Foundations on Sand

and Nonplastic Silt

Dave Khyl J. Bosque

Reporter
 DP 19.1
Significant Characteristics of
Sand and Silt Deposits
If the site is underlain by sand, the foundation may consist of footings, rafts,
piers or piles. The choice depends primarily on the relative density of the
sand and on the position of the water table.

RELATIVE DENSITY – determines the bearing capacity and settlement of

footings, rafts or piers, and it also establishes the resistance of piles.

WATER TABLE POSITION – is important mainly because excavation below

the water table requires drainage and increases the cost of the foundation

Nonplastic cohesionless silt exhibits most of the characteristics of fine sand.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 DP 19.2
Footings on Sand
BASIS FOR DESIGN
Typical load-settlement relationships for footings of different widths on
the surface of a homogeneous sand deposit are shown in Fig. 19.1a
The wider the footing, the
greater the ultimate capacity
per unit area. However, for a
given settlement S1 , such as1
inch, the soil pressure is
greater for a footing of
intermediate width Bb than for
a large footing with a width Bc ,
or for a narrow footing with
width Ba . The pressures
corresponding to the three
widths are indicated by points
Figure 19.1a b, c, and a, respectively.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand
The same data may be used to plot Fig. 19.1b, which shows the load q1 per
unit area corresponding to a given settlement S1 as a function of the width of
the footing. The soil pressure for settlement S1 increases with increasing
width of footing if the footings are relatively small, reaches a maximum at an
intermediate width.
On the other hand, a small
change in the pressure on a
wide footing has little influence
on the settlements as small as
S1 ; moreover, the value of q1
corresponding to S1 is far
Figure 19.1b below that which would
produce a bearing-capacity
failure of the wide footing.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand
CONSIDERATIONS OF SETTLEMENT
The soil pressure that produces a given settlement S1 on a loose sand is
obviously smaller than the soil pressure tat produces the same settlement
on a dense sand. Hence, on a rough way, there should be a relation
between the soil pressure to produce the given settlement and the N-values
from the standard penetration test.

Figure 19.3

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand
Figure 19.3 sets a the design chart for proportioning shallow footings on
sand. Each line corresponds to a particular N-value and indicates the soil
pressure corresponding to a settlement of 1 in. the lines are drawn for the
condition that the water table is at greater depths.

Figure 19.3

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand
CONSIDERATIONS OF BEARING CAPACITY

It has been pointed out that, for narrow footings, small increases in soil
pressure may lead to such large increases in settlement that the movement
would be considered a bearing-capacity failure. Hence, any acceptable
procedure for proportioning footings on sand must provide assurance that,
even if the settlement under the anticipated conditions would appear not to
exceed 1 in., the margin against a bearing –capacity failure would be ample
in spite of the inevitable differences between anticipated and real conditions.

Moreover, under some circumstances even large settlement of wide

footings or piers may be acceptable if the possibility of an outright failure of
the supporting sand is excluded. Hence, a knowledge of the ultimate
bearing capacity is essentials for design. Reasonable estimates can be
based on theoretical considerations.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand
Figure 19.4 represents a cross section through a long footing with width B,
resting at depth Dƒ below the ground surface on deep deposit of sand. If the
footing fails by breaking into the ground, a zone a0’a’,within which the sand
cannot slip with respect to the base of the footing because of the roughness
of the base , moves downward as a unit.

Figure 19.4

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand
As it moves it displaces the adjacent material. Consequently, the sand in
two symmetrical zones a0’bde, one of which is illustrated on the left side of
Fig. 19.4, is subjected to severe shearing distortions and slides outward and
upward along boundaries 0’bd.The movement is resisted by the shearing
strength of the sand along 0’bd and the weight of the sand in the sliding
masses.

Figure 19.4

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand
Figure 19.4. Cross section through long footing on sand showing (left side)
pattern of displacements during bearing-capacity failure, and (right side)
idealized conditions assumed for analysis.

Figure 19.4

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand
The results of such studies indicate that the gross ultimate bearing capacity
may be expressed as
 
‘= Eq. 19.1

And the net ultimate bearing capacity as

 
=‘
 
= Eq. 19.2

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand
 In these equations, and are dimensionless bearing-capacity factors
depending primarily on . They may be evaluated by means of the chart in
Figure 19.5

 Figure 19.5. Curves

showing the relationship
between bearing-capacity
factors and as
determined by theory,
and rough empirical
relationship between
bearing capacity factors
or and values of
standard penetration
resistance N.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand
The unit weights of most sands, whether
dry, moist, or saturated, lie within a fairly
narrow range. Therefore the unit weight of
the sand is in itself not an important
variable in the determination of the
bearing capacity of the footing. However, if
the sand is located below the free water
surface, only its submerged weight is
effective in producing friction. Thus, the
position of the water table is of
outstanding practical importance in
establishing the bearing capacity of a
footing on sand.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand
 It should be understood that the relationship between N and (Fig. 19.5) is only
approximate. Nevertheless, the relationship between is based primarily on the
theory and is much more reliable. Hence, if is determined by a procedure more
refined than the use of the standard penetration test, may still be utilized to
evaluate

Equation 19.2 can be expressed in the form.

 
= Eq. 19.3a

An for a given factor of safety F against a bearing-capacity failure,

 
= Eq. 19.3b

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand
 
= Eq. 19.3a

 
= Eq. 19.3b

 For a particular value of and a given deposit of sand, the expression within the
brackets is a constant. Thus, the relation between the width of footing and the
net soil pressure for a given factor of safety can be expressed in a plot such as
Figure 19.3 as a family of straight lines radiating from the origin. Each line
corresponds to a sand having a different N-value.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand
DESIGN CHART FOR FOOTINGS ON SAND
The considerations of settlement and bearing capacity discussed in the
preceding subheadings define the right-and-left branches of the curves shown
in Fig. 19.3. The curves constitute a convenient means for proportioning
footings on sand.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand
Figure 19.3 considerations…

 1. The chart is based on the behavior of shallow footings of the normal
dimensions and depths below the ground surface.

Fig. 19.6. Chart

for correction of
N-values for
influence of
overburden
pressure

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand
(cont.) Figure 19.3 considerations…

2. No deposit of natural sand is perfectly uniform. To assure that the least

favorable subsurface conditions are taken into account, the penetration
resistance for the sand at a given site should be determined by making borings
with standard penetration tests at a number of joints, preferably at least one
boring for every or footings.

3. It has been shown that a rise of the water table from a depth greater than
about B below the base of the footing up to the top of the surcharge has the
effect of reducing the bearing capacity to about one half of its value for moist,
dry, or saturated sand.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand

For a depth to groundwater level equal to Dw, measured from the surface of the
surcharge surrounding the footing, the correction factor may be obtained with
sufficient accuracy by linear interpolation, or

 
= Eq. 19.4

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand
DESIGN PROCEDURE BASED on CHART for FOOTINGS on SAND

Since the permeability of sands is high enough to permit rapit adjustment to

changes in load, the behavior of a foundation on sand is likely to reflect the
influence of the maximum rather than the long-term average loads. This
characteristics should be given consideration in choosing the loads which the
footings are to be proportioned.

In practical foundation design it is customary to proportion all footings for

the same net soil pressure except for a few that may have to be treated as
special cases. If the soil pressure for the design is influenced by the presence
of water table, the largest footing is likely to require the greatest correction.
Hence, the soil pressure should be determined for the footing to be subhected
to the greatest design load.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand
(cont.)

DESIGN PROCEDURE BASED on CHART for FOOTINGS on SAND

After the dimensions of each of the smaller footings have been determined
on the basis of the soil pressure selected for the largest footing, Fig. 19.3 is
entered with the width B and the approximate value of Df / B of each of the
smaller footings to check whether the allowable soil pressure for the footing
may be governed by the bearing capacity; i.e., whether the value of B
corresponds to the left-hand rising branch of the design curve. If it does the
footing must be reproportioned for the for the smaller pressure.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand
 FOOTINGS with ECCENTRIC LOADING

Beneath retaining walls and some other types of structures subjected to

lateral loads, the calculation distribution of pressure against the base may be
triangular (Fig. 19.7). The soil pressure at the toes is then twice the average
pressure.
Fig. 19.7. Diagram
illustrating method for
estimating allowable soil
pressure beneath toe of
eccentrically loaded
footing.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Footings on Sand
(cont.) FOOTINGS with ECCENTRIC LOADING

However, inasmuch as relatively high pressures act over only part of the
base, the allowable soil pressure can be estimated on the assumption that the
effective with B of the footing is less than the real with b.

Fig. 19.7. Diagram

illustrating method for
estimating allowable soil
pressure beneath toe of
eccentrically loaded
footing.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 DP 19.3
Rafts on Sand
SOIL PRESSURE

Because of the larger size of rafts compared to that of footings, the factor of
safety against a bearing-capacity failure of the underlying sand is always very
great. With increasing width of the raft or increasing relative density of the
sand, the ultimate bearing capacity increases rapidly. Hence, the danger with a
large raft may break into a sand foundation is too remote to require
consideration.

On account of the larger size of rafts, the stresses in the underlying sand
are likely to be relatively high to considerable depth. Therefore, the net soil
pressure at the base of the raft is:
 
= Eq. 19.6

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Rafts on Sand

 
= Eq. 19.6

Where Q = total weight of the structure plus live load

A = base area of raft
qb = gross soil pressure or contact pressure at the base of the raft.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 DP 19.4
Piers on Sand
CONDITIONS for USE of PIERS

Piers may be established on a bed of dense sand at a considerable depth

below the ground surface if the overlying materials are too soft or compressible
for the support of the structure or if they may be removed by scour. In these
respects, the conditions under which pier foundations are appropriate are
similar to those who piles(Art.19.5),and the choice between piers or piles
depends primarily on economy and on certain details that influence the
construction procedure. For example, if the overlaying material contains ample,
if the overlaying material contains organic deposits that include trunks of trees,
or if there are likely to be numerous large boulders above the bearing stratum,
it may not be possible to drive piles to the necessary depth. Under these
conditions, a pier foundation may be indicated. On the other hand, the
excavation for a pier is likely to lead to some loosening of the sand deposit on
which the structure is to rest, whereas driving piles into the sand tends to
compact the bearing stratum. Because of these conditions, a pile foundation
may be preferable.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Piers on Sand
BEARING CAPACITY and SETTLEMENT OF PIERS

The ultimate bearing capacity of piers exceeds that calculated on the basis
of eq.19.2 because the shearing resistance along the surface bd through the
surcharge(Fig.19.4)is no longer negligible, as assumed in the derivation of eq.
19.2. However, if the material above the level of the base of the piers is weak or
compressible, the increase in bearing capacity may be small. Moreover, if there
is a possibility that the surrounding material may even occasionally be
removed by scour, its beneficial influence must be neglected. Therefore, in
general, it is conservative and justifiable to determine the safe bearing capacity
by means of eq. 19.2 with an appropriate factor of safety. In many instances the
weight of a concrete pier itself is a large fraction of the total load transferred by
the pier to the sand, but the settlement that occurs before the pier is completed
may be of no significance. The bases of tall pier shafts supporting bridge
spans, for example, may be allowed to settle appreciably, while the concrete of
the shafts is being placed, with no detrimental effects.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Piers on Sand
BEARING CAPACITY and SETTLEMENT OF PIERS

Under these circumstances the weight of the pier can be subtracted from
the total net load before the base area is determined by the procedures
described in the preceding paragraph. The requirements for an adequate factor
of safety, however, must be satisfied for the total net load, including the weight
of the pier.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 DP 19.5
Piles on Sand
USE OF PILES IN SAND

1. Piles may be driven through soft or compressible materials into a layer of

dense sand to which they may transfer the weight of structure.

2. They may be driven into loose sand to compact it and increase its
bearing capacity.

3. They may be driven into a bed sand to establish the foundation below
the greatest depth to which the sand may be removed by scour.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Piles on Sand
PILES DRIVEN TO BEARING IN DENSE SAND

When the material directly beneath foundation level is too compressible or

unstable to support the foundation, he weight of the structure should, if
possible, be transferred to a more suitable stratum at a lower level. If this
stratum consists of sand, piles are often driven through the soft materials and
far enough into the sand to develop adequate carrying capacity. If the sand is
moderately loose, the piles may be have to be driven into it for a considerable
distance. If it is fairly dense, it may not be possible to obtain more than a few
feet of penetration. In either event, the support provided to the piles by the sand
is derived partly from the resistance of the point to further penetration and
partly from skin friction between the lower part of the piles and the sand.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Piles on Sand
(cont.)

PILES DRIVEN TO BEARING IN DENSE SAND

In particular, if part of the dynamic resistance of a single pile is developed

in the overlying soft layers, this resistance should not mislead the engineer into
believing that the bearing capacity of the pile under static load in the foundation
will be as great as the load-test value.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Piles on Sand
COMPACTION PILES

Driving piles into a bed of loose sand compacts the materials, partly
because of the decrease in void ratio necessary to compensate for the
compacting effect of the vibrations produced by pile driving. Once the piles are
driven, the settlements of the structure are approximately the same as those
estimated according to the procedures described for footings and rafts on
relatively dense sand.

Inasmuch as the purpose of compaction piles is merely to increase the

density of the sand, the structural strength of the piles themselves is of little
consequence.

The length of compaction piles is also difficult to predict. It decreases

markedly with increasing taper. Piles of 20- to 30- ton capacity, having a taper
of 1 in. in 2.5 ft. rarely penetrate more than 25 ft even in loose sand.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Piles on Sand
PILES IN VERY FINE SAND AND SILT

In the foregoing discussions it has been assumed that the sand into or
through which the piles are driven is previous enough to permit dissipation of
the pore pressures due to driving almost as rapidly as they develop. This
condition is not satisfied in fine sand and silts. The consequences depend on
whether the soil loose or dense. As successive piles are driven into such soils
in a loose state, the pore pressures accumulate, reduce the effective stresses
between the particles, and correspondingly reduce the shearing resistance of
the soil. If the pore pressures become large enough, the soil is transformed into
a viscous liquid in which previously driven piles are readily displaced laterally
and upward. Timber or hollow-shell may in extreme cases actually float. Such
behavior is especially undesirable if the piles are intended to derive their
support from an underlying bearing stratum.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Piles on Sand

UPLIFT RESISTANCE OF PILES IN THE SAND

The resistance to uplift of a pile driven into a sand depends on the relative
density of the sand, the length, diameter, and taper of the pile, the use or
absence of jetting, and several other factors. For this reason realiable values of
the uplift resistance can be obtained only by means of load tests.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 DP 19.6
Excavation on Sand

SAND ABOVE WATER TABLE

No construction problems of consequence are encouraged in making

excavations for footing or raft foundations in sand above water table

LARGE EXCAVATIONS BELOW WATER TABLE

If excavations for a basement or for a establishment of a foundation must

extend below water table in sand, the water level must be lowered. This may be
done either by pumping the water out of the excavation itself, or by predrainage
of the site.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 Excavation on Sand
ESTABLISHMENT OF PIERS BELOW WATER TABLE

Piers may be carried below water level in open shafts or by means of

caissons. Excavation of an open shaft through sand below water table may
often be accomplished from pumping from sumps if the sand is of medium to
high density. However, the sand is likely to be loosened and, consequently, its
bearing capacity impaired. Use of well points or deep wells before excavation is
usually preferable.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 DP 19.7
EFFECTS OF VIBRATIONS
IMPORTANCE

Vibrations constitute the most effective means for compacting deposits of

loose sand. By the same token, they constitute one of the most serious causes
of excessive settlement of foundations located on loose sands.

COMPACTION

If the relative density of a deposit of sand is too low for the establishment of
a raft or footing foundation, it may be increased by several means. One of
these is the driving of compaction piles. Another is the use of the patented
method known as the vibroflotation process.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 EFFECTS OF VIBRATIONS
Vibroflotation process:

In this method, a heavy steel capsule containing an internal vibrator is lowered into
the deposit of sand. At the same time, powerful jets of water are forced into the sand
beneath the capsule. Under the combined action of jetting and vibration the device sinks
rapidly and creates a crater in the ground surface. As the crater develops, it is filled with
sand. Compaction to the depth of penetration for a diameter of 6 to 8 ft is generally quite
satisfactory. The procedure may, under some circumstances, be less expensive than
driving piles. It is most effective in clean medium to coarse sands, but is not an effective
in silty sands or silts.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 EFFECTS OF VIBRATIONS
SETTLEMENT

Many types of machines subject the subsoil to periodic vibrations; these

include air compressors, diesel engines for production of electric power, and
turbo generators. The amplitude of the vibrations and the accompanying
settlement of the foundation for such a machine depend for a given installation
on the frequency. Near a critical frequency the amplitudes may be greatly
reinforced by a phenomenon related to resonance. Hence, especially if the
subsoil consists of loose sand, a resonant condition must be avoided if
possible.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 EFFECTS OF VIBRATIONS
(cont.)

SETTLEMENT

Repeated vibrations or impact at frequencies other than in the resonant

range may also eventually produce large cumulative settlements, even
onsands of moderately high relative density. Moreover, settlements are likely to
be greater if the ground water table is high.

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt

 THE END
THANK YOU

Foundations on Sand and Nonplastic Silt