GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

CHAPTER 6: Compressibility of Soil

Engr.Glenn Christopher J. Lambino, RMP

2nd Term, AY 2022-2023
Compressibility of Soil
The increase in stress caused by foundation and other loads compresses a soil.

This compression is caused by:

1. Deformation of soil particles
2. Relocations of soil particles
3. Expulsion of water or air from the void spaces
Compressibility of Soil
Soil settlement may be divided into three categories:
1. Immediate settlement- caused by the elastic deformation of dry, moist, and saturated
soils without any change in moisture content
2. Primary consolidation settlement- caused by the volume change in saturated
cohesive soils due to expulsion of water that occupies the void spaces
3. Secondary consolidation settlement- caused by the plastic adjustment of soil
fabrics. It is an additional form of compression that occurs at constant effective stress.
 Immediate Settlement
∆𝑒
s 𝑆=𝐻
eo 1 + 𝑒!
ef
For footing:
#
𝐵𝑞 1 − 𝜇"
𝑆= 𝑥𝐼𝐹
𝐸"
Where:
S= Settlement
Δe= change in void ratio
eo= initial void ratio
B=shorter side of footing
q=applied load/area of footing
Es= modulus of elasticity of soil
IF= influence factor
Primary Consolidation Settlement for Clay
Normally Consolidated Clay (Present only):
Remolded Clay Undisturbed Clay
𝐶𝑐𝐻 𝑃𝑜 + ∆𝑃 𝐶𝑐 = 0.007 𝐿𝐿 − 7% = 0.009(𝐿𝐿 − 10%)
𝑆= 𝑙𝑜𝑔 OCR= 1.0
1 + 𝑒! 𝑃𝑜
1 1
Overconsolidated Clay (With Past): 𝐶𝑠 = 𝐶𝑐 𝑡𝑜 𝐶𝑐
5 10
Case 1: Po +ΔP ≤ Pc
𝐶𝑠𝐻 𝑃𝑜 + ∆𝑃 Where:
𝑆= 𝑙𝑜𝑔
1 + 𝑒! 𝑃𝑜 Cc= compression index
OCR= Pc/Po Cs= swell index
Case 2: Po +ΔP > Pc ΔP= additional load
Po= overburden effective stress (present vertical
𝐶𝑠𝐻 𝑃𝑐 𝐶𝑐𝐻 𝑃𝑜 + ∆𝑃 effective stress at center of clay)
𝑆= 𝑙𝑜𝑔 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔 Pc- presconsolidation stress (past vertical effective
1 + 𝑒! 𝑃𝑜 1 + 𝑒! 𝑃𝑐
stress)
OCR= overconsolidation ratio
Secondary Consolidation Settlement for Clay
𝑡2 Where:
𝑆= 𝐶 " 𝛼𝐻 log
𝑡1 C𝛼=secondary compression index
ep= void ratio at the end of primary consolidation
𝐶𝛼 t1= time for completion of primary settlement
𝐶 "𝛼 = t2= time after completion of primary settlement, where
1 + 𝑒#
settlement is required
∆#
C𝛼 = $%&'()$%&'*

𝑃𝑜 + ∆𝑃
∆𝑒 = Cc log
𝑃𝑜
Time Rate of Consolidation
𝑇𝑣𝐻𝑑𝑟 (
𝑡=
𝐶𝑣
$
𝜋 𝑈
𝑇𝑣 = ; 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 0 < 𝑈 < 60%
4 100
𝑇𝑣 = 1.781 − 0.9331 log 100 − 𝑈 ; when 60% < U < 100%
𝑘
𝐶𝑣 = Where:
𝑚𝑣𝛾𝑤 Cv=coefficient of consolidation
𝑎𝑣 mv= coefficient of volume compressibility
𝑚𝑣 = av= coefficient of compressibility
1 + 𝑒+,# t= time corresponding to degree of consolidation
𝑒1 − 𝑒2 Tv= time factor
𝑎𝑣 = U= degree of consolidation in %
𝑃2 − 𝑃1 (𝑜𝑟 ∆𝑃) Hdr= thickness of sample,
H=oneway drainage,
H/2=two-way drainage
k= coefficient of permeability (hydraulic conductivity)
Settlement under a Foundation
PRISMOIDAL FORMULA

∆𝑃𝑡 + 4𝑃𝑚 + ∆𝑃𝑏

∆𝑃 =
6
Where:
ΔPt= increase in pressure at the top of the clay layer 𝑃
ΔPm= increase in pressure at the middle of the clay layer ∆𝑃𝑡 =
ΔPb= increase in pressure at the bottom of the clay layer (𝐿 + ℎ1)(𝑤 + ℎ1)
𝑃
∆𝑃𝑚 =
ℎ2 ℎ2
(𝐿 + ℎ1 + 2 )(𝑤 + ℎ1 + 2 )
𝑃
∆𝑃𝑏 =
(𝐿 + ℎ1 + ℎ2)(𝑤 + ℎ1 + ℎ2)
PROBLEM 1
PROBLEM 2
PROBLEM 3
PROBLEM 3
PROBLEM 4
PROBLEM 5
PROBLEM 6