PCE414

GEOTECHNICAL
ENGINEERING 1
By: ENGR. MARIA YSABELLA MOSCOSO
10 SETTLEMENT
Settlement is the downward movement of the ground (soil) when a
load is applied to it. The load increases the vertical effective stress exerted
onto the soil. This stress, in turn, increases the vertical strain in the soil. This
increase in vertical strain causes the ground to move downward.

Primary Consolidation Settlement (Sc)

Secondary Settlement (SS)

Immediate or Elastic Settlement (Se)

10 SETTLEMENT
TOTAL SETTLEMENT (ST) b When Po + ΔP > Pc

ST = Sc + Ss + Se CsH Pc
S c= log ( ) +
1+e Po
I Primary Consolidation Settlement (Sc)
CcH Po + ΔP
1 Normally Consolidated Clays (Po = Pc) log ( )
1+e Pc
CcH Po + ΔP
S c= log ( ) Cc = 0.009 (LL – 10)
1+e Po
e1 – e2
2 Overly Consolidated Clays (Po < Pc) Cs =
log P2
a When Po + ΔP < Pc P1

CsH Po + ΔP Cc
S c= log ( ) If Cs is not given: Cs =
1+e Po 5
10 SETTLEMENT
II Secondary Settlement (SS) Where:
Pc = Pre-consolidated Pressure
C∞H T2 Po = average effective stress at the mid-height of
Ss= log ( ) clay layer.
1 +ep T1 ΔP = average increase of effective stress on clay
layer.
ep = e – Δe Cc = Compression Index
Cs = Swell Index
Po + ΔP C∞ = Secondary Compression Index
Δe = Cc log ( )
Po T2 = time after completion of primary settlement
T1 = time for completion of primary settlement
ep = void ratio at the end of primary
III Immediate or Elastic Settlement (Se) consolidation
Cs = shape and foundation rigidity factor
a 1 – μ2 β = width of foundation or diameter of circular
Se= Csqβ ( ) foundation.
ES q = P/B2 (net vertical pressure applied)
μ = Poissons ratio of soil
b 1 – μ2 Es = Modulus of elasticity of Soil
Se= qβ ( )lp
ES Ip = Influence factor
 EXAMPLE 3 Primary Consolidation Settlement Problem
QUESTION: A 2m clay layer has values of e = 0.92, Gs = 2.72 and liquid limit of 40%.
Above the clay is a 3m thick layer of sand with e = 0.50 and Gs = 2.62. The
water table is located 1.6m below the ground. If a 3m thick backfill is
placed on the ground surface having a unit weight of 17.3 kN/m3,
determine the following:
a. Compression Index of Clay
b. Effective Pressure at the midpoint of Clay.
c. Primary settlement for normally consolidated clay.
FIGURE: s.s.
3m Backfill = 17.3 kN/m3

1.6m Sand e = 0.50, Gs = 2.62

w.s.
3m
1.4m Sand

2m Clay e = 0.92, Gs = 2.72, LL = 40%

EXAMPLE 3 Primary Consolidation Settlement Problem

FIGURE: SOLUTION:
s.s.
a. Compression index of clay
3m Backfill = 17.3 kN/m3
e = 0.50, Gs = 2.62
Cc= 0.009 (LL – 10)
1.6m Sand
s = 17.135 kN/m
3
w.s. Cc= 0.009 (40 – 10)
3m
1.4m Sand ss = 20.405 kN/m3 Cc= 0.270

2m Clay e = 0.92, Gs = 2.72, LL = 40%

b. Effective Pressure at the
c = 18.598 kN/m
3

midpoint of Clay.

Gs Gs+ Se Gs+ Se
= ss = 1 + e w c =
s 1+e w 1+e w
2.62 [2.62 +(1)(0.5)] [2.72 +(1)(0.92)]
s = 1 + 0.5 (9.81) ss = 1 + 0.5
(9.81) c = (9.81)
1 + 0.92
ss = 20.405 kN/m
3
s = 17.135 kN/m c = 18.598 kN/m
3 3
 EXAMPLE 3 Primary Consolidation Settlement Problem

FIGURE: SOLUTION:
s.s.
b. Effective Pressure at the
3m Backfill = 17.3 kN/m3
midpoint of Clay.
1.6m Sand s = 17.135 kN/m3
3m
w.s. ρo = ∑ h
1.4m Sand ss = 20.405 kN/m3 ρo = shs + sshss + chc
2m Clay = 18.598 kN/m3
ρo = (17.135 kN/m3)(1.6m) +
c
(20.408 – 9.81 kN/m3)(1.4m) +
(18.598 – 9.81kN/m3)(2m/2)
c. Primary settlement for ρo = 51.037 kPa
normally consolidated clay.
Δρ = h CcH Po + ΔP
Sc= log ( )
Δρ = (17.3 kN/m3)(3m) 1+e Po
0.27(2000) 51.037 + 51.900
Δρ = 51.900 kPa Sc= log ( ) = 85.693 mm
1 + 0.92 51.037
 EXAMPLE 4 Primary Consolidation Settlement Problem
QUESTION: The soil profile shown in the figure consist of a 9m layer of sand
underlain by 6m layer of clay. The location of water table is 3m from the
ground level. The building to be constructed will cause an additional
pressure of 50 kPa on the ground. What is the Primary Settlement of clay if:
a. Clay is normally consolidated.
b. Preconsolidation Pressure Pc = 190 kPa.
c. Preconsolidation Pressure Pc = 170 kPa.

FIGURE: 50 kPa
s.s.
3m Sand s = 16 kN/m3
w.s.
6m Sand ss = 18.5 kN/m3

6m Clay c = 19 kN/m3
e = 0.95, Cc = 0.36
EXAMPLE 4 Primary Consolidation Settlement Problem

SOLUTION:
FIGURE:
50 kPa a. Sc if clay is normally consolidated.
s.s.
3m Sand s = 16 kN/m3
w.s.
ρo = shs + sshss + chc
Sand
ρo = (16 kN/m3)(3m) +
6m = 18.5 kN/m3
ss
(18.5 – 9.81 kN/m3)(6m) +
6m Clay c = 19 kN/m3 (19 – 9.81kN/m3)(6m/2)
e = 0.95, Cc = 0.36 ρo = 127.710 kPa
Po = 127.710 kPa
CcH Po + ΔP
Sc= log ( )
1+e Po
0.36(6000) 127.71 + 50
Sc= log ( )
1 + 0.95 127.71
Sc= 158.939 mm
EXAMPLE 4 Primary Consolidation Settlement Problem

SOLUTION:
FIGURE:
50 kPa b. Sc if Pc = 190 kPa.
s.s.
3m Sand s = 16 kN/m3
w.s.
Po + ΔP __ Pc
Sand
Po + ΔP = 127.71 + 50 = 177.71 kPa
6m = 18.5 kN/m3
ss
Po + ΔP < Pc Therefore, use a
Clay c = 19 kN/m 3
6m
e = 0.95, Cc = 0.36
Po = 127.710 kPa CsH P + ΔP
Sc= log ( o )
1+e Po
(0.36/5)(6000) 127.71 + 50
Sc= log ( )
1 + 0.95 127.71
Sc= 31.788 mm
EXAMPLE 4 Primary Consolidation Settlement Problem

FIGURE: SOLUTION:
50 kPa
s.s. c. Sc if Pc = 170 kPa.
3m Sand s = 16 kN/m3
w.s.
Po + ΔP __ Pc
6m Sand ss = 18.5 kN/m3 Po + ΔP = 127.71 + 50 = 177.71 kPa
6m Clay c = 19 kN/m 3
Po + ΔP > Pc Therefore, use b
e = 0.95, Cc = 0.36
Po = 127.710 kPa

CsH P Cc H P + ΔP
Sc= log ( c) + log ( o )
1+e Po 1+e Pc
(0.36/5)(6000) 170 0.36(6000) 127.71 + 50
Sc= log ( )+ log ( )
1 + 0.95 127.71 1 + 0.95 170
Sc= 48.858 mm
 EXAMPLE 5 Secondary Consolidation Settlement Problem
QUESTION: A soil profile is shown in the figure. A uniformly distributed load of 50
kPa is applied at the ground surface. The clay is normally consolidated.
a. Compute the secondary settlement 8 years after the completion of
primary settlement. Time for completion of Sc is 2 years. Assume
C∞=0.025.

FIGURE:
50 kPa
s.s.
3m Sand s = 16 kN/m3
w.s.
6m Sand ss = 18 kN/m3

6m Clay c = 19.08 kN/m3

e = 0.80, Gs = 2.70 Cc = 0.332, C∞=0.025
EXAMPLE 5 Secondary Consolidation Settlement Problem
SOLUTION:
FIGURE:
a. Compute the secondary settlement
50 kPa ρo = shs + sshss + chc
s.s.
ρo = (16 kN/m3)(3m) +
3m Sand = 16 kN/m3
s
w.s. (18 – 9.81 kN/m3)(6m) +
6m Sand ss = 18 kN/m3 (19.08 – 9.81kN/m3)(6m/2)
Clay = 19.08 kN/m3 ρo = 124.950 kPa
6m c

e = 0.80, Gs = 2.70 Cc = 0.332 , C∞=0.025

Po + ΔP
Δe = Cc log ( )
Po
C∞H T2 124.950 + 50
Ss = log ( ) Δe = 0.332 log ( )
1 +ep T1 124.950
Δe = 0.049
0.025(6000) 8
Ss = log ( ) ep = e – Δe
1 + 0.751 2
Ss = 51.576 mm ep = 0.80 – 0.049 = 0.751
 EXAMPLE 6 Elastic Settlement Problem
QUESTION: A rectangular footing 1m x 2m is shown in the figure. Compute the
elastic settlement if μs = 0.3 and Ip = 1.2.

FIGURE: SOLUTION:

s.s. 1 – μ2
Se= qβ ( )l
1m Sand q = 150 kN/m3 ES p
s = 16.5 kN/m
3 1 – (0.3)2
Se= (150)(1000) ( )(1.2)
1m x 2m μs = 0.3, Ip = 1.2 10000
1.5m Es = 10,000 kN/m3 Se= 16.380 mm
w.s.
0.5m Sand ss = 17.5 kN/m3

Clay c = 16 kN/m3
2.5m
e = 0.8, Cc = 0.32