 ∆𝝈𝒗
𝝈𝒐

𝑷
𝒕
𝝈𝒗𝟎

∆𝒖
𝒖𝟎
𝑢0 𝒕
𝝈𝒗𝟎
𝑢𝑒
𝝈′𝒗𝒇
∆𝝈′𝒗
𝝈′𝒗𝒐

𝒕
 𝝈𝒗𝟎

∆𝝈𝒗
𝝈𝒐

𝒕
𝝈𝒗𝟎

FILL
𝜹𝑷
∆𝒖
𝒖𝟎
SOIL 𝑨 𝒕
𝝈𝒗𝟎
LAB 𝝈′𝒗𝒇
∆𝝈′𝒗
𝝈′𝒗𝒐

𝒕
OEDOMETER
DIAL GAGE 0
𝜎′ = 𝜎 − 𝑢 ∆𝐿
LOADING CAP 𝜀=
𝐿
𝛿𝑧
𝑃 ≈0
𝑷 𝜎′ = − 𝑢 ∆𝐻
𝐴 𝜀=
𝐻
𝑃
𝜎′ =
≈ 1” 𝐴

SOIL SAMPLE
𝜎1′ 𝜀1
CONFINING RING 𝜎2′ 𝜀2
3” − 4”
POROUS STONE 𝜎3′ 𝜀3
𝐻𝑜 ≈ 3/4” − 1”
𝜎4′ 𝜀4
https://youtu.be/mtuBbWXE0D8?t=536
 0.0 0.0
RECOMPRESSION
CURVE
0.05 0.05

0.10 0.10
COMPRESSION
CURVE
STRAIN

STRAIN
0.15 0.15

REBOUND
0.20 0.20 CURVE

0.25 0.25
0 200 400 600 800 10 100 1000

EFFECTIVE STRESS EFFECTIVE STRESS

 1 SOIL

3 2
4
STRAIN

𝑨
5

𝝈′𝒄 LOG OF EFFECTIVE STRESS

PRECONSOLIDATION STRESS
STRAIN

STRAIN
LOG OF EFFECTIVE STRESS LOG OF EFFECTIVE STRESS
𝝈′𝒄 𝝈′𝒄
 0.0 0.0

0.05 0.05

0.10 0.10
STRAIN

STRAIN
0.15 0.15

0.20 0.20

0.25 0.25
10 100 1000 1000 10 100 1000 1000

EFFECTIVE STRESS EFFECTIVE STRESS

 VOLUME VOLUME
AIR ∆𝑽𝒗 = ∆𝒆
𝑽𝒗 = 𝒆 AIR
WATER WATER
𝑽 𝑽
SOLID 𝑽𝒔 = 𝟏 SOLID
PARTICLE PARTICLE

MOIST SOIL RECALL: MOIST SOIL

𝑉𝑣 ∆𝐿 ∆𝐻 ∆𝒆
𝑒= 𝑉𝑣 = 𝑒 ε= = ε=
𝑉𝑠 𝐿 𝐻 1+𝑒
 0.0 2.00

0.05 1.60

0.10 1.20

VOID RATIO
STRAIN

0.15 0.80

0.20 0.40

0.25 0.00
10 100 1000 1000 10 100 1000 1000

EFFECTIVE STRESS EFFECTIVE STRESS

COMPRESSION INDICES
𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑑𝑒 ∆𝑒
c 𝐶𝐶 = − =−
𝑚= 𝑑log 𝜎′ ∆log 𝜎′
d 𝑟𝑢𝑛
𝑒𝑏 − 𝑒𝑎
𝐶𝐶 = −
log 𝜎𝑏′ − log(𝜎𝑎′ )
𝑒𝑎 a
𝑒𝑎 − 𝑒𝑏
VOID RATIO

𝐶𝐶 =
log 𝜎𝑏′ − log(𝜎𝑎′ )
𝑒𝑎 − 𝑒𝑏
𝐶𝐶 =
b
log 𝜎𝑏′ /𝜎𝑎′
𝑒𝑏

𝑒𝑐 − 𝑒𝑑
𝐶𝑆 =
LOG OF EFFECTIVE STRESS log 𝜎𝑑′ /𝜎𝑐′
𝜎𝑎′ 𝜎𝑏′
 𝑒𝑎 − 𝑒𝑏
RECALL: 𝐶𝐶 = log 𝜎 ′ /𝜎 ′
COMPRESSION INDICES 𝑏 𝑎

𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑑𝜀 ∆𝜀
c 𝑚= =
𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 =
d
𝑟𝑢𝑛 𝑑log 𝜎′ ∆log 𝜎′
∆𝑒𝑏 ∆𝑒𝑎 𝜀𝑏 − 𝜀𝑎
𝜀𝑏 − 𝜀𝑎 = − 𝐶. 𝑅 =
a 1+𝑒 1+𝑒 log 𝜎𝑏′ − log(𝜎𝑎′ )
𝜀𝑎
𝑒𝑏 − 𝑒 𝑒𝑎 − 𝑒 𝑒𝑎 − 𝑒𝑏
STRAIN

𝜀𝑏 − 𝜀𝑎 = −
1+𝑒 1+𝑒 𝐶. 𝑅 = 1 +′ 𝑒 ′
log 𝜎𝑏 /𝜎𝑎
𝑒𝑏 − 𝑒𝑎
𝜀𝑏 − 𝜀𝑎 = 𝐶𝑐
b
1+𝑒 𝐶. 𝑅 =
𝜀𝑏 1+𝑒

𝐶𝑆
LOG OF EFFECTIVE STRESS
𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 =
1+𝑒
𝜎𝑎′ 𝜎𝑏′
EMPIRICAL FORMULA FOR COMPRESSION INDEX, 𝑪𝑪 :
SKEMPTON (FOR REMOLDED CLAY) 𝐶𝐶 = 0.007 (𝐿𝐿 − 7)
(FOR UNDISTURBED CLAY) 𝐶𝐶 = 0.009 (𝐿𝐿 − 10)
1+𝑒
RENDON – HERRERO 𝐶𝐶 = 0.141 𝐺𝑆 1.2 ( 𝐺 )2.38
𝑆

NISHIDA (FOR ALL CLAYS) 𝐶𝐶 = 1.15(𝑒 − 0.27)

NAGARAJ AND MURTY 𝐶𝐶 = 0.2342 𝐿𝐿(𝐺𝑆 )

EMPIRICAL FORMULA FOR RECOMPRESSION INDEX /SWELLING INDEX, 𝑪𝑺 :

NAGARAJ AND MURTY 𝐶𝑆 = 0.0463 𝐿𝐿(𝐺𝑆 )
1 1
THE RANGE OF CS IN MOST CASES 𝐶𝑆 ≅ 𝐶 𝑡𝑜 𝐶
5 𝐶 10 𝐶
NORMALY CONSOLIDATED SOIL
′ ′
(𝜎 = 𝜎𝑐 )
1 𝜎 ′ + ∆𝜎 ′ = 𝜎𝑓′
SOIL CONSOLIDATION
3 2
4
STRAIN

𝑨 𝜎′ = 𝜎 − 𝑢
5

𝝈′ = 𝝈′𝒄 LOG OF EFFECTIVE STRESS

OVERCONSOLIDATED SOIL (𝜎 ′ < ′
𝜎𝑐 )

1
SOIL

5 4
3
STRAIN

6 𝑨 𝜎′ = 𝜎 − 𝑢

LOG OF EFFECTIVE STRESS

𝝈′ 𝝈′𝒄
 𝑂𝐶𝑀 = 𝜎𝑐′ − 𝜎′
0.0
𝐶𝑆 𝜎𝑐′
𝑂𝐶𝑅 = ′
1+𝑒 𝜎
0.05
NORMALLY CONSOLIDATED
0.10 𝜎𝑐′ = 𝜎′
𝐶𝐶
𝑂𝐶𝑀 = 0
STRAIN

𝑂𝐶𝑀
0.15 1+𝑒
𝑂𝐶𝑅 = 1.0

0.20 OVERCONSOLIDATED
𝜎𝑐′ < 𝜎′
0.25
10 100 ′ 1000 1000 𝑂𝐶𝑀 > 0
𝝈′ 𝝈𝒄
EFFECTIVE STRESS 𝑂𝐶𝑅 > 1.0
 0.0 𝐶𝑐 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝑆 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒
𝐶𝑆
𝑂𝐶𝑀 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑂𝐶𝑅 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒
1+𝑒
0.05

0.10
𝐶𝑆
𝐶𝐶
1+𝑒 A
STRAIN

0.15 1+𝑒

0.20

B
0.25
10 100 1000 1000

EFFECTIVE STRESS
 0.0 𝜎 ′ + ∆𝜎 ′ = 𝜎𝑓′
𝐶𝑆 𝐶𝑆 𝜎𝑐′
𝜀1 = log ′ CONSOLIDATION
1+𝑒 1+𝑒 𝜎
0.05
∆𝐿 ∆𝐻 𝑆𝑃
𝜀2 𝐶𝐶 𝜎𝑓′ RECALL: 𝜀=
𝐿
=
𝐻
=
𝐻
0.10 = log ′
1+𝑒 𝜎𝑐
𝐶𝐶 𝑆𝑃 = 𝜀𝐻
STRAIN

1+𝑒
0.15
OVERCONSOLIDATED SOIL
CASE II: 𝜎 ′ < 𝜎𝑐′ & (𝜎𝑓′ > 𝜎𝑐′ )
0.20
𝐶𝑆 𝜎𝑐′ 𝐶𝐶 𝜎𝑓′
𝑆𝑃 = [ log ′ + log ′ ]𝐻
1+𝑒 𝜎 1+𝑒 𝜎𝑐
0.25
10 100 1000 1000
𝝈′ 𝝈′𝒄 𝝈′𝒇 𝐶𝑆 𝐻 𝜎𝑐′ 𝐶𝐶 𝐻 𝜎𝑓′
EFFECTIVE STRESS 𝑆𝑃 = log ′ + log ′
1+𝑒 𝜎 1+𝑒 𝜎𝑐
 0.0 𝜎 ′ + ∆𝜎 ′ = 𝜎𝑓′
𝐶𝑆 𝐶𝑆 𝜎𝑓′
𝜀 = log ′ CONSOLIDATION
1+𝑒 1+𝑒 𝜎
0.05
∆𝐿 ∆𝐻 𝑆𝑃
RECALL: 𝜀=
𝐿
=
𝐻
=
𝐻
0.10
𝐶𝐶 𝑆𝑃 = 𝜀𝐻
STRAIN

1+𝑒
0.15
OVERCONSOLIDATED SOIL
0.20 CASE I: 𝜎 ′ < 𝜎𝑐′ & (𝜎𝑓′ < 𝜎𝑐′ )
𝐶𝑆 𝜎𝑓′
0.25 𝑆𝑃 = [ log ′ ]𝐻
10 100 ′ ′ 1+𝑒 𝜎
𝝈′ 𝝈𝒇𝝈𝒄 1000 1000

EFFECTIVE STRESS 𝐶𝑆 𝐻 𝜎𝑓′

𝑆𝑃 = log ′
1+𝑒 𝜎
 0.0 𝜎 ′ + ∆𝜎 ′ = 𝜎𝑓′
𝐶𝑆
CONSOLIDATION
1+𝑒
0.05
∆𝐿 ∆𝐻 𝑆𝑃
𝜀 =
𝐶𝐶
log
𝜎𝑓′ RECALL: 𝜀=
𝐿
=
𝐻
=
𝐻
0.10 1+𝑒 𝜎′
𝐶𝐶 𝑆𝑃 = 𝜀𝐻
STRAIN

1+𝑒
0.15
NORMALLY CONSOLIDATED SOIL
0.20 𝜎 ′ = 𝜎𝑐′
𝐶𝐶 𝜎𝑓′
𝑆𝑃 = [ log ′ ]𝐻
0.25 1+𝑒 𝜎
10 100 1000 1000
′
𝝈 = 𝝈′𝒄 𝝈′𝒇
𝐶𝐶 𝐻 𝜎𝑓′
EFFECTIVE STRESS 𝑆𝑃 = log ′
1+𝑒 𝜎
PROBLEM 01
A 2.1 LAYER OF CLAY IS BURIED BENEATH A 3M STRATUM OF VERY COMPACT GRANULAR SOIL.
COMPACT SAND UNDERLIES THE CLAY. THE LAYER OF GRANULAR SOIL IS COMPOSED OF
MATERIAL HAVING A UNIT WEIGHT OF 20.46 KN/M3. THE CLAY UNIT WEIGHT IS 16.52 KN/M3. A
LABORATORY COMPRESSION TEST ON A SAMPLE OF THE CLAY INDICATES A COMPRESSION
INDEX OF 0.40 AND A NATURAL VOID RATIO OF 1.30. A PLANNED BUILDING LOADING WILL CAUSE
A 26.38KPA STRESS INCREASE AT THE MIDDLE OF THE CLAY LAYER. THE PAST MAXIMUM
PRESSURE WAS 95.94KPA AND THE CS VALUE WAS 0.10
a. WHAT AMOUNT OF PRIMARY COMPRESSION OCCURS IN THE CLAY FOR THE INDICATED
CONDITIONS?
b. HOW MUCH PRIMARY COMPRESSION OF THE CLAY LAYER WOULD RESULT IF THE
GROUNDWATER TABLE WAS AT THE GROUND SURFACE (ALL OTHER CONDITION REMAINS)?
 FOR EFFECTIVE STRESS:
𝜎′ = 𝜎 − 𝑢
𝜎 ′ = 20.46 3 + 16.52 1.05 − 0
𝛾 = 20.46𝑘𝑁/𝑚3
𝜎 ′ = 78.726𝑘𝑃𝑎
3.0𝑚 GRANULAR SOIL FOR FINAL EFFECTIVE STRESS:
𝜎𝑓′ = 𝜎 ′ + ∆𝜎′

𝜎𝑓′ = 78.726 + 26.38

𝛾 = 16.52𝑘𝑁/𝑚 3 𝜎𝑓′ = 105.106𝑘𝑃𝑎

2.1𝑚 CLAY LAYER
𝑒 = 1.30 FOR PRIMARY SETTLEMENT:
𝐶𝑠 𝐻 𝜎𝑐′ 𝐶𝑐 𝐻 𝜎𝑓′
𝐶𝑐 = 0.40 𝑆𝑝 = log ′ + log ′
𝜎𝑐′ = 95.94𝑘𝑃𝑎 1+𝑒 𝜎 1+𝑒 𝜎𝑐
∆𝜎′ = 26.38𝑘𝑃𝑎 𝐶𝑠 = 0.10
0.10(2.1𝑚) 95.94𝑘𝑃𝑎 0.40(2.1𝑚) 105.106𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑆𝑝 = log + log × 1000
OVERCONSOLIDATED CLAY: CASE II 1 + 1.30 78.726𝑘𝑃𝑎 1 + 1.30 95.94𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝜎 ′ < 𝜎𝑐′ & 𝜎𝑐′ < 𝜎𝑓′
𝑆𝑝 = 22.3171𝑚𝑚
 FOR EFFECTIVE STRESS:
𝜎′ = 𝜎 − 𝑢
GWT
𝜎 ′ = 20.46 3 + 16.52 1.05 − 9.81(4.05)
𝛾 = 20.46𝑘𝑁/𝑚3
𝜎 ′ = 38.9955𝑘𝑃𝑎
3.0𝑚 GRANULAR SOIL FOR FINAL EFFECTIVE STRESS:
𝜎𝑓′ = 𝜎 ′ + ∆𝜎′

𝜎𝑓′ = 38.9955 + 26.38

𝛾 = 16.52𝑘𝑁/𝑚 3 𝜎𝑓′ = 65.3755𝑘𝑃𝑎

2.1𝑚 CLAY LAYER
𝑒 = 1.30 FOR PRIMARY SETTLEMENT:

𝐶𝑠 𝐻 𝜎𝑓′
𝜎𝑐′ = 95.94𝑘𝑃𝑎 𝐶𝑐 = 0.40 𝑆𝑝 = log ′
𝐶𝑠 = 0.10 1+𝑒 𝜎
∆𝜎′ = 26.38𝑘𝑃𝑎
0.10(2.1𝑚) 65.3755𝑘𝑃𝑎
OVERCONSOLIDATED CLAY: CASE I 𝑆𝑝 = log × 1000
1 + 1.30 38.9955𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝜎 ′ < 𝜎𝑐′ & 𝜎𝑐′ > 𝜎𝑓′
𝑆𝑝 = 20.4887𝑚𝑚
PROBLEM 02
THE SAND IN THE FIGURE HAS A HEIGHT OF 4.8M. THE GROUNDWATER TABLE IS 3.4M
BELOW THE GROUND SURFACE. THE UNIT WEIGHT OF SAND ABOVE THE WATER TABLE
IS 17.31 KN/M3 AND HAS A SATURATED UNIT WEIGHT OF 18.10 KN/M3 BELOW THE
WATER TABLE. THE SAND OVERLIES A CLAY LAYER 1.2M THICK HAVING A SATURATED
UNIT WEIGHT OF 16.5 KN/M3 AND A VOID RATIO OF 1.70. THE OVER CONSOLIDATION
RATIO IS 2.0. COMPRESSION INDICES ARE CS = 0.04 AND CC = 0.35.
IF A SQUARE FOOTING 3M X 3M RESTING ON THE SAND LAYER CARRIES A COLUMN
LOAD OF 3500 KN. THE BASE OF THE FOOTING IS 1.2M BELOW THE GROUND
SURFACE, COMPUTE THE SETTLEMENT DUE TO CONSOLIDATION OF THE CLAY LAYER.
 FOR INITIAL EFFECTIVE STRESS:
1.2𝑚 3mx3m 𝛾 = 17.31𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 𝜎′ = 𝜎 − 𝑢
1 3.4𝑚 𝜎 ′ = 17.31 3.4 + 18.10 1.4 + 16.5 0.6 − 9.81(2)
4.8𝑚 𝜎 ′ = 74.474𝑘𝑃𝑎
2 GWT
4.2𝑚 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 18.10𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 FOR PRECONSOLIDATION STRESS:
𝜎𝑐′
𝑂𝐶𝑅 = 2.0 =
𝜎′
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 16.5𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 𝜎𝑐′ = 2.0(74.474)
1.2𝑚
2.1m 3m 2.1m 𝑒 = 1.70 𝜎𝑐′ = 148.948𝑘𝑃𝑎
FOR ADDITIONAL EFFECTIVE STRESS:
𝑂𝐶𝑅 = 2.0 𝐶𝑐 = 0.35
𝐶𝑠 = 0.04 ′
𝑃 𝑃 3500
OVERCONSOLIDATED CLAY: CASE I ∆𝜎 = = 2
= 2
= 67.5154𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝐴 𝐵+𝐻 3 + 4.2
𝐶𝑠 𝐻 𝜎𝑓′
FOR SETTLEMENT: 𝑆𝑝 = log ′ FOR FINAL EFFECTIVE STRESS:
1+𝑒 𝜎
0.04(1200𝑚𝑚) 141.9894𝑘𝑃𝑎 𝜎𝑓′ = 𝜎 ′ + ∆𝜎 ′ = 74.474 + 67.5154
𝑆𝑝 = log
1 + 1.70 74.474𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝜎𝑓′ = 141.9894𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑆𝑝 = 4.9822𝑚𝑚
PROBLEM 03
TWO FOOTING “A” AND “B” REST IN A LAYER OF SAND 2.7M THICK. THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOTINGS ARE 0.90M
BELOW THE GROUND SURFACE. BENEATH THE SAND LAYER IS 1.8M CLAY LAYER. BENEATH THE CLAY LAYER IS A
HARD PAN. THE WATER TABLE IS AT A DEPTH OF 1.8M BELOW THE GROUND SURFACE. THE LAYER OF GRANULAR
SOIL IS COMPOSED OF MATERIAL HAVING A SATURATED UNIT WEIGHT OF 20.46 KN/M3 AND A UNIT WEIGHT OF
18.45 KN/M3. THE CLAY SATURATED UNIT WEIGHT IS 16.52 KN/M3. A LABORATORY COMPRESSION TEST
INDICATES THAT THE CLAY HAS A PRE-CONSOLIDATION PRESSURE OF 72KPA. COMPRESSION INDEX IS 0.30 AND
THE VALUE OF SWELL INDEX IS 0.05. VOID RATIO OF CLAY IS 1.50. DETERMINE:
A. THE STRESS INCREASE AT THE CENTER OF CLAY LAYER ASSUMING THAT FOOTING “A”, WITH A DIMENSION 2M
X 1.8M, DISTRIBUTES A PRESSURE AT AN ANGLE OF 2 VERTICAL TO 1 HORIZONTAL. THE LOAD OF THE FOOTING IS
3500kN.
B. THE SIZE OF THE SQUARE FOOTING “B” SO THAT THE SETTLEMENT OF THE CLAY LAYER IS THE SAME BENEATH
FOOTING “A” AND “B”.
C. DETERMINE THE SETTLEMENT BENEATH FOOTING “A”.
NOTE! NEGLECT THE EFFECT OF THE LOAD OF THE TWO FOOTING WITH EACH OTHER.
 FOR INITIAL EFFECTIVE STRESS:
′ FOR STRESS IN INCREASE DUE TO FOOTING A:
𝜎 = 18.45 1.8 + 20.46 0.9 + 16.52 0.9 − 9.81(1.8)
′
𝑃 𝑃
′ ∆𝜎 = =
𝜎 = 48.834𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝐴 (𝐵 + 𝐻)(𝐿 + 𝐻)
FOR FINAL EFFECTIVE STRESS:
3500
𝜎𝑓′ = 48.834 + 165.4846 = 214.3186𝑘𝑃𝑎 ∆𝜎𝐴′ =
(2 + 2.7)(1.8 + 2.7)

A ∆𝜎𝐴′ = 165.4846𝑘𝑃𝑎
B
0.9𝑚 2mx1.8m 𝛾 = 18.45𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 FOR THE DIMENSION OF FOOTING B:
1.8𝑚
2.7𝑚 GRANULAR SOIL GWT ∆𝜎𝐴′ = ∆𝜎𝐵′

2.7𝑚 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 20.46𝑘𝑁/𝑚3

3500𝑘𝑁
165.4846𝑘𝑃𝑎 =
𝐵 + 2.7 2
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 16.52𝑘𝑁/𝑚3
𝐵 = 1.8989𝑚
𝜎𝑐′ = 72𝑘𝑃𝑎
1.8𝑚 CLAY LAYER
𝐶𝑐 = 0.30 𝑒 = 1.50
𝐶𝑠 = 0.05
 FOR STRESS IN INCREASE DUE TO FOOTING A:
FOR INITIAL EFFECTIVE STRESS: 𝑃 𝑃
′
∆𝜎 = =
𝜎 ′ = 18.45 1.8 + 20.46 0.9 + 16.52 0.9 − 9.81(1.8) 𝐴 (𝐵 + 𝐻)(𝐿 + 𝐻)

𝜎 ′ = 48.834𝑘𝑃𝑎 3500
∆𝜎𝐴′ =
(2 + 2.7)(1.8 + 2.7)
FOR FINAL EFFECTIVE STRESS:
𝜎𝑓′ = 48.834 + 165.4846 = 214.3186𝑘𝑃𝑎 ∆𝜎𝐴′ = 165.4846𝑘𝑃𝑎

FOR THE DIMENSION OF FOOTING B:

FOR SETTLEMENT BENEATH FOOTING A:
𝐶𝑠 𝐻 𝜎𝑐′ 𝐶𝑐 𝐻 𝜎′ + ∆𝜎𝐴′ ∆𝜎𝐴′ = ∆𝜎𝐵′
𝑆𝑝 = log + log
1+𝑒 𝜎′ 1+𝑒 𝜎𝑐′
3500𝑘𝑁
0.05(1.8) 72 0.30(1.8) 214.3186 165.4846𝑘𝑃𝑎 =
𝑆𝑝 = log + log × 1000 𝐵 + 2.7 2
1 + 1.5 48.834 1 + 1.5 72
𝐵 = 1.8989𝑚
𝑆𝑝 = 108.3951𝑚𝑚
FOR THE DIMENSION OF FOOTING B:

𝑆𝑝𝐴 = 𝑆𝑝𝐵

𝐶𝑠 𝐻 𝜎𝑐′ 𝐶𝑐𝐻 𝜎 ′ + ∆𝜎𝐴′ 𝐶𝑠 𝐻 𝜎𝑐′ 𝐶𝑐𝐻 𝜎 ′ + ∆𝜎𝐵′

log ′ + log = log ′ + log
1+𝑒 𝜎 1+𝑒 𝜎𝑐′ 1+𝑒 𝜎 1+𝑒 𝜎𝑐′

𝐶𝑐 𝐻 𝜎 ′ + ∆𝜎𝐴′ 𝐶𝑐 𝐻 𝜎 ′ + ∆𝜎𝐵′
log = log
1+𝑒 𝜎𝑐′ 1+𝑒 𝜎𝑐′

𝜎 ′ + ∆𝜎𝐴′ 𝜎 ′ + ∆𝜎𝐵′
log ′ = log
𝜎𝑐 𝜎𝑐′

𝜎 ′ + ∆𝜎𝐴′ 𝜎 ′ + ∆𝜎𝐵′
′ =
𝜎𝑐 𝜎𝑐′

𝜎 ′ + ∆𝜎𝐴′ = 𝜎 ′ + ∆𝜎𝐵′

∆𝜎𝐴′ = ∆𝜎𝐵′
 SECONDARY CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT
∆𝝈′
𝝈′
𝜹𝑷
𝜹𝑺 INITIAL COMPRESSION

𝜹𝑷

STRAIN
𝜹𝑺 VOIDS
PRIMARY CONSOLIDATION
SOLIDS

SECONDARY CONSOLIDATION
𝝈′
∆𝝈′ LOG OF TIME
SECONDARY CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT
SECONDARY COMPRESSION INDICES:
𝑑𝑒
𝐶𝛼 = INITIAL COMPRESSION
𝑑(log 𝑡)
𝑑𝜀
𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 =
𝑑(log 𝑡)

STRAIN
𝐶𝛼
𝑆𝐶𝑅 = PRIMARY CONSOLIDATION
1 + 𝑒𝑝

SECONDARY COMPRESSION SETTLEMENT:

𝐶𝛼 𝐻 𝑡 SECONDARY CONSOLIDATION
𝑆𝑠 = log 𝑡 = 𝑡𝑝 + ∆𝑡
1 + 𝑒𝑝 𝑡𝑝
LOG OF TIME
PROBLEM 04
A SOFT CLAY WITH A HEIGHT OF 10M HAS A PROPERTY OF SECONDARY
𝐶𝛼
COMPRESSION RATIO 1+𝑒 OF 0.018. ASSUMING THAT THE CONSOLIDATION
𝑃
SETTLEMENT WILL BE 95% COMPLETE 40 YEARS AFTER THE FILL PLACED, COMPUTE
THE SECONDARY COMPRESSION SETTLEMENT THAT WILL OCCUR OVER THE NEXT 30
YEARS.
𝐻 = 10𝑚
𝐶𝛼 𝐶𝛼 𝐻 𝑡
= 0.018 𝑆𝑠 = log
1 + 𝑒𝑃 1 + 𝑒𝑃 𝑡𝑝
𝑡𝑝 = 40𝑦𝑟𝑠 40𝑦𝑟𝑠 + 30𝑦𝑟𝑠
𝑆𝑠 = 0.018(10000𝑚𝑚) log
∆𝑡 = 30𝑦𝑟𝑠 40𝑦𝑟𝑠

𝑡 > 𝑡𝑝 𝑆𝑠 = 43.7468𝑚𝑚

𝑡 = 𝑡𝑝 + ∆𝑡
 OVERCONSOLIDATED SOIL
𝑒
𝐶𝑠 𝜎c′
∆𝑒1 = 𝐶𝑠 log ′
CASE II: (𝜎𝑐′ >𝜎′) & (𝜎𝑓′ >𝜎𝑐′ )
𝜎
𝑒𝑝 = 𝑒 − (∆𝑒1 + ∆𝑒2 )
𝜎c′ 𝜎f′
𝑒𝑝 = 𝑒 − 𝐶𝑠 log ′ − 𝐶𝑐 log ′
𝜎 𝜎𝑐
𝜎f′
∆𝑒1 = 𝐶𝑐 log ′
VOID RATIO

𝐶𝑐 𝜎𝑐 OVERCONSOLIDATED SOIL
CASE I: (𝜎𝑐′ >𝜎′) & (𝜎𝑓′ <𝜎𝑐′ )
𝜎𝑓′
𝑒𝑝 𝑒𝑝 = 𝑒 − 𝐶𝑠 𝑙𝑜𝑔 ′
𝜎

NORMALLY CONSOLIDATED SOIL

𝝈′ 𝝈′𝒄 𝝈′𝒇 𝜎𝑓′
𝑒𝑝 = 𝑒 − 𝐶𝑐 𝑙𝑜𝑔 ′
EFFECTIVE STRESS 𝜎
PROBLEM 05
ASSUME A BURIED STRATUM OF CLAY 1.83M THICK WILL BE SUBJECTED TO A STRESS INCREASE
OF 33.6KPA AT THE CENTER OF THE CLAY. THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PRE-CONSTRUCTION SOIL
OVERBURDEN PRESSURE PO= 48KPA AT THE CENTER OF CLAY LAYER. A LABORATORY
COMPRESSION TEST INDICATES THAT THE CLAY HAS A PRE-CONSOLIDATION PRESSURE OF 72KPA.
COMPRESSION INDEX IS 0.30 AND THE VALUE OF SWELL INDEX IS 0.05. VOID RATIO OF CLAY IS
1.50. 𝑡𝑝 = 8𝑦𝑟𝑠 𝑡 = 20𝑦𝑟𝑠
A. COMPUTE THE SETTLEMENT DUE TO PRIMARY COMPRESSION OF CLAY. 𝐶𝛼 = 0.008
B. IF FULL CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT WILL REQUIRE APPROXIMATELY 8 YEARS, COMPUTE THE
SETTLEMENT DUE TO SECONDARY COMPRESSION OF CLAY OVER A PERIOD OF 20 YEAR TIME SPAN.
ASSUME SECONDARY COMPRESSION INDEX 0.008.
C. ESTIMATE THE TOTAL SETTLEMENT TO BE EXPECTED OVER 20 YEAR TIME SPAN CONSIDERING
THE EFFECT OF SECONDARY COMPRESSION.
𝐻 = 1.83𝑚 𝜎 ′ = 48𝑘𝑃𝑎 𝐶𝑐 = 0.30 𝑒 = 1.50
FOR VOID RATIO AT THE END OF PRIMARY SETTLEMENT:
′
∆𝜎 = 33.6𝑘𝑃𝑎 𝜎𝑐′ = 72𝑘𝑃𝑎 𝐶𝑠 = 0.05
𝜎𝑐′ 𝜎𝑓′
𝑒𝑝 = 𝑒 − 𝐶𝑠 log ′ − 𝐶𝑐 log ′
𝜎 𝜎𝑐
OVERCONSOLIDATED CLAY: CASE II
72 48 + 33.6
𝑒𝑝 = 1.50 − 0.05 log − 0.30 log
𝐶𝑠 𝐻 𝜎𝑐′ 𝐶𝑐 𝐻 𝜎𝑓′ 48 72
𝑆𝑝 = log ′ + log ′
1+𝑒 𝜎 1+𝑒 𝜎𝑐
𝑒𝑝 = 1.4749

0.05(1.83) 72 0.30(1.83) 48 + 33.6

𝑆𝑝 = log + log × 1000
1 + 1.50 48 1 + 1.50 72

𝑆𝑝 = 50.6066𝑚𝑚
𝑡𝑝 = 8𝑦𝑟𝑠 𝑡 = 20𝑦𝑟𝑠
SECONDARY COMPRESSION SETTLEMENT: 𝐶𝛼 = 0.008 𝑒𝑝 = 1.4749

𝐶𝛼 𝐻 𝑡
𝑆𝑐 = log 0.008(1800𝑚𝑚) 20𝑦𝑟𝑠
1 + 𝑒𝑝 𝑡𝑝 𝑆𝑐 = log
1 + 1.4749 8𝑦𝑟𝑠
𝑆𝑐 = 2.354𝑚𝑚
PROBLEM 06
THE FIGURE SHOWS A SOIL FORMATION OF 5M SAND AND 6M CLAY. THE
GROUNDWATER TABLE IS 4M BELOW THE GROUND SURFACE. IF A FILL WITH A
UNIT WEIGHT OF 17KN/M3 AND A HEIGHT 2M IS PLACED ON THE GROUND, FIND:
A. THE PRIMARY CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT OF THE CLAY LAYER IF IT IS
NORMALLY CONSOLIDATED WITH A COMPRESSION INDEX OF 0.38 AND A VOID
RATIO OF 1.52.
B. THE TOTAL CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT OF THE CLAY 5 YEARS AFTER
THE COMPLETION OF PRIMARY CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT. TIME FOR
COMPLETION OF PRIMARY SETTLEMENT IS 2 YEARS. SECONDARY COMPRESSION
INDEX IS 0.02
 FILL 2𝑚
𝛾 = 17𝑘𝑁/𝑚3

𝛾 = 15𝑘𝑁/𝑚3
4𝑚
5𝑚 GRANULAR SOIL
GWT
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 16𝑘𝑁/𝑚3

𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 18𝑘𝑁/𝑚3
6𝑚 𝑒 = 1.52
CLAY LAYER
𝐶𝑐 = 0.38
FOUNDATION ENGINEERING:
SOIL COMPRESSIBILITY
CE 543/511D: GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 02 - FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

This material is for use and distribution only within the CE

543/511D: Geotechnical Engineering 02 - Foundation
Engineering