I.

INTRODUCTION

This document presents the procedures for calculating the elastic and
consolidation settlements of soil layers under superimposed loadings.
Settlements occur due to an increase in stress caused by the construction of
foundation or other loads that compresses the soil. The compression is
caused by (a) deformation of soil properties, (b) relocation of soil properties,
and (c) expulsion of water or air from the void spaces. Soil settlement can be
generalized into three categories: 1) Elastic settlement, or immediate
settlement, which is caused by elastic deformation of dry soil and of moist
and saturated soils without any change in the moisture content; 2) Primary
consolidation settlement, which is a result of a volume change in saturated
cohesive soils because of the water that occupies the void spaces; and 3)
Secondary consolidation settlement, which occurs after the dissipation of
excess pore water pressure and is a result of the plastic adjustment of soil
fabrics.

II. METHODOLOGY

Total Settlement
The total settlement of a foundation is given as

S T =S c + S s + Se (2.1)

where:
ST = total settlement
Sc = primary consolidation settlement
Ss = secondary consolidation settlement
Se = elastic settlement

Basic Settlement Formula

'
H (ee ) (2.2)
H=
1+e

where:
H = thickness of stratum
e = initial void ratio of soil
'
e = final void ratio of soil

Elastic or Immediate Settlement

Settlement of granular soils can be estimated from the SPT-N value. The
estimate is based on the size and type of foundation.
 Table II-1. Settlements in granular soils (Meyerhof, 1965)

where:
N =
average SPT-N value of soil layer over depth
B = width of footing
q = applied foundation pressure

Consolidation of Soil
When a saturated soil is subjected to a stress increase the pore water
pressure increases suddenly. The entire load is taken up by the water because
of its incompressibility property.

For sandy soils, the consolidation settlement occurs simultaneously with the
elastic settlement because of rapid drainage. For clayey layers, the
consolidation settlement occurs long after the elastic settlement because of
the low hydraulic conductivity of clay. The settlement caused by consolidation
in clay may be several times greater than the elastic settlement.

From consolidation tests, clay can be defined as:

1. Normally consolidated the present effective overburden pressure is the
maximum pressure that the soil was subjected to in the past.
2. Overconsolidated present effective overburden pressure is less than
which the soil experienced in the past. Preconsolidation pressure is the
maximum effective past pressure.

Primary Consolidation Settlement

A type of settlement resulting from volume change in saturated cohesive soils
because of the water that occupies the void spaces.

For normally consolidated clay, the slope of the consolidation curve is

approximately equal to that of the virgin consolidation curve and is referred to

as the compression index,

C c . The formula is given by

'0 + '
Sc=
Cc H
1+e 0
log
( '0 ) (2.3)

where:
 Cc = compression index
H = thickness of stratum
e0 = initial void ratio
'
0 = initial vertical effective pressure

' = change in pressure

For overconsolidated clay, the slope of the consolidation curve is

approximately equal to that of the laboratory rebound curve and is referred to

as the swell index,

Cs .

If '0 + ' 'c ,

(2.4)
' '

Sc=
Cs H
1+ e 0
log
(
+
0

'0 )
' ' '
If 0 + > c ,
(2.5)
' C H ' + '
C H
( )
S c = s log 'c + c log 0 '
1+ e 0 0 1+e 0 c ( )
where:
Cs = swell index

'c = preconsolidation pressure

Compression Index,
Cc

Skempton (1944):
C c =0.009(10) (2.6)

where:
= liquid limit of soil

Swell Index,
Cs
(2.7)
1 1
C s Cc
5 10
 Secondary Consolidation Settlement
A type of settlement resulting from the plastic adjustment of soil fabrics and
which occurs after the dissipation of excess pore water pressure.

The slope of the consolidation curve, called the secondary compression index,
is practically a straight line and is defined as
e (2.8)
C =
t
()
log 2
t1

The magnitude of the secondary settlement is given by

t2
S c =C ' H log ()
t1
(2.9)

C
C' = (2.10
1+e p
)
where:
C = secondary compression index
ep = void ratio at the end of primary consolidation
t1 = time for completion of primary settlement
t2 = time after completion of primary settlement where settlement is
required
H = thickness of clay layer

III. RESULTS AND COMPUTATIONS

Given the following data for each borehole, calculate the settlement caused
by consolidation.
Cc eo Po (kPa) P (kPa) H (m)
BH-1 s-1 0.405 2.65 90 30 12
BH-1 s-2 0.405 3.18 90 30 12

From EQ (2.3),
 ' '

H=
Cc H
1+e 0 ( +
log 0 '
0 )
( 0.405)(12) 90+ 30
H BH 1=
1+2.65
log ( 90 )
=0.166 m

( 0.405)(12) 90+ 30
H BH 2=
1+3.18
log ( 90 )
=0.145 m

0.166+ 0.145
Average Total Settlement= =0.156 m
2

IV. REFERENCES
Das, Braja (2011). Principles of Foundation Engineering 7 th Edition.

Bowles, Joseph E. (1982). Foundation Analysis and Design. McGraw-Hill, Inc.

Peck, R., Hanson, W., Thornburn, T. (1953). Foundation Engineering (2 nd Ed).

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Look, Burt G. (2007). Handbook of Geotechnical Investigation and Design

Tables. Taylor & Francis Group, London, UK.