Soil Settlement

By

Kamal Tawfiq, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE

Fall 2013
Soil Settlement:
Total Soil Settlement = Elastic Settlement + Consolidation Settlement

Stotal = Se + Sc

{
Load Type (Rigid; Flexible)

Elastic Settlement or Immediate Settlement depends on

Settlement Location (Center or Corner)

Theory of Elasticity

Elastic Settlement
{ Time Depended Elastic Settlement (Schmertman & Hartman Method (1978)

Elastic settlement occurs in sandy, silty, and clayey soils.

By: Kamal Tawfiq, Ph.D., P.E.

 By: Kamal Tawfiq, Ph.D., P.E.

Consolidation Settlement (Time Dependent Settlement)

* Consolidation settlement occurs in cohesive soils due to the expulsion of the water from the voids.
* Because of the soil permeability the rate of settlement may varied from soil to another.
* Also the variation in the rate of consolidation settlement depends on the boundary conditions.

SConsolidation = Sprimary + Ssecondary

Primary Consolidation Volume change is due to reduction in pore water pressure

Secondary Consolidation Volume change is due to the rearrangement of the soil particles
(No pore water pressure change, Δu = 0, occurs after the primary consolidation)

Water Table (W.T.)

Expulsion of When the water in the voids

Water
the water starts to flow out of the soil
matrix due to consolidation of
the clay layer. Consequently,
the excess pore water
pressure (Du) will reduce,
Voids
Solids and the void ratio (e) of the
soil matrix will reduce too.
Elastic Settlement

Bqo 2
Se = (1 - μs) α (corner of the flexible foundation)
Es
2

Bqo
(1 - μs) α
2
Se = (center of the flexible foundation)
Es

1
Where α = [ ln ( √1 + m2 + m / √1 + m2 - m ) + m. ln ( √1 + m2 + 1 / √1 + m2 - 1 )
p
m = B/L

B = width of foundation
L = length of foundation

By: Kamal Tawfiq, Ph.D., P.E.

 Bqo (1 - μs) α
Se =
Es
3.0

2.5
α
αav
αr
2.0
α, αav, αr

1.5

For circular foundation

1.0 α=1
αav = 0.85
αr = 0.88

3.0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
L/B

Values of α, αav, and αr

By: Kamal Tawfiq, Ph.D., P.E.
 Elastic Settlement of Foundation on Saturated Clay

Janbu, Bjerrum, and Kjaernsli (1956) proposed an equation for evaluation of the
average elastic settlement of flexible foundations on saturated clay soils (Poisson’s
ratio, μs = 0.5). Referring to Figure 1 for notations, this equation can be written as

Se = A1 A2 qoB/Es

where A1 is a function H/B and L/B, and is a function of Df/B.

Christian and Carrier (1978) have modified the values of A1 and A2 to some extent, and these are presented
in Figure 2. 2.0
L/B = ∞ L/B = 10
1.0

1.5
5

A2 0.9 A1 1.0
2
Square

Circle
0.5

0.8
0 5 10 15 20
Df/B 0
0.1 1 10 100 1000

H /B

Values of A1 and A2 for elastic settlement calculation (after Christian and Carrier, 1978)
By: Kamal Tawfiq, Ph.D., P.E.
 Consolidation Settlement

Consolidation Settlement (Primary Consolidation) = Sc = (Cc/1+e o) Hc . log [(Po + P)/Po]

Qdesign = Column Load Stressed Zone

Normally
Consolidated Sand
Clay
B

Caly
Hc Hc/2
Overburden
Pressure
Po

2
2
1 1
Stress
Distribution

Sand

By: Kamal Tawfiq, Ph.D., P.E.

Consolidation Settlement
Normally Loading Unloading
Consolidated Soil
p
Sand Sand Hsand Sand 2 Hsand
2
1 1

H clay/2 p
Dp
Hclay H clay/2 
Dpp Hclay
Clay

Sand Sand Sand

Void Ratio Void Ratio

Dp
Void Ratio
Dp
P P

eo

Cc

Po Po + Dp
P Log P
Po Po + Dp
P Log P
Po Log P

Cc H log(po +p)
Sultimate = H =
Cc H 1 + eo Po + DP
Po
DH = log ( )
1 + eO P0
Po = sand . Hsand + (clay - water ) . Hclay/2

By: Kamal Tawfiq, Ph.D., P.E.

 Re loading
with Heavy Load
p2

2 Hsand 2
Hsand
1

1

H clay/2 p
Dp 2 Hclay H clay/2
p2
Dp 2 Hclay

V oid Ratio The soil become V oid Ratio Dp

P22
Dp

overconsolidated
P Dp
soil

eo
Cs

Cs

Po Po + Dp
P Log P Po Pc Po + Dp
P2 Log P
2
=
Pc

log log (PPco + DP+ Cc H log Po + P2

CS H P Cs CHC H ( )
DH = =
Sultimatelog ( H C= ) + ( 2
) )
Po 1 +1e+ eO
1 + eO o Po PC 1 + eo Pc
By: Kamal Tawfiq, Ph.D., P.E.
 Re loading
with light Load

p2

2 Hsand Hsand
2
1

1
H clay/2 Dpp 2 Hclay H clay/2
p2
Dp 2 Hclay

Po + Dp
P2 2
Void Ratio The soil become Void Ratio
Dp
P
overconsolidated Dp
P22
soil

eo
Cs

Po Pc Log P Po Pc Log P

Cs H log Pc
CS H P + DP2 Sultimate = H = ( )
DH = log ( o ) 1 + eo Po
1 + eO Po
By: Kamal Tawfiq, Ph.D., P.E.
Determining The Preconsolidation Pressure (Pc)
Cassagrande Graphical Method

Void Ratio
5 6
3
1
4
2

Po Pc Log P
OCR = Pc/Po
OCR = 1 Normally Consolidated
OCR > 1 Over Consolidated
OCR > 4 Heavily Over Consolidated

By: Kamal Tawfiq, Ph.D., P.E.

 Dr. Kamal Tawfiq - 2010

Example: Figure 1 G.S.

gsand = 96 pcf W.T. 3 ft

1. Soil sample was obtained from the clay layer
Sand 4 ft
2. Conduct consolidation test [9 load increments ]
3. Plot e vs. log (p) (Figure 2) gclay = 110 pcf Clay Po
4. Determine Compression Index (Cc ) & Swelling Index (Cs) 16 ft
wc = 0.3 Soil Sample

1
In the lab and after removing
the soil sample from the ground,
the stresses on the soil sample = 0 0.9
Dp1 Dp
2

0.8
In the ground, the
Void Ratio (e)

eo = 0.795
Dp1 sample was
Dp 0.7 subjected to Cc = 0.72
Stress Dp7 geostatic stresses.
Increments Dp
Dp9
0.6 In the lab and before Cs = 0.1
the consolidation test
the stresses on the Cc
0.5
sample = 0.

In the lab the stresses are During testing, the Cs Dp9

added to the soil sample 0.4
geostatic stress is
gradually recovered
0.3
100 Po 1000 10000

Log (p) Figure 2

5. Determine Po = 3.(96) + 4.(96-62.4) + 8.(110-62.4) = 803.2 lb/ft2
 Dr. Kamal Tawfiq - 2010
Tangent to point 1
Example: G.S.

gsand = 96 pcf W.T. 3 ft

6. Using Casagrande’s Method to determine Pc Sand 4 ft
gclay = 110 pcf Clay
Pc = 800 lb/ft2 Po
16 ft
wc = 0.3
Point of
maximum curvature
Overconsolidation Ratio 1

Pc
OCR = =1 0.9
Po Dp1
6 2
0.8 1 X
The soil is
Void Ratio (e)

X 4
Normally Consolidated 0.7
N.C. soil 5 3

0.6

0.5

0.4
7
0.3
100 Po = Pc1000 10000

Log (p)
 Dr. Kamal Tawfiq - 2010
Casagrande’s Method to Determine Preconsolidation Pressure (Pc)
1 Normally Consolidated Soil
Point of
maximum curvature
1

0.9

2 Horizontal line
0.8 1 X
Void Ratio (e)

X
0.7
3

0.6

0.5

0.4
7
0.3
100 Po = Pc1000 10000

Log (p)
Pc
Overconsolidation Ratio OCR = =1
Po
The soil is Normally Consolidated (N.C.) soil
 Dr. Kamal Tawfiq - 2010

Casagrande’s Method to Determine Pc

2 Overconsolidated Soil
Point of
maximum curvature

2 Horizontal line
1 X
Void Ratio (e)

Po Pc
Log (p)
Pc
Overconsolidation Ratio OCR = >1
Po
The soil is oversonsolidated (O.C.) soil
 Building Dr. Kamal Tawfiq - 2010

qdesign
Example: G.S.

gsand = 96 pcf W.T. 3 ft

A 150’ x 100’ building will be constructed at the site. Sand 4 ft
The vertical stress due to the addition of the building
qdesign =1000 lb/ft2
Clay
Po DP1 Po
16 ft
The weight of the building Qdesign will be transferred
eo = wc . Gs = 0.3 x 2.65 = 0.795
to the mid height of the clay layer
1
Qdesign = 15,000,000 lb
0.9
The added stress at 15’ from Dp1
the ground surface is
0.8
Void Ratio (e)

15,000,000 lb
Dp = 0.7
(150+15) x (100+15)

DP = 790.51 lb/ft2 0.6

0.5
DP + Po =
0.4
790.51 + 803 = 1593.51 lb/ft2
0.3
100 Po1000 10000

Log (p)
 Building Dr. Kamal Tawfiq - 2010

Example: qdesign
G.S.
DP + Po = 790.51 + 803 = 1593.51 lb/ft2
gsand = 96 pcf W.T. 3 ft
Consolidation Settlement Sand 4 ft

Cc H Po + DP Clay
Po DP1 Po
DH = log ( )
1 + eO Po 16 ft

0.72 x 16 1593.51 eo = wc . Gs = 0.3 x 2.65 = 0.795

DH = log ( )
1 + 0.795 803
1

DH = 1.9 ft 0.9
Dp1

0.8
Void Ratio (e)

DP1
0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3
100 Po1000 Po + DP 10000

Log (p)
 Demolished Dr. Kamal Tawfiq - 2010

When the building was removed, the soil has become qdesign
an overconsolidated clay. G.S.

gsand = 96 pcf W.T. 3 ft

The rebound has taken place through Sand 4 ft
swelling from pint 1 to point 2 Clay
Po Po
16 ft

eo = wc . Gs = 0.3 x 2.65 = 0.795

0.9
Dp1

0.8
Void Ratio (e)

DP1
0.7

2
0.6
1

0.5

0.4

0.3
100 Po1000 Po + DP 10000

Log (p)
 Constructing a new building Dr. Kamal Tawfiq - 2010

Scenario #1 qdesign
G.S.
The soil now is overconsolidated Soil:
gsand = 96 pcf W.T. 3 ft
Sand 4 ft
The new building is heavier in weight Clay DP2
Po Po
16 ft
CS H P C CH P + DP
DH = log ( C ) + log ( o ) eo = wc . Gs = 0.3 x 2.65 = 0.795
1 + eO Po 1 + eO PC
1

eo = 0.61 0.9
Dp1 DP2
0.8
Assume Po + Dp2 = 2100 psf
Void Ratio (e)

DP1
0.7

0.1 x 16 1593.51
DH = log ( ) 0.6
1 + 0.61 803
CS
+
0.5
0.72 x 16 CC
log ( 2100 )
1 + 0.61 1593.51
0.4
=

0.3
100 Po1000 Pc Po + DP 10000

Log (p) New Building

 Dr. Kamal Tawfiq - 2010

qdesign
Constructing a new building G.S.
Scenario # 2 gsand = 96 pcf 3 ft
W.T.
The soil now is overconsolidated Soil: Sand 4 ft
Clay
Po DP2 Po
The new building is lighter in weight 16 ft

eo = wc . Gs = 0.3 x 2.65 = 0.795

CS H P + DP
DH = log ( o ) 1
1 + eO P0
0.9
Dp1 DP2
eo = 0.61
0.8
Void Ratio (e)

DP1
Assume Po + Dp2 = 1600 psf 0.7

0.6
0.1 x 16 CS
DH = log ( 1600 )
1 + 0.61 1593.51 0.5

=
0.4

0.3
100 Po1000Po + DP 10000

Log (p) New Building

 Dr. Kamal Tawfiq - 2010

Example of Semi-log Scale

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1
0.1 1 10 100 1000
 Rate of Consolidation

Settlement at any time = Stime

Stime = Sultimate * U% Sultimate= (Cc/1+eo) Hc . log [(P o + P)/P o]

U% = f (Tv) ....

Tv = f (cv) ......
cv . t
Tv = Qdesign = Column Load
(Hdr)2

Sand
u =Excess Pore Water Pressure

Caly
Overburden Hdr = Hc /2
Pressure

P Stress Distribution
Po P 2: 1 method
Uo

Hc = Layer Thickness

Sand

u =Excess Pore Water Pressure

By: Kamal Tawfiq, Ph.D., P.E.

Once you determine Tv use the table shown on the page to determine U%
Degree of Consolidation (U%) vs. Time Factor (Tv)