Geotechnical

Engineering Research Laboratory One University Avenue Lowell, Massachusetts 01854 Tel: (978) 9342621 Fax: (978) 9343052 email: Edward_Hajduk@uml.edu web site: http://faculty.uml.edu/ehajduk

Edward L. Hajduk, D.Eng, PE Lecturer

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

14.330 SOIL MECHANICS Assignment #6: Consolidation Settlement.

PROBLEM #1: Boring B-1 and Soil Unit Weight Summary (see Assignment Handout). 6 ft of fill (SP or SM) to the top of the site with a unit weight of 117 pcf. 1D Consolidation Test Results (see Assignment Handout). REQUIRED: Calculate the total consolidation settlement in the CL layers due to the addition of the 5 ft of fill. SOLUTION: Determine in-situ effective stresses with depth. Only need to calculate to 2nd CL Layer. See Figure A.

Figure A. Total, Effective, and Pore Water Pressures with Depth.

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Determine due to Planned Fill: = (Height of Planned Fill)(fill) = (6 ft)(117 pcf) = 702 psf = 700 psf (rounded). Calculate Change in Void Ratio (e) or Vertical Strain (v) due to Planned Fill: For 1st CL layer: 'vo @ middle of layer = 1105 psf (see Figure A). = 700 psf. 'vf = 1805 psf. See Figure B for e determination. For 2nd CL layer: 'vo @ middle of layer = 2050 psf (see Figure A). = 700 psf. 'vf = 2750 psf. See Figure B for v determination. Settlement due to Primary Consolidation = Sp = Hv = H(e/1+eo) Determine e and v from Figure B. For 1st CL Layer: Sp = H(e/1+eo) = 15ft(0.015/(1+0.63)) = 0.138ft = 1.66 inches For 2nd CL Layer: Sp = H(v) = 15ft(0.008) = 0.12ft = 1.44 inches Sp,total = Sp,Layer1 + Sp,Layer2 = 1.66 inches + 1.44 inches = 3.1 inches = 3 inches Sp,total = 3 inches PROBLEM #2: GIVEN: Footings shown in Figure 3. Working loads of 432 kips for the columns and 10 kips per linear foot for the wall loads. Total settlements due to primary consolidation cannot be more than 1 inch, and differential settlement (i.e. the settlement difference between the column and wall footings) cannot be more than inch. COLUMN FTG
NEW GND SURFACE

WALL FTG

4 ft 4 ft 12 ft x 12 ft

6 ft

Figure 3. Planned Shallow Foundation Dimensions for 14.330 Project Site #2.
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Figure B. e and v Determinations from 1D Consolidation Test Data.

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PROBLEM 2 (continued) REQUIRED: Calculate the consolidation settlement for these proposed footings. Evaluate if the settlement criteria are met or exceeded. SOLUTION: Assume that consolidation from 6 ft of fill has occurred. Therefore, 'vo = 'vf from Problem #1. The new soil profile and total stress, pore pressure, and effective stress calculations are shown in Figure C.

Figure C. Total, Effective, and Pore Water Pressures with 'vo and 'f vs. Depth. Determine due to footings. The 2:1 Method is used in this solution for the column footing and Boussinesq is used for the strip footing. Note the following: 1. The 2nd CL layer is 32ft (2.67B) from the bottom of the column footing and 30ft (7.5B) from the bottom of the strip footing. Therefore, no significant stress (i.e.

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 will be in this layer due to either footing. Therefore, no significant settlement will occur in the 2nd CL layer due to the column (or strip) footing. The upper CL layer is divided into three (3) sub layers to calculate settlement. These sub layers in depth from the ground surface are from (1) 16-18ft, (2) 18-22ft, and (3) 2131ft. The average 'vo, and 'vf were calculated for these layers (rounded to the nearest 5 psf) for the column footing are presented in Figure C. Table A summaries the calculations for the change in stress due to the column footing. Table A. ' Calculations for the Strip Footing. Sub Layer 1 2 3 Depth1 (ft) 11 14 20 /q2 0.25 0.175 0.13 '3 (psf) 625 440 325

NOTES: 1. Depth below strip footing. 2. See Boussinesq Chart in Lecture Notes. 3. Calculated from q = 2,500 psf.

Calculate Change in Void Ratio (e) due to column and strip loading: For the column footing: Layer 1: 'vo @ middle of layer = 1520 psf (see Figure D). 'vf = 2335 psf. See Figure E for e determination. Layer 2: 'vo @ middle of layer = 1625 psf (see Figure D). 'vf = 2290 psf. See Figure E for e determination. Layer 3: 'vo @ middle of layer = 1390 psf (see Figure D). 'vf = 2325 psf. See Figure E for e determination. For the strip footing: Layer 1: 'vo @ middle of layer = 1520 psf (see Figure D). 'vf = 2145 psf. See Figure F for e determination. Layer 2: 'vo @ middle of layer = 1625 psf (see Figure D). 'vf = 2065 psf. See Figure F for e determination. Layer 3: 'vo @ middle of layer = 1390 psf (see Figure D). 'vf = 1715 psf. See Figure F for e determination.

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Figure E. e Determinations from 1D Consolidation Test Data (Column Footing).

Figure F. e Determinations from 1D Consolidation Test Data (Strip Footing).

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Settlement due to Primary Consolidation = Sp = H(e/1+eo) For the Column Footing: For Layer 1: Sp = H(e/1+eo) = 2ft(0.015/(1+0.63)) = 0.018ft = 0.22 inches For Layer 2: Sp = H(e/1+eo) = 5ft(0.012/(1+0.63)) = 0.034ft = 0.44 inches For Layer 3: Sp = H(e/1+eo) = 8ft(0.008/(1+0.63)) = 0.039ft = 0.47 inches Sp,column = Sp,Layer1 + Sp,Layer2 + Sp,Layer3 = 0.22 inches + 0.44 inches = 0.47 inches = 1.13 inches = 1 inches For the Strip Footing: For Layer 1: Sp = H(e/1+eo) = 2ft(0.013/(1+0.63)) = 0.016ft = 0.19 inches For Layer 2: Sp = H(e/1+eo) = 5ft(0.010/(1+0.63)) = 0.031ft = 0.37 inches For Layer 3: Sp = H(e/1+eo) = 8ft(0.006/(1+0.63)) = 0.029ft = 0.35 inches Sp,strip = Sp,Layer1 + Sp,Layer2 + Sp,Layer3 = 0.19 inches + 0.37 inches = 0.35 inches = 0.91 inches = 1 inch Differential Settlement = Sp,column Sp,strip = inches. Therefore, Settlement Criteria are EXCEEDED (Sp,column = 1 inches). PROBLEM #3: What affect (if any) would decreasing the column footing depth have on the consolidation settlement? What affect (if any) would increasing the column footing depth have on the consolidation settlement? Explain you answer using the relevant concepts in sufficient detail that a non-engineer can understand your answer. SOLUTION: Decreasing Column Footing Depth results in decreased in CL layers, thereby less settlement would occur. Simplified: Higher footing, less stress, less settlement. Increasing Column Footing Depth results in increased in CL layers, thereby more settlement would occur. Simplified: Lower footing, increased stress, more settlement.

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