ABSTRACT

The total settlement of a shallow foundation is the sum of the elastic settlement and the consolidation ­settlement of the soil supporting the foundation. The procedures for estimating the elastic settlement were treated. In one–dimensional consolidation tests, there is no lateral yield of the soil specimen and the ratio of the minor to major principal effective stresses, remains constant. A number of works have been published that compare the observed and the predicted settlements of various structures. The predicted settlements included the elastic settlements and the consolidation settlements. This technique has been used with success in many large construction projects. The chapter explains the fundamental concept of surcharge application for elimination of primary consolidation of compressible clay layers.