Behavior of clays 9

Immediate settlement 10

• Immediate (elastic) settlement is caused by elastic

deformation of dry/moist/saturated soil without any
change in the moisture content.

• Immediate settlement calculations are generally

based on equations derived from theory of elasticity.
Contact pressure & settlement distribution 11

Flexible foundation

Elastic material

Sand
Contact pressure & settlement distribution 12

Rigid foundation

Elastic material

Sand
 13

Infinitely rigid foundation supported by a perfectly elastic material

Immediate settlement calculation 14

m1 = length of foundation
divided by the width of
foundation
Immediate settlement calculation 15
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Improved relationship for immediate settlement

• Mayne & Poulos (1999) recently presented an

improved relationship
• This relationship takes into account
– The rigidity of foundation
– The depth of embedment of foundation
– Increase in modulus of elasticity of soil with depth
– Location of rigid layers at limited depth

Mayne, P. W., Poulos, H. G. (1999) Approximate Displacement

Influence Factors for Elastic Shallow Foundations, ASCE
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering,
Vol. 125, No. 6, 453 – 460.
 Mayne and Poulos (1999) Method 18

First step is to determine equivalent diameter of a

rectangular foundation, which is

For circular foundation,

Mayne and Poulos (1999) Method 19
Mayne and Poulos (1999) Method 20
Influence factor IG 21
Influence factor IF 22
Influence factor IE 23
26
 Skempton and Bjerrum Method (1957) 28

According to Skempton and Bjerrum (1957), immediate settlement

(distortion settlement, or initial settlement) is cause by lateral
distortion of soil beneath the foundation as shown in Figure below.

Consolidation settlement, is caused by the change in volume of the

soil that results from change in the effective stress.

Foundation Design
Coduto P-224
Skempton and Bjerrum Method (1957) 29
Skempton and Bjerrum Method (1957) 30
Skempton and Bjerrum Method (1957) 31
Skempton and Bjerrum Method (1957) 32
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