Soil Mechanics

Settlement Calculation

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Contents of this chapter : CHAPITRE 5. 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.4.1 5.4.2 5.4.3 5.4.4 5.4.5 SETTLEMENT CALCULATION......................................................................1

SETTLEMENT OF A SINGLE INFINITE LAYER .................................................................1 EXAMPLE ..................................................................................................................2 EXERCISE .................................................................................................................5 SETTLEMENT UNDER UNIFORMLY LOADED AREAS ......................................................5 STRESSES UNDER CIRCULAR UNIFORM LOADING ........................................................5 STRESSES UNDER RECTANGULAR UNIFORM LOADING .................................................7 EXERCISES .............................................................................................................13 STRESSES UNDER LOADS OF ARBITRARY SHAPE ........................................................13 EXERCISE ...............................................................................................................15

Chapitre 5.
5.1

Settlement Calculation

Settlement of a Single Infinite Layer

The settlement h of a single relatively thin layer, shown in Fig. 1, can be calculated once the change in voids ratio is known.

h
h

Fig. 1 Settlement of a single layer We have seen in the previous chapter that :

h e f ei = h 1 + ei
e f ei 1 + ei

where ei and ef are the initial and final voids ratio. Thus h =

the settlement of a thicker layer can be calculated by dividing the layer into a number of sub layers as shown in Fig. 2. This is necessary because both the initial and final effective stress vary with depth as do the voids ratio.

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sub-layer 1 sub-layer 2 . sub-layer n

Fig. 2 Soil profile divided into a number of sub-layers The settlement of the soil layer is calculated by calculating the settlement of the individual sub-layers and adding them. In doing this it is assumed that the voids ratio and the effective stress are constant throughout the sub-layer and equal to their values at the centre of the sublayer.

thus For sub layer k so that Total Setttlement htot = hk = ek hk 1 + ei

n 1

hk

= 1

ek hk 1 + ei

5.2

Example

A soil deposit, shown in Fig. 3 consists of 5 m of gravel overlaying 8 m of clay. Initially the water table is 2 m below the surface of the gravel. Calculate the settlement if the water table rises to the surface of the gravel slowly over a period of time and surface loading induces an increase of total stress of 100 kN/m at the point A and 60 kN/m at the point B. The preconsolidation stress at A is 120 kN/m, and the deposit is normally consolidated at B. The gravel has a saturated bulk unit weight of 22 kN/m3 and a dry unit weight of 18 kN/m3 and is relatively incompressible when compared to the clay. The voids ratio of the clay is 0.8 and the skeletal particles have a specific gravity of 2.7. The compression index of the clay is 0.2 and the recompression index is 0.05. In solving this problem it will be assumed that the gravel is far less compressible than the clay and thus that the settlement of the gravel can be neglected. The settlement of the clay layer will be calculated by dividing it into two sub-layers

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Settlement Calculation

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Gravel

2m

Water table

5m 4m 4m

A Clay B
Fig. 3 Layered soil deposit

In order to commence the calculations it is first necessary to calculate the unit weight of the clay, this is shown schematically in Fig. 4.

Voids

Vv= e*Vs =0.8 m3

Wv

= = = =

w * Vv 8. kN

Skeletal material

Vs=1 m3

Ws

Vs * w * G s 27. kN

Distribution of Volume

Distribution of Weight

Fig. 4 Determination of Saturated Unit Weight

sat =

Ww + Ws 8 + 27 = = 19.44 kN / m3 Vv + Vs 0.8 + 1

Initial State at A: AI Total stress Pore water pressure Effective stress zz = 2 18 + 3 22 + 2 19.44 = 140.89 kN/m uw = 5 10 kN/m = 50 kN/m zz = zz - uw = 140.89 - 50 = 90.89 kN/m

Notice the initial effective stress is less than pc =120 kN/m thus the clay is initially overconsolidated. Final State at A: AF Total stress Pore water pressure zz = 100 + 2 22 + 3 22 + 2 19.44 = 248.89 kN/m uw = 7 10 kN/m = 70 kN/m

Soil Mechanics

Settlement Calculation zz = zz - uw = 248.89 - 70 = 178.89 kN/m

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Effective stress

Slope : -Cc

AI
Slope : -Cr

AF

91

'pc=120 179 ' (Log scale)

Fig. 5 Initial and final states AI and AF Notice that the final effective stress exceeds the initial preconsolidation stress and thus the clay moves from being initially over-consolidated to finally normally consolidated. Settlement of the first sub-layer The soil in the first sub layer moves from being over-consolidated to normally consolidated and so the calculation of the change in voids ratio must be made in two stages. Stage 1 Soil over-consolidated ( < pc (initial)) e1 = - Cr log10(pc (initial)/I) Stage 2 Soil normally consolidated ( = pc) e2 = - Cc log10(F/pc (initial)) now
h = = = hk ek 1 + ei

4 1 2 0 .0 0 1 7 8 .8 9 [ 0 .0 5 lo g 1 0 ( ) + 0 .2 lo g 1 0 ( )] 1 .8 9 0 .8 9 1 2 0 .0 0 0 .0 9 m

Initial State at B Total stress Pore water pressure Effective stress Final State at B Total stress zz = 60 + 2 22 + 3 22 + 6 19.44 = 286.67 kN/m zz = 218 + 3 22 + 6 19.44 = 218.67 kN/m uw = 9 10 kN/m = 90 kN/m zz = zz - uw = 218.67 - 90 = 128.67 kN/m

Soil Mechanics

Settlement Calculation uw = 11 10 kN/m = 110 kN/m zz = zz - uw = 286.67 - 110 = 176.67 kN/m

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Pore water pressure Effective stress

Settlement of the second sub-layer The soil in the second is normally consolidated and thus: e2 = - Cc log10(F/I) now

1+ e

hk ek
i

4 176.67 0.2 log10 ( ). 1.8 128.67 = 0.061 m =

Total Settlement Total settlement = 0.09 + 0.061 m = 0.151m 5.3 Exercise 1. The construction of a new embankment induces a uniform load of 18 kN/m on the top of a 12 m thick layer of saturated clay, whose characteristics are: bulk unit weight = 16 kN/m ; voids ratio eo = 1,8 ; compression index Cc = 0,7. The water table is at the initial ground level (top of the clay layer). Assuming that the clay is normally consolidated, estimate the settlement of the clay after realization of the embankment. Compare results obtained by dividing the clay layer in 1, 2 or 4 sub-layers. 5.4 Settlement under Uniformly Loaded Areas

The calculation of settlement depends upon knowledge of the initial and final effective stress within each sub layer of the deposit. The initial effective stress state can be determined, from knowledge of the bulk unit weight and the position of the water table. The increase in total stress can be estimated using the theory of elasticity. (Note the soil is in general not really elastic however in the working stress range this assumption provides reasonably accurate estimates of the stress increases due to the applied loads) 5.4.1 Stresses under Circular Uniform Loading A circular area of diameter 5 m, subjected to an average applied stress of 100 kN/m is shown in Fig.6.

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5m p=100 kN/m

r 2m A 5m

z B

Fig. 6 Circular loaded area on a deep elastic layer (a) Calculate the increase in vertical stress at point A

There is a simple analytic expression for points on the centre line under a circular load:

zz
where

= p(1 [1 +

a2 z
2

] 3 / 2 )

p = the surface stress = 100 kN/m a = the radius of the loaded area = 2.5m z = the depth of interest = 2m

zz = 100 (1 [1 + (1.25)2 ]3/ 2 ) = 75.6 kN / m

(b) calculate the increase in vertical stress at point B In this case there is no simple analytic expression and the solution must be found by using the influence charts given in Figure 7. Note that this chart can also be used for points on the centre line for which r = 0. Now z/a = 2/2.5 = 0.8 r/a = 5/2.5 = 2 using the chart zz/p = 0.03 and so zz = 3.0 kN/m

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I = 10-3 0 2 5 4 z/a 6 6 7 8 9 8 10 10 4 10-2

zz p 10-1 1.25 2.0 2.5 3 1.5 1.00 0.0 1

Values on curves are values of r/a

Fig. 7 Influence factors for a uniformly loaded circular area of radius a

Fig.7 Influence Factors for a Uniformly Loaded Circular Area of radius a

5.4.2 Stresses under Rectangular Uniform Loading

L Plan (top view) Uniformly distributed surface stress p z Elevation (side view) Point immediately beneath one of the rectangles corners B

Fig. 8 Rectangular uniform loading on a deep elastic layer Many loads which occur in practice are applied to foundations that may be considered to consist of a number of rectangular regions. It is thus of interest to be able to calculate the vertical stress increases due to a uniformly distributed load acting on a rectangular loaded area. This is shown schematically in Fig. 8. The vertical stress change at a distance z below one of the corners of the rectangular load may be determined from a chart which is given in the data sheets and is reproduced in Fig. 9

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0.25

3.0

2.0 1.0 0.8

0.20 Note m & n are interchangeable

I =

zz q 0.10

0.15

0.6 0.4

0.05

0.2

0.00 0.01 0.1 (n=L/z) 1

m=B/z=0.0 10

Fig. 9 Influence factors for uniformly loaded rectangular areas Fig. 9 Influence factors for a uniformly loaded rectangular area This chart can be used to determine the value of stress increase at any point in an elastic layer, the method for doing this is illustrated below. Calculation of Stress below an interior point of the loaded area This situation is shown schematically in Fig.10. The stress change is required at a depth z below point O. The first step in using the influence charts is to break the rectangular loading up into a number of components each having a corner at O, this is relatively simple as can be seen in Fig.(10) It thus follows that at the point of interest, the stress increase zz(ABCD) is given by:

zz (ABCD) = zz (OXAY ) + zz (OYBZ ) + zz (0ZCT ) + zz (OTDX )

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D X

C
Plan (top view)

O Z

Elevation (side view)

O Point of interest
Fig. 10 stress increase at a point below a loaded rectangular region Example Suppose we wish to evaluate the increase in stress at a depth of 2m below the point O due to the rectangular loading shown in shown in Fig. 11, when the applied stress over ABCD is 100 kN/m.

D X

T O

C Z 2m 3m

A 3m

Y 2m

Fig. 11 Dimensions of rectangular loaded area For rectangular loading OZCT m = L/z =1 n = B/z =1 thus I = 0.175 and so zz = p I = 100 0.175 = 17.5 kN/m For rectangular loading OTDX m = L/z = 1.5 n = B/z = 1 thus I = 0.194
A 3m Y 2m B D X T O C Z 2m 3m A 3m Y 2m B D X T O C Z 2m 3m

(9a)

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and so zz = p I = 100 0.195 = 19.4 kN/m For rectangular loading OXAY m = L/z = 1.5 n = B/z = 1.5 thus I = 0.216 and so zz = p I = 100 0.216 = 21.6 kN/m For rectangular loading OYBZ m = L/z = 1.5 n = B/z = 1 thus I = 0.194 and so zz = p I = 100 0.194 = 19.4 kN/m Thus the increase in stress zz = 17.5 + 19.4 + 21.6 + 19.4 = 78.9 kN/m This must of course be added to the existing stress state prior to loading to obtain the actual stress zz. Calculation of stress below a point outside the loaded area The stress increase at a point vertically below a point O which is outside the loaded area can also be found using the influence charts shown in Fig. 9.
A 3m Y 2m B D X T O C Z 2m 3m D X T O C Z 2m 3m A 3m Y 2m B

X D

Z C

O T

Fig. 12 Rectangular loaded area ABCD and point of interest O

The method is illustrated in Fig. 13. This is achieved by considering the stress q acting on ABCD to consist of the following: 1. A stress +q acting over OXAY 2. A stress +q acting over OZCT 3. A stress -q acting over OZBY

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4. A stress -q acting over OXDT

X (q) D (q) A Stage 1 X (0) D (0)

X (0) D (0) A Stage 2

(q) C (q) B
T

(q) C (0) B
T

X D (-q)

(-q) C (-q) A
T

(-q)

(0) B Stage 4

(0)

A Stage 3

Fig. 13 Decomposition of loading over a rectangular area (for stress at external point) It thus follows that at the point O, the stress increase zz(ABCD) is given by:

zz (ABCD) = zz (OXAY ) zz (OYBZ ) + zz (OZCT ) zz (OTDX )

and thus

zz ( ABCD) = q[I (OXAY) I (OYBZ) + I (0 ZCT ) I (OTDX )]

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Example

1m X Z O 1m D C T

2m A 10m
Fig. 14 Dimensions of rectangular loaded area

Suppose the rectangular area ABCD, shown in Fig. 14 is subjected to a surface stress of 100 kN/m AND it is required to calculate the vertical stress increase at a point 1.5m below the point O. For rectangular loading OZCT m = L/z = 0.67 n = B/z = 0.67 thus I = 0.121 and so zz = p I = + 100 0.121 = +12.1 kN/m For rectangular loading OXDT m = L/z = 7.67 n = B/z = 0.67 thus I = 0.167 and so zz = p I = -100 0.167 = -16.7 kN/m For rectangular loading OXAY m = L/z = 7.67 n = B/z = 2.00 thus I = 0.240 and so zz = p I = + 100 0.240 = + 24.0kN/m

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For rectangular loading OZBY m = L/z = 2 n = B/z = 0.67 thus I = 0.164 and so zz = p I = -100 0.164 = -16.4 kN/m Thus the increase in stress zz = 12.1 - 16.7 + 24.0 + -16.4=3.0 kN/m 5.4.3 Exercises 1. Using the graphed relation between e and from Chapter 4 - Exercise 1, calculate the maximum differential settlement of a flexible rectangular foundation with dimensions 3 m x 6 m located on the surface of a 4.5 m layer of the clay. The stress on the foundation is 500 kPa. The clay overlies an incompressible stratum. For the purpose of calculation, divide the clay into three layers, each 1.5 m thick. (Use influence curves for stresses beneath corners of rectangles). The water table is 1 m below the surface and the saturated unit weight of the soil is 17 kN/m3. It may be assumed that the clay remains fully saturated above the water table. 2. A soil deposit consists of 2 m of gravel overlaying an 8 m thick deposit of an overconsolidated clay overlaying rigid permeable sandstone. The gravel has a unit weight of 22 kN/m3 when saturated and a unit weight of 18 kN/m3 when dry. The properties of the clay are uniform throughout the layer and indicated below: Void Ratio Specific Gravity Pre-consolidation pressure Compression Index Recompression Index Consolidation coefficient e Gs pc Cc cv 1.2 2.7 70 kPa 0.1 Cr 0.02 0.5 m2/year

Calculate the settlement under the centre of a square tank of side 5 m exerting an average pressure of 175 kPa constructed on the ground surface after a long period of time. Assume that initially the water table is at the surface of the gravel but that after construction it is lowered to the surface of the clay. The clay should be divided into two equal sublayers. 5.4.4 Stresses under loads of arbitrary shape Newmarks chart provides a graphical method for calculating the stress increase due to a uniformly loaded region, of arbitrary shape resting on a deep homogeneous isotropic elastic region. Newmarks chart is given as separate .doc file on the Moodle website and is reproduced in part in Fig 15. The procedure for its use is outlined below 1. The scale for this procedure is determined by the depth z at which the stress is to be evaluated, thus z is equal to the distance OQ shown on the chart.

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2. Draw the loaded area to scale so that the point of interest (more correctly its vertical projection on the surface) is at the center of the concentric circles, the orientation of the drawing does not matter 3. Count the number of squares (N) within the loaded area, if more than half the square is in, count the square, otherwise neglect it. 4. The vertical stress increase zz = N [scale factor(=0.001)] [surface stress (p)] The procedure is most easily illustrated by an example. Example Suppose a uniformly loaded circle of radius 2 m carries a uniform stress of 100 kN/m. It is required to calculate the vertical stress at a depth of 4 m below the edge of the circle. The loaded area is drawn on Newmarks chart to the appropriate scale (i.e. the length OQ is set to represent 4 m) as shown in Fig. 15. It is found that the number of squares, N = 194 and so the stress increase is found to be zz = 194 0.001 100 = 19.4 kN/m This result can also be checked using the influence charts for circular loading and it is then found that: z/a = 2, r/a = 1. zz /p = 0.2 and so zz = 20 kN/m

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INFLUENCE VALUE = 0.001

4m

Loaded Area

Fig 15 Newmarks Chart 5.4.5 Exercise Use the Newmark's influence chart given as separate .doc file on the Moodle website to find the vertical stresses caused by a flexible hexagonal shaped foundation with all sides 3 m long carrying a uniform load of 500 kN/m, at depths of 3 and 4.5 m beneath a corner of the foundation. Note : To be able to draw the complete loading area, it may be necessary to move the center of the chart to the left.