Common Approaches to Settlement Problems

❑ Avoidance: build somewhere else if possible

❑ Shallow foundations: if settlements tolerable
❑ Excavate/Replace: prohibitive in deep deposits
❑ Structural Deep Foundations: if settlements are not
tolerable; costly for wide light structures and embankments
❑ In Situ Improvement: new frontier offering economic and
practical advantages; numerous specialized techniques
❑ Staged construction and Preloading/Surcharging:
common for wide light structures and embankments on
soft soils; time consuming, potential reactivation of
settlement in long-term
❑ Light-weight Fills: wood chips, tire chips, geofoams, saw
dust, etc.
Introduction to Problematic Soils
Slide 11
 Strategies for Construction of Fills on Soft
Ground
❑ Ground improvement to enhance soil strength
and stiffness:
• reinforcement
• preloading
• staged construction
• deep mixing, etc.
❑ Reduce driving forces by light-weight fills:
• wood chips or saw dust
• expanded shale
• geofoams,
• tire chips, etc.
Introduction to Problematic Soils
Slide 12