SOFT SOIL

Definition:
• Loose Sands
Low unconfined
compressive strengths • High-water-content Silts
(<25 to 50 kPa) or standard • High-water-content Clays
penetration numbers (<2 • Organic Soils
to 5 for cohesive and <10
for granular soils) and • Peats
high water contents. • Sludges, dredgings,
tailings

Introduction to Problematic Soils

Slide 2
 Soft Ground Challenges to Construction of
Earth Structures
❑ Stability
• Resolve stability conditions, which are most critical
during construction due to undrained strength
• Then, settlement is critical long-term issue
❑ Settlement
• Settlement of clay can be estimated using standard
procedures (primarily consolidation settlement)
• Settlement of peats and highly organic soil is more
complex and involves significant long-term secondary
compression

Introduction to Problematic Soils

Slide 3
 STABILITY
Most stability problems for construction of fills
over soft ground can be solved by use of
geosynthetic or other reinforcement.

Introduction to Problematic Soils

Slide 4
 STABILITY ANALYSES

❑ Overall bearing capacity (FS = 1.5 to 2)

❑ Global (rotational) shear at the end of construction (FS
= 1.3)
❑ Sliding wedge-embankment spreading (FS = 1.5)
❑ Reinforcement pullout
❑ Geotextile deformation (allowable geotextile strain eg =
2 to 10%)
❑ Longitudinal strength requirements

Introduction to Problematic Soils

Slide 5