Foundation Engineering I

CE-325
Chapter 2: Compressibility of Soil

NUST Institute of Civil Engineering (NICE)

School of Civil & Env. Engineering (SCEE)

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 Compressibility of soil 2

• A stress increase caused by the construction of

foundations or other loads compresses soil layers.
• The compression is caused by
– Deformation of soil particles
– Relocation of soil particles
– Expulsion of water or air from void spaces.
• Soil settlement can be divided in three categories
– Immediate settlement (elastic settlement)
– Primary consolidation settlement
– Secondary consolidation settlement
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