ABSTRACT
The experience gained in the construction and operation of many buildings and structures has shown that non-uniform settlement can sometimes occur under certain engineering and geological conditions. Weak soils encompass saturated highly compressible soil which loose their strength as a result of external loading, so that their shear resistance decreases and compressibility increases. In foundation design one must first of all know the subsidence kind of soil and the depth susceptible to subsidence under pressures arising in the foundation. The use of the above mentioned measures often requires considerable expenditures. Therefore in the construction of small buildings without hydraulic facilities it sometimes becomes appropriate to prevent saturation of loessial soils in the foundation. Since the soil of seasonally swelling layers moves upwards relative to an immobile footing, one must consider the tangential forces arising at the shafts of the footings and piles.
