Settlement of Foundations On Sand and Gravel: J.B. Burland and M.C. Burbidget

S e t t l e m e n t of f o u n d a t i o n s on
sand and gravel
J . B. Burland* and M . C. Burbidget
After g r a d u a t i n g from the University of Witwatersrand and a year on the staff of that
University, J o h n Burland spent three years with Ove A r u p and Partners in L o n d o n . He
then spent three years at C a m b r i d g e University obtaining his P h D before joining the
Building Research Station. In 1972 he was a p p o i n t e d Head of the Geotechnics Division
and became Assistant Director of B R E in 1979 but within a year had been a p p o i n t e d
Professor of Soil Mechanics in the University of L o n d o n . In 1981 he was elected to the
Fellowship of Engineers a n d in 1983 he was a w a r d e d the degree of DSc(Eng). He is no
stranger to Scotland having been Visiting Professor to the D e p a r t m e n t of Civil
Engineering at the University of Strathclyde from 1973 to 1982. In addition to his
academic w o r k Professor Burland has advised on the geotechnical aspects of a n u m b e r of
major civil engineering w o r k s . He is the a u t h o r of n u m e r o u s papers o n Soil Mechanics
and Civil Engineering and has received medals a n d prizes from the Institutions of Civil
Engineers and Structural Engineers and from the British Geotechnical Society.
1. Introduction
N u m e r o u s m e t h o d s of predicting settlements of f o u n d a t i o n s o n s a n d s a n d
' g r a v e l s h a v e been p u b l i s h e d — m a n y m o r e m e t h o d s t h a n for clays. T h e r e a s o n
lies in t h e e x t r e m e d i f f i c u l t y o f o b t a i n i n g u n d i s t u r b e d s a m p l e s f o r t h e l a b o r a
tory d e t e r m i n a t i o n of compressibility u n d e r a p p r o p r i a t e c o n d i t i o n s of stress
a n d s t r e s s - h i s t o r y . H e n c e r e s o r t h a s b e e n m a d e t o t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f field in
situ tests such as the S P T , C o n e p e n e t r a t i o n test a n d plate l o a d i n g test a n d
m u c h of the literature h a s been devoted to s u c h i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s . T h i s extensive
l i t e r a t u r e will n o t b e r e v i e w e d h e r e a s it h a s b e e n a d e q u a t e l y c o v e r e d b y
S u t h e r l a n d (1974), S i m o n s a n d Menzies (1975) a n d N i x o n (1982).
T h e practical i m p o r t a n c e of the p r o b l e m w a s p e r h a p s p u t in perspective by
T e r z a g h i ( 1 9 5 6 ) w h e n h e s t a t e d t h a t all b u i l d i n g s r e s t i n g o n s a n d w h i c h w e r e
k n o w n t o h i m h a d s e t t l e d less t h a n 3 i n c h e s w h e r e a s t h e s e t t l e m e n t o f b u i l d i n g s
on clay f o u n d a t i o n s q u i t e often exceeded 20 inches. T h i s s t a t e m e n t p r o v i d e d
t h e i m p e t u s f o r t h e s t u d y d e s c r i b e d in t h i s p a p e r in w h i c h a l a r g e n u m b e r o f
case records of settlement on sands a n d gravels have been assembled (Burbidge
1982).
T h e e s s e n t i a l d e t a i l s o f m o s t o f t h e s e c a s e r e c o r d s a r e t a b u l a t e d in A p p e n d i x
A t o t h i s p a p e r a n d t h e a s s o c i a t e d r e f e r e n c e s a r e in A p p e n d i x B . T h e c a s e
r e c o r d n u m b e r i n g u s e d b y B u r b i d g e h a s b e e n r e t a i n e d for e a s e o f r e f e r e n c e .
•Imperial College of Science and Technology.

fE. J. Wilson, Consulting Engineering Geologist.
Downloaded by [ NEW YORK UNIVERSITY] on [18/02/17]. Copyright © ICE Publishing, all rights reserved.
6 J. B. B U R L A N D A N D M . C. B U R B I D G E
T h e p r i m e objective of the study was to check w h e t h e r the a b o v e s t a t e m e n t

o f T e r z a g h i ' s still h e l d t r u e a n d r e f e r e n c e t o A p p e n d i x A s h o w s t h a t , w i t h a
few e x c e p t i o n s , it d o e s f o r b u i l d i n g s . H o w e v e r s e t t l e m e n t s w e l l i n e x c e s s o f
75 m m h a v e b e e n r e c o r d e d for t a n k s a n d e m b a n k m e n t s o n very l o o s e s a n d s . I n
view of the small settlements usually experienced with s a n d s a n d gravels the
second objective of the study w a s to analyse the d a t a o n actual observations of
s e t t l e m e n t e m p l o y i n g a m i n i m u m o f i n t e r p r e t a t i o n t o s e e if a s i m p l e a n d u s e f u l
picture emerged. A preliminary study of this type w a s u n d e r t a k e n by B u r l a n d
et al. ( 1 9 7 7 ) a n d a s i m i l a r b u t d e t a i l e d a p p r o a c h is d e s c r i b e d h e r e .
T h e p i c t u r e t h a t h a s e m e r g e d f r o m t h e s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y s i s o f o v e r 2 0 0 c a s e s is
r e m a r k a b l y s i m p l e a n d g i v e s a r a n g e o f s e t t l e m e n t s w h i c h is g e n e r a l l y less t h a n
the range of predictions offered by the c u r r e n t c o m m o n l y accepted m e t h o d s . In
view of t h e r a t h e r detailed a n d lengthy p r e s e n t a t i o n required t o a d e q u a t e l y
d e s c r i b e t h e s t u d y t h e p a p e r h a s b e e n d i v i d e d i n t o t w o p a r t s . P a r t I is a b r i e f
d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e m e t h o d a n d i t s a p p l i c a t i o n . P a r t I I is a d e t a i l e d a c c o u n t o f
the analysis of the case histories.
PART I
2. Settlement prediction
I n t h i s p a r t of t h e p a p e r t h e o u t c o m e of t h e a n a l y s i s of t h e l a r g e n u m b e r of
s e t t l e m e n t s r e c o r d s s u m m a r i s e d i n A p p e n d i x A is p r e s e n t e d i n t h e f o r m of a
s i m p l e d i r e c t m e t h o d of s e t t l e m e n t p r e d i c t i o n . T h e S e c t i o n is s e l f - c o n t a i n e d a n d
c a n b e u s e d o n its o w n for d e s i g n p u r p o s e s . H o w e v e r f r e q u e n t c r o s s r e f e r e n c e s
a r e m a d e t o t h e w o r k d e s c r i b e d i n P a r t I I of t h e p a p e r s o t h a t t h e b a s i s of t h e
various assumptions can be studied.
2.1. Determination of the foundation subgrade compressibility

T h e n u b of t h e m e t h o d is t h e e m p i r i c a l r e l a t i o n s h i p w h i c h h a s b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d
b e t w e e n t h e s l o p e of t h e p r e s s u r e - s e t t l e m e n t r e l a t i o n s h i p for t h e f o u n d a t i o n
ApJAq', t h e b r e a d t h of t h e f o u n d a t i o n B a n d t h e a v e r a g e S P T b l o w c o u n t N
o v e r t h e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e of t h e f o u n d a t i o n . T h e q u a n t i t y ApJAq' is t h e
f o u n d a t i o n s u b g r a d e c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y , d e n o t e d b y a, f and the units are
2 0 n
m m / k N / m ) . T h e r e l a t i o n s h i p is s h o w n i n F i g . 1 w h e r e a IB ' f is p l o t t e d
0 7
a g a i n s t N o n d o u b l e l o g a x e s . T h e q u a n t i t y a /B ' f is d e n o t e d a s 7 , t h e C
c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y i n d e x . T h e full l i n e i n F i g . 1 h a s b e e n d e r i v e d f r o m a r e g r e s s i o n
a n a l y s i s of o v e r 2 0 0 s e t t l e m e n t r e c o r d s o n s a n d a n d g r a v e l . T h e c h a i n d o t t e d
lines a p p r o x i m a t e t o t w o s t a n d a r d d e v i a t i o n s a b o v e a n d b e l o w t h e m e a n line.
M a t h e m a t i c a l l y t h e r e g r e s s i o n l i n e is g i v e n b y
1-71
' c = ^ T 4 (1)
w i t h a coefficient of c o r r e l a t i o n of 0-848.
T h e f o l l o w i n g f e a t u r e s s h o u l d b e n o t e d a b o u t F i g . 1:
(i) a is t h e s u b g r a d e c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y for a n o r m a l l y c o n s o l i d a t e d s a n d o r
f
g r a v e l . I n S e c t i o n 6 it is s h o w n t h a t t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n b e a r i n g
p r e s s u r e a n d s e t t l e m e n t is a p p r o x i m a t e l y l i n e a r for n o r m a l l y c o n s o l i -
SETTLEMENT O F F O U N D A T I O N S O N SAND A N D GRAVEL 7
100 ~ I — I I I I I J
a f = APj
B in metres
Compressibility Grades
YE | m | Y | W
0.1 _J i i l lI i
10 100
5PT 'Ff
Fig. 1. Relationship between compressibility (/ ) and mean SPT b l o w count (A/) over
c
depth of influence. Chain dotted lines s h o w upper and lower limits.
d a t e d g r a n u l a r m a t e r i a l s for f a c t o r s of safety a g a i n s t b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y
f a i l u r e of t h r e e o r m o r e . W h e n t h e m a t e r i a l is o v e r c o n s o l i d a t e d t h e
v a l u e s of a f a n d I a r e r e d u c e d b y a f a c t o r of t h r e e for p r e s s u r e
c
c h a n g e s b e l o w t h e effective p r e c o n s o l i d a t i o n p r e s s u r e o' . v0
(ii) T h e S P T b l o w c o u n t is not c o r r e c t e d for effective o v e r b u r d e n p r e s s u r e

a n d t h e h o r i z o n t a l a x i s is t h e r e f o r e n o t s t r i c t l y a m e a s u r e of r e l a t i v e
d e n s i t y . I n s t e a d a n e w c l a s s i f i c a t i o n is p r o p o s e d i n w h i c h r a n g e s of
uncorrected N values are assigned to compressibility grades. T h e
c o r r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n N a n d c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y g r a d e is g i v e n i n T a b l e 1
a n d i n F i g . 1. T h e c o n c e p t of c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y g r a d e s p r o v e d p a r t i c u l a r
ly v a l u a b l e i n t h e a n a l y s i s d e s c r i b e d i n P a r t I I .
(hi) A l t h o u g h t h e N v a l u e s a r e n o t c o r r e c t e d for o v e r b u r d e n p r e s s u r e it is
n e c e s s a r y t o m a k e c e r t a i n o t h e r c o r r e c t i o n s . I t is s h o w n i n S e c t i o n 8.4
t h a t f o r v e r y f i n e a n d silty s a n d s b e l o w t h e w a t e r t a b l e t h e c o r r e c t i o n
p r o p o s e d b y T e r z a g h i a n d P e c k (1948) g i v e s i m p r o v e d r e s u l t s i.e.
w h e n N is g r e a t e r t h a n 15
N ( c o r r e c t e d ) = 15 + 0.5(N -15). (2)
Table 1. Classification of compressibility of normally c o n

solidated sands and gravels w i t h SPT b l o w count
Compressibility G r a d e N o . of blows N* Interval
VII <4 3
VI 4^8 5
V 9-15 7
IV 16-25 10
III 26-40 15
II 41-60 20
I >60
' U n c o r r e c t e d for overburden pressure.
W h e n t h e m a t e r i a l c o n s i s t s of g r a v e l o r s a n d y g r a v e l it is s h o w n in
S e c t i o n 8.4 t h a t a c o r r e c t i o n s h o u l d b e a p p l i e d s u c h t h a t
N ( c o r r e c t e d ) = 1.25 x N. (3)
(iv) T h e r e s u l t s of c o n e p e n e t r a t i o n t e s t s m a y b e c o n v e r t e d t o e q u i v a l e n t
N v a l u e s u s i n g F i g . 2, w h e r e q /N c is r e l a t e d t o g r a i n size (q is i n
c
2
MiV/m ).
(v) T h e r e s u l t s of p l a t e l o a d i n g t e s t s m a y b e r e l a t e d t o c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y
g r a d e u s i n g t h e m e t h o d s described in Section 4.3. C a r e m u s t be used
i n t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of e q u a t i o n (1) i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h p l a t e l o a d i n g
t e s t r e s u l t s s i n c e a s B i n c r e a s e s t h e v a l u e of N will o f t e n i n c r e a s e a s
w e l l d u e t o t h e a s s o c i a t e d i n c r e a s e i n t h e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e .
2 . 2 . Depth of influence and the derivation of N

A n i m p o r t a n t f e a t u r e of t h e m e t h o d is t h e a s s e s s m e n t of t h e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e
of t h e f o u n d a t i o n z . T h i s is d i s c u s s e d i n d e t a i l i n S e c t i o n 5 w h e r e it is s h o w n
7
11 i i i i i i—
0.02 0.06 0.2 0.6 2.0 6.0
Particle size (mm)
Medium | Coarse Fine | Medium | Coarse Fine | Mediun
SILT SAND GRAVEL
Fig. 2. Relationship between qjN and grain size. Values of N are not corrected for
overburden pressure.
SETTLEMENT O F FOUNDATIONS ON SAND AND GRAVEL 9
t h a t , w h e n N i n c r e a s e s w i t h d e p t h , t h e r e l a t i v e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e (z/B) l
d e c r e a s e s s i g n i f i c a n t l y a s t h e b r e a d t h of t h e f o u n d a t i o n i n c r e a s e s . A l t h o u g h t h e
d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e d e p e n d s o n m a n y f a c t o r s , for p r e s e n t p u r p o s e s it is a s s u m e d
t o b e g i v e n b y t h e full l i n e i n F i g . 3 for c a s e s w h e r e N i n c r e a s e s o r is c o n s t a n t
w i t h d e p t h . W h e r e N s h o w s a c o n s i s t e n t d e c r e a s e w i t h d e p t h t h e d e p t h of
i n f l u e n c e is t a k e n a s IB o r t h e b o t t o m of soft l a y e r w h i c h e v e r is t h e l e s s e r . T h e
v a l u e of N for u s e i n F i g . 1 o r e q u a t i o n (1) is g i v e n b y t h e a r i t h m e t i c m e a n of
t h e m e a s u r e d N v a l u e s o v e r t h e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e .
2.3 Calculation of settlement

F o r a normally consolidated sand the immediate average settlement p t corres
p o n d i n g t o t h e a v e r a g e effective f o u n d a t i o n p r e s s u r e q' is g i v e n b y
1
Pt=q' x B° x I (in m m )
c (4)
w h e r e I is o b t a i n e d f r o m F i g . 1 o r e q u a t i o n (1).
c
F o r a n o v e r c o n s o l i d a t e d s a n d , o r for l o a d i n g a t t h e b a s e of a n e x c a v a t i o n ,
for w h i c h t h e m a x i m u m p r e v i o u s effective o v e r b u r d e n p r e s s u r e is a' , the v0
i m m e d i a t e a v e r a g e s e t t l e m e n t p c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o t h e a v e r a g e g r o s s effective
t
p r e s s u r e q' ( w h e r e q' < a' ) is m a d e u p of t w o c o m p o n e n t s a s f o l l o w s :

v0
(5a)
100 i—i i i 111 I I I U
I I I M M
10 100
B (metres)
Fig. 3 . Relationship between breadth of loaded area B and depth of influence z y
( w i t h i n w h i c h 7 5 % of the settlement takes place).
w h e n q' is less t h a n o' v0 the above expression becomes
0 1
P i = q ' x B x^(mm). (5b)
2.4 Corrections for depth of founding, depth of water table, shape and thickness of
layer
I n S e c t i o n 8 a s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y s i s of t h e i n f l u e n c e of t h e a b o v e f a c t o r s is
d e s c r i b e d . I t is s h o w n t h a t , w i t h i n t h e l i m i t s of a c c u r a c y of t h e a n a l y s i s , t h e r e is
n o o b v i o u s c o r r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n D/B a n d s e t t l e m e n t (D is t h e d e p t h of
f o u n d i n g ) . T h i s r e s u l t a g r e e s w i t h t h e r e s u l t s of D ' A p p o l o n i a et al. ( 1 9 6 8 ) w h o
f o u n d f r o m t h e a n a l y s i s of a n u m b e r of r e s u l t s o n o n e s i t e t h a t o n l y a 1 2 %
r e d u c t i o n i n s e t t l e m e n t o c c u r r e d w h e n D/B i n c r e a s e d f r o m 0-5 t o 1 0 .
I t is a l s o c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e level of t h e w a t e r t a b l e b e n e a t h t h e f o u n d i n g
level d o e s n o t h a v e a statistically significant influence o n t h e s e t t l e m e n t . T h i s
r e s u l t a p p e a r s t o s u p p o r t M e y e r h o f s ( 1 9 6 5 ) v i e w t h a t t h e effect of t h e w a t e r
t a b l e is r e f l e c t e d i n t h e m e a s u r e d b l o w c o u n t . T h u s w a t e r t a b l e c h a n g e s
s u b s e q u e n t t o t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n of N m a y h a v e s o m e i n f l u e n c e o n s e t t l e m e n t .
T h e s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y s i s i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e r e is a s i g n i f i c a n t c o r r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n
s e t t l e m e n t a n d L/B ( t h e l e n g t h t o b r e a d t h r a t i o of t h e f o u n d a t i o n ) . T h e
c o r r e c t i o n f a c t o r is q u i t e s m a l l a n d c a n b e e x p r e s s e d a s
1-25L/B
fs = (6)
L/B + 0-25
w h e r e (L/B>
Pi l) = f x (L/B
s Pi = l).
I t c a n b e s e e n t h a t f t e n d s t o 1-56 a s L/B t e n d s t o i n f i n i t y .
s
T h e r e w e r e i n s u f f i c i e n t d a t a t o s t u d y t h e i n f l u e n c e of t h e t h i c k n e s s of t h e
s a n d o r g r a v e l l a y e r b e n e a t h t h e f o u n d a t i o n (H ) b u t it is r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t
s
w h e n H is l e s s t h a n z ( t h e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e ) a c o r r e c t i o n f s h o u l d b e a p p l i e d
s t
such that
(7)
2.5 Time dependent settlement

T h e case r e c o r d s referred to in Section 9 indicate quite clearly t h a t f o u n d a t i o n s
o n s a n d s a n d gravels exhibit time d e p e n d e n t settlement. H o w e v e r n o clear
p a t t e r n e m e r g e s . I n s o m e cases t h e time d e p e n d e n t process a p p e a r s t o be m o r e
o r less c o n t i n u o u s w i t h t h e s e t t l e m e n t f o l l o w i n g a n a p p r o x i m a t e l y l i n e a r l o g
t i m e r e l a t i o n s h i p (after a n i n i t i a l t r a n s i t i o n p e r i o d ) . I n o t h e r c a s e s t h e p r o c e s s
a p p e a r s t o b e s t e p - w i s e w i t h q u i e s c e n t p e r i o d s of u p t o t h r e e y e a r s i n t e r s p e r s e d
w i t h p e r i o d s of s i g n i f i c a n t r a t e s of s e t t l e m e n t .
T h e r e c o r d s s h o w very clearly t h a t f o u n d a t i o n s subject to fluctuating loads
s u c h as tall c h i m n e y s , bridges, silos a n d t u r b i n e s e x h i b i t m u c h l a r g e r t i m e
d e p e n d e n t s e t t l e m e n t s t h a n for s t a t i c l o a d s .
T h e results suggest that the settlement at time t m a y be approximately
represented by the expression:
f,=^= H - R + i?log^
3 (8)
Pi
where:
/ , is t h e c o r r e c t i o n f a c t o r for t i m e ,
£ 3 years,
=
# is t h e t i m e d e p e n d e n t s e t t l e m e n t ( e x p r e s s e d a s a p r o p o r t i o n of t h e
3
i m m e d i a t e s e t t l e m e n t p ) t h a t t a k e s p l a c e d u r i n g t h e first t h r e e y e a r s after
t
construction, and
R is t h e c r e e p r a t i o e x p r e s s e d a s a p r o p o r t i o n of t h e i m m e d i a t e s e t t l e m e n t
t h a t t a k e s p l a c e p e r l o g c y c l e of t i m e .
F o r s t a t i c l o a d s c o n s e r v a t i v e v a l u e s of R a n d R a r e 0-3 a n d 0-2 r e s p e c t i v e l y .
3
T h u s a t £ = 3 0 y e a r s , f = 1-5. F o r f l u c t u a t i n g l o a d s c o n s e r v a t i v e v a l u e s of R
t 3
a n d R a r e 0-7 a n d 0-8 r e s p e c t i v e l y s o t h a t a t t = 30 y e a r s , f = 2-5. t
2.6 Summary
I n s u m m a r y t h e a v e r a g e s e t t l e m e n t of a f o u n d a t i o n o n s a n d o r g r a v e l m a y b e
expressed as
x 0 7 x
P =fs -fx'ft 4'-ô^ £ ' 4 ~ | ( i n millimetres) (9)
where
f 2
q is t h e a v e r a g e g r o s s effective a p p l i e d p r e s s u r e ( k N / m ) ,
2
a' v0 is t h e m a x i m u m p r e v i o u s effective o v e r b u r d e n p r e s s u r e ( k N / m ) ,
B is t h e b r e a d t h i n m e t r e s ,
I c is c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y i n d e x o b t a i n e d f r o m F i g . 1 o r e q u a t i o n (1),
fs is a s h a p e c o r r e c t i o n f a c t o r g i v e n b y e q u a t i o n (6),
f is a c o r r e c t i o n f a c t o r for t h e t h i c k n e s s of t h e s a n d l a y e r g i v e n b y e q u a t i o n
x
(7),
f is a t i m e f a c t o r g i v e n b y e q u a t i o n (8).
t
T h e p r o b a b l e l i m i t s of a c c u r a c y of e q u a t i o n (9) c a n b e a s s e s s e d f r o m t h e
u p p e r a n d l o w e r l i m i t s of I g i v e n i n F i g . 1 a n d it m a y b e n e c e s s a r y t o t a k e
c
these i n t o a c c o u n t in t h e design.
I t m u s t of c o u r s e b e e m p h a s i z e d t h a t t h e f a c t o r of safety a g a i n s t b e a r i n g
c a p a c i t y f a i l u r e s h o u l d a l w a y s b e c h e c k e d i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e s e t t l e m e n t . If t h e
f a c t o r of s a f e t y is less t h a n a b o u t 3 t h e p r e s s u r e s e t t l e m e n t c u r v e m a y b e n o n
l i n e a r a n d t h e m e t h o d will u n d e r e s t i m a t e t h e s e t t l e m e n t .
F u r t h e r m o r e it s h o u l d b e n o t e d t h a t t h e m e t h o d h a s b e e n b a s e d o n c a s e
s t u d i e s w i t h q u a r t z i t i c s a n d a n d g r a v e l d e p o s i t s . Sites w h e r e c o r a l ( c a l c i t e ) o r
other mineralogically unusual sand a n d gravel deposits are encountered should
n o t b e a n a l y s e d b y t h i s m e t h o d u n l e s s t h e d e f o r m a t i o n p r o p e r t i e s of t h e s e
deposits can be d e m o n s t r a t e d to be similar to quartzitic deposits.
T h e m e t h o d is w e l l s u i t e d for r o u t i n e d e s i g n p u r p o s e s . H o w e v e r u n t i l d e s i g n
e x p e r i e n c e h a s b e e n g a i n e d a g a i n s t t h i s m e t h o d it is s u g g e s t e d t h a t for m a j o r
projects, or t h o s e w h e r e the p r o p o s e d s t r u c t u r e h a s strict permissible total or
d i f f e r e n t i a l s e t t l e m e n t s , o t h e r w e l l e s t a b l i s h e d a n a l y t i c a l l y b a s e d m e t h o d s of
e s t i m a t i n g t h e s e t t l e m e n t a r e a l s o u s e d . O n s u c h p r o j e c t s it m a y p r o v e v a l u a b l e
t o refer b a c k t o c a s e s t u d i e s i n w h i c h s i m i l a r s t r u c t u r e s o r g r o u n d c o n d i t i o n s
a r e i n v o l v e d . T h e list of c a s e s t u d i e s g i v e n i n a p p e n d i x B c a n b e u s e d for t h e
p u r p o s e . I n c o n c l u s i o n it is a p p r o p r i a t e t o b e a r i n m i n d t h e f o l l o w i n g r e m a r k s
b y S u t h e r l a n d ( 1 9 7 4 ) : ' B e f o r e a d e s i g n e r b e c o m e s e n t a n g l e d i n t h e d e t a i l s of
12 J. B. B U R L A N D A N D M. C. B U R B I D G E
p r e d i c t i n g s e t t l e m e n t (in s a n d ) h e m u s t satisfy h i m s e l f w h e t h e r a r e a l p r o b l e m
a c t u a l l y exists a n d ascertain w h a t a d v a n t a g e s a n d e c o n o m i e s c a n result from
refinements in settlement prediction.'
PART II
THE ANALYSIS OF CASE RECORDS OF SETTLEMENT ON SANDS

AND GRAVELS
Introduction
T h e o b j e c t of t h e s t u d y d e s c r i b e d i n t h i s p a r t of t h e p a p e r w a s t o a s s e m b l e a s
m u c h d a t a a s p o s s i b l e o n a c t u a l field o b s e r v a t i o n s of s e t t l e m e n t w i t h a
m i n i m u m of i n t e r p r e t a t i o n t o s e e if a s i m p l e p i c t u r e e m e r g e d . T h e m o s t
i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r s c o n t r o l l i n g s e t t l e m e n t a r e t h e effective b e a r i n g p r e s s u r e q\ t h e
b r e a d t h of t h e l o a d e d a r e a B a n d t h e c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y of t h e g r o u n d w i t h i n t h e
d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e of t h e l o a d e d a r e a . T h e r e a r e m a n y o t h e r f a c t o r s i n f l u e n c i n g
s e t t l e m e n t s u c h a s d e p t h of f o u n d i n g , g e o m e t r y of t h e l o a d e d a r e a , d e p t h of
w a t e r t a b l e , t i m e e t c . T h e s e f a c t o r s w e r e felt t o b e s e c o n d a r y c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e
a b o v e t h r e e p r i n c i p a l f a c t o r s a n d c o u l d b e e x a m i n e d s e p a r a t e l y after t h e m a i n
trends h a d been established.
F o r a n y c a s e r e c o r d t h e q u a n t i t i e s p, q' a n d B a r e w e l l d e f i n e d . T h u s , i n t h e i r
p r e l i m i n a r y s t u d y B u r l a n d et al. ( 1 9 7 7 ) c h o s e t o c o r r e l a t e p/q w i t h B. T h e
c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h e g r o u n d a r e m u c h m o r e difficult t o d e f i n e
a n d B u r l a n d et al. o n l y d i s t i n g u i s h e d b e t w e e n t h r e e c a t e g o r i e s o f g r a n u l a r
material; loose, m e d i u m dense a n d dense. In the present study the same basic
a p p r o a c h is a d o p t e d b u t a m o r e r e f i n e d m e t h o d of c l a s s i f y i n g t h e c o m p r e s s i
b i l i t y of s a n d s a n d g r a v e l s h a s b e e n f o u n d t o b e j u s t i f i e d . M o r e o v e r it h a s
p r o v e d n e c e s s a r y t o consider in s o m e detail the d e p t h within w h i c h the
c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y s i g n i f i c a n t l y i n f l u e n c e s t h e s e t t l e m e n t (i.e. t h e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e
zj) a n d a l s o t h e v a l i d i t y of t h e a s s u m p t i o n of a l i n e a r p r e s s u r e - s e t t l e m e n t
r e l a t i o n s h i p . T h e s e m a t t e r s a r e discussed in the following sections as a
p r e l i m i n a r y t o t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e a n a l y s i s of t h e c a s e r e c o r d s .
3. The standard penetration test as a measure of compressibility

F o r t h e m a j o r i t y of t h e c a s e r e c o r d s a s s e m b l e d for t h i s s t u d y t h e g r o u n d
c o n d i t i o n s w e r e investigated using t h e S t a n d a r d P e n e t r a t i o n Test. F o r this
r e a s o n , a n d b e c a u s e it is a t e s t w h i c h is w i d e l y u s e d , it w a s d e c i d e d t o u s e t h e
S P T b l o w c o u n t a s a m e a s u r e of t h e c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y of g r a n u l a r s o i l s .
3.1 The Standard Penetration Test

I t is of t h e u t m o s t i m p o r t a n c e t o a p p r e c i a t e t h e l i m i t a t i o n s of t h e test. A t
p r e s e n t t h e t w o m o s t widely used s t a n d a r d s are the BS 1377:1975 a n d the
A S T M D l 5 8 6 - 6 7 . T h e testing procedures are broadly similar a n d outside the

U K a n d t h e U S A o n e of t h e s e t w o s t a n d a r d s is n o r m a l l y u s e d . A n i m p o r t a n t
e x c e p t i o n t o t h e g e n e r a l S P T p r o c e d u r e is i n B r a z i l w h e r e t h e Mohr-
G e o t e c n i c a s a m p l e r is e x t e n s i v e l y u s e d .
T h e r e a r e n u m e r o u s d e t a i l s of t h e t e s t a n d its o p e r a t i o n w h i c h a r e n o t
s t a n d a r d ( F l e t c h e r 1965). F o r e x a m p l e t h e r e a r e c o n s i d e r a b l e differences in t h e
d i m e n s i o n s a n d l e n g t h s of d r i l l i n g r o d u s e d i n t h e t e s t . A l s o t h e d r i v i n g
t e c h n i q u e c a n v a r y s i g n i f i c a n t l y . T h e B r i t i s h a n d E u r o p e a n S t a n d a r d s specify
t h e u s e of a t r i p h a m m e r w h e r e a s A m e r i c a n p r a c t i c e is t o o p e r a t e t h e d r i v i n g
weight m a n u a l l y using a cathead. O t h e r factors which c a n influence the N value
a r e t h e d i a m e t e r of c a s i n g , t h e c o n d i t i o n of t h e d r i v i n g s h o e , t h e t y p e of b o r i n g
r i g a n d t h e m e t h o d of c l e a n i n g t h e b a s e of t h e b o r e h o l e . I t is a l s o w o r t h n o t i n g
t h a t a c c o r d i n g t o S c h m e r t m a n n ( 1 9 7 9 ) a l m o s t all s a m p l e r s u s e d i n t h e U S A
h a v e a n e n l a r g e d i n t e r n a l d i a m e t e r t o h o l d a liner. H o w e v e r t h e y a r e frequently
used w i t h o u t a liner w h i c h leads to a significant r e d u c t i o n in t h e N value. O v e r
a n d a b o v e all t h e s e f a c t o r s t h e c r u c i a l i m p o r t a n c e of m a i n t a i n i n g a n a d e q u a t e
level of w a t e r i n t h e b o r e h o l e m u s t of c o u r s e b e e m p h a s i z e d .
I t h a s a l w a y s b e e n r e c o g n i z e d t h a t t h e S P T is a n e m p i r i c a l t e s t . I t is a t e s t
w h i c h will h a v e t o b e c o m e c o m p l e t e l y s t a n d a r d i s e d if c o n t i n u i n g r e s e a r c h i n t o
s e t t l e m e n t s o n g r a n u l a r s o i l s is t o h a v e a n i m p r o v e d y a r d s t i c k w i t h w h i c h t o
j u d g e r e s u l t s . T h e n e e d for s t a n d a r d i s a t i o n h a s b e e n e m p h a s i z e d b y N i x o n
( 1 9 8 2 ) w h o c a l l s for t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l u s e of t h e I S S M F E ' R e p o r t of t h e S u b -
C o m m i t t e e o n P e n e t r a t i o n Test for U s e in E u r o p e ' (1977). A n y future changes
or s t a n d a r d i s a t i o n in t h e test t h a t d o t a k e place s h o u l d n o t d e v i a t e significantly
f r o m p r e s e n t p r o c e d u r e s , s o t h a t e x p e r i e n c e a l r e a d y g a i n e d f r o m t h e t e s t is n o t
lost.
3.2 Influence of grain size

T h e effects of g r a i n p r o p e r t i e s , s u c h a s a n g u l a r i t y a n d u n i f o r m i t y coefficient, o n
S P T resistance have not been adequately studied. H o l u b e c a n d D ' A p p o l o n i a
( 1 9 7 2 ) s u g g e s t t h a t t h e S P T is i n f l u e n c e d b y t h e a n g u l a r i t y of g r a n u l a r soil.
G i b b s a n d H o l t z ( 1 9 7 7 ) f o u n d t h a t t h e g r a i n size h a d s o m e i n f l u e n c e . T e s t s o n
d r y l o o s e s a n d s s h o w e d t h a t t h e N v a l u e for c o a r s e s a n d w a s m a r g i n a l l y h i g h e r
t h a n for fine s a n d a t t h e s a m e r e l a t i v e d e n s i t y a n d o v e r b u r d e n p r e s s u r e .
H o w e v e r for d e n s e s a n d t h e r e w a s n o a p p r e c i a b l e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n fine a n d
c o a r s e s a n d s . D ' A p p o l o n i a a n d D ' A p p o l o n i a (1970) c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e p a r t i c l e
size d o e s n o t a p p e a r t o h a v e a m a j o r i n f l u e n c e p r o v i d e d g r a v e l sizes a r e n o t
present.
3.3 Influence of submergence

Schultze a n d M e n z e n b a c h (1961) a n d B a z a r a a (1967) h a v e s h o w n t h a t t h e S P T
r e s i s t a n c e for c o a r s e s a n d a n d g r a v e l is n o t affected b y s u b m e r g e n c e . T e r z a g h i
a n d P e c k ( 1 9 4 8 ) r e c o m m e n d t h a t for d e n s e ( i V > 15), fine o r s i l t y s a n d s b e n e a t h
the water table, the m e a s u r e d N values should be reduced a n d p u t forward the
following p r o c e d u r e
N ( c o r r e c t e d ) = 15 + 0-5(N - 15). (2)
T h i s p r o p o s a l a p p e a r s t o b e c o n t r a d i c t e d b y t h e r e s u l t s of s o m e l a b o r a t o r y
t e s t s ( G i b b s a n d H o l t z ( 1 9 5 7 ) a n d S c h u l t z e a n d M e l z e r (1965)). H o w e v e r
B a z a r a a ( 1 9 6 7 ) c o n c l u d e d f r o m a n a l y s i s of a l a r g e n u m b e r of r e s u l t s of S P T
t e s t s w i t h i n 1 m a b o v e a n d b e l o w t h e w a t e r t a b l e t h a t t h e effect of s u b m e r g e n c e
o n p e n e t r a t i o n r e s i s t a n c e o n v e r y fine o r s i l t y s a n d is g e n e r a l l y t o i n c r e a s e t h e
b l o w c o u n t . O n t h e b a s i s of h i s r e s u l t s h e s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e m e a s u r e d N v a l u e s
should be corrected by the formula
N ( c o r r e c t e d ) = 0 6 x N. (10)
3.4 Influence of overburden pressure

A l t h o u g h S P T r e s i s t a n c e for a g r a n u l a r s o i l is l i k e l y t o b e d e p e n d e n t o n a
n u m b e r of f a c t o r s it a p p e a r s t h a t t h e t w o m o s t i m p o r t a n t o n e s a r e t h e r e l a t i v e
d e n s i t y a n d t h e effective o v e r b u r d e n p r e s s u r e . T h u s , i n o r d e r t o a s s e s s t h e
r e l a t i v e d e n s i t y , n u m e r o u s m e t h o d s h a v e b e e n p r o p o s e d for c o r r e c t i n g t h e S P T
b l o w c o u n t t o a s t a n d a r d o v e r b u r d e n p r e s s u r e (e.g. G i b b s a n d H o l t z ( 1 9 5 7 ) ,
B a z a r a a ( 1 9 6 7 ) , T h o r b u r n (1963)).
T u r n i n g n o w t o c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y l a b o r a t o r y t e s t s s h o w t h a t , for a g i v e n K 0
stress history, the t w o m o s t i m p o r t a n t factors influencing the vertical compress

i b i l i t y a r e r e l a t i v e d e n s i t y a n d s t r e s s l e v e l ( D a r a m o l a 1 9 7 8 ) — t h e s a m e a s for
S P T resistance.
It t h e r e f o r e a p p e a r s that, in a t t e m p t i n g t o c o r r e l a t e compressibility with S P T
b l o w c o u n t , t h e effect of o v e r b u r d e n p r e s s u r e s h o u l d n o t b e e l i m i n a t e d s i n c e it
h a s a n i m p o r t a n t i n f l u e n c e o n b o t h . H e n c e n o c o r r e c t i o n for o v e r b u r d e n
p r e s s u r e w a s u s e d i n t h i s s t u d y . H o w e v e r it is r e c o g n i s e d t h a t t h e S P T b l o w
c o u n t d o e s n o t reflect t h e p r e v i o u s c o n s o l i d a t i o n h i s t o r y of a d e p o s i t t o a n y
s i g n i f i c a n t e x t e n t a n d t h e effect of t h i s h a s t o b e a c c o u n t e d for s e p a r a t e l y .
3.5 Compressibility grade in terms of SPT

T e r z a g h i ' s (1947) descriptive correlation b e t w e e n the 'relative density' a n d N
value was originally based on the Terzaghi a n d Peck allowable bearing
pressure c h a r t a n d t h e terms were therefore originally used as qualitative
m e a s u r e s o f c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y . S i n c e t h e i r o r i g i n a l i n t r o d u c t i o n t h e i n f l u e n c e of
o v e r b u r d e n p r e s s u r e o n b l o w c o u n t h a s b e e n r e c o g n i z e d as d i s c u s s e d in t h e
previous section. M o r e o v e r when an attempt was m a d e to correlate foundation
c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y a f r o m the case r e c o r d s given in A p p e n d i x A w i t h 'relative
f
d e n s i t y ' it w a s f o u n d t h a t t h e r a n g e of c o m p r e s s i b i l i t i e s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h e a c h
d e n s i t y z o n e w a s v e r y u n e v e n . I t a p p e a r s t h a t a n y d e s c r i p t i v e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of
c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y b a s e d o n S P T r e q u i r e s a s c a l e i n w h i c h t h e r a n g e of N v a l u e s
associated with each 'zone' or 'grade' increases approximately exponentially to
g i v e a n e v e n s p r e a d of a v a l u e s .
f
A n e w d e s c r i p t i v e c o r r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n S P T a n d c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y of n o r m a l l y
c o n s o l i d a t e d g r a n u l a r m a t e r i a l s h a s b e e n i n t r o d u c e d a n d is g i v e n i n T a b l e 1.
T h e o p p o r t u n i t y h a s b e e n t a k e n t o d i s p e n s e w i t h t h e t e r m i n o l o g y of ' r e l a t i v e
d e n s i t y ' a n d r e p l a c e it w i t h a n u m b e r of ' c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y g r a d e s ' w h i c h , s i n c e
t h e y r e l a t e t o u n c o r r e c t e d b l o w c o u n t , a r e a f u n c t i o n b o t h of r e l a t i v e d e n s i t y
and overburden pressure.
4. The relationship between SPT and other tests

A s d i s c u s s e d i n t h e p r e v i o u s s e c t i o n t h e S P T r e s i s t a n c e is u s e d a s a m e a s u r e of
c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y i n t h i s s t u d y . H o w e v e r for m a n y of t h e c a s e r e c o r d s g i v e n i n
Appendix A n o S t a n d a r d Penetration Tests were carried out. In order to m a k e

u s e of t h e s e c a s e r e c o r d s it h a s b e e n n e c e s s a r y t o a t t e m p t t o c o r r e l a t e S P T
b l o w c o u n t with o t h e r tests, the three m a i n ones being c o n e p e n e t r a t i o n tests,
o e d o m e t e r t e s t s a n d p l a t e l o a d i n g t e s t s . I t is r e c o g n i s e d t h a t t h e c o r r e l a t i o n s
a r e o n l y a p p r o x i m a t e . N e v e r t h e l e s s it is i m p o r t a n t t o r e l a t e t h e s e w i d e l y u s e d
t e s t s t o t h e ' c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y g r a d e ' if t h e r e s u l t s of t h i s s t u d y a r e t o b e g e n e r a l l y
useful.
4.1 Cone penetration tests

Meyerhoff (1956) investigated t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n N value a n d static c o n e
r e s i s t a n c e q for a n u m b e r of sites m a i n l y for fine a n d s i l t y s a n d s a n d s u g g e s t e d
c
that
q = 4-4N
c
2
w h e r e q is i n K g f / c m . T h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p w a s f o u n d t o b e i n d e p e n d e n t of
c
density.
M e i g h a n d N i x o n (1961), R o d i n (1961) a n d S u t h e r l a n d (1963) h a v e s h o w n
t h a t t h e a b o v e r e l a t i o n s h i p is r e s t r i c t e d t o fine a n d s i l t y s a n d s a n d t h a t t h e
r a t i o qJN i n c r e a s e s w i t h g r a i n size. B u r b i d g e ( 1 9 8 2 ) c o l l e c t e d t o g e t h e r t h e
original d a t a used by the above workers together with other results including
t h o s e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e case r e c o r d s referred t o in this p a p e r . F o l l o w i n g t h e
w o r k of T h o r b u r n ( 1 9 7 1 ) t h e s e d a t a h a v e b e e n c o r r e l a t e d w i t h a v e r a g e g r a i n
size a n d w e r e f o u n d t o b e w i t h i n t h e z o n e s s h o w n i n F i g . 2. F o r t h e c a s e
r e c o r d s f r o m B r a z i l t h e m e a s u r e d b l o w c o u n t s w e r e r e d u c e d b y a f a c t o r of 0-7
( V a r g u s ( 1 9 6 1 ) , S a n g l e r a t ( 1 9 7 2 ) ) . T h e r e s u l t s c o n f i r m t h a t t h e d e n s i t y h a s little
i n f l u e n c e o n qJN a l t h o u g h t h e r e is a s l i g h t t r e n d for l o o s e s a n d s t o lie t o w a r d s
t h e u p p e r l i m i t of t h e s c a t t e r of t h e r e s u l t s .
4.2 Oedometer tests

T h e o e d o m e t e r t e s t is t h e m o s t c o m m o n l y u s e d l a b o r a t o r y t e s t for e s t i m a t i n g
s e t t l e m e n t s o n s a n d s . I n P o l a n d a n d R u s s i a it is fairly f r e q u e n t l y u s e d b u t
o u t s i d e t h e s e c o u n t r i e s it h a s b e e n less p o p u l a r .
T h e m a j o r difficulty w i t h o e d o m e t e r t e s t s , a s w i t h o t h e r l a b o r a t o r y t e s t s o n
g r a n u l a r soil, is o b t a i n i n g u n d i s t u r b e d s a m p l e s . I t h a s b e e n f o u n d t h a t fine
s a n d s are generally n o t as p r o n e t o m e c h a n i c a l d i s t u r b a n c e as c o a r s e s a n d a n d
w h e r e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a m p l e s h a v e b e e n carefully h a n d cut from e x c a v a t i o n s
o e d o m e t e r t e s t s h a v e b e e n r e a s o n a b l y successful.
A b o u t a q u a r t e r of t h e c a s e s t u d i e s f o u n d i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e c o n t a i n o e d o m e t e r
results. T h e o p p o r t u n i t y w a s t a k e n t o c o m p a r e m values from such tests with
v
N v a l u e s for sites w h e r e t h e t w o t e s t s w e r e m a d e . A v e r a g e N v a l u e s w e r e
o b t a i n e d o v e r a d e p t h r a n g e of 5 m t o 15 m a n d w e r e c o m p a r e d w i t h v a l u e s of
2
m e v a l u a t e d for a l o a d i n g i n t e n s i t y of 100 k N / m . F i g u r e 4 s h o w s t h e r e s u l t s of
v
t h e c o m p a r i s o n for e i g h t sites. T h e n u m b e r a g a i n s t e a c h p o i n t refers t o t h e

a p p r o p r i a t e c a s e n u m b e r g i v e n in A p p e n d i x A . S e v e n of t h e c a s e s a r e for fine
s a n d . M a n y m o r e d a t a a r e r e q u i r e d b e f o r e a n y firm c o n c l u s i o n s c a n b e d r a w n
a b o u t t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n m a n d N. F o r t h e p u r p o s e s of t h i s s t u d y t h e
v
full line i n F i g . 4 w a s u s e d t o a s s e s s t h e c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y g r a d e f r o m o e d o m e t e r
results.
100
_ J - I — i — I r l i i i i i—r~ I I I I I r~i i r
Q.
TJ 50 ^
E
LO
- 30 ^
| 10 Fine sand
Medium sand
B 49
I I I I I I | | L_ I I I I I I I 1_
0.5 0.1 0.05 0.01 0.005 0.001
2 2
m v m /MN ( a t cr ' = 1 0 0 k N / m )
v
Fig. 4 . Relationship between N and m v (numbers refer to case records in Appendix

A).
4.3 Plate loading tests

T e r z a g h i a n d P e c k (1948) publish a d i a g r a m s h o w i n g a collective p r e s s u r e -
s e t t l e m e n t c h a r t for s t a n d a r d 1 f o o t s q u a r e p l a t e s b e a r i n g o n l o o s e t o v e r y
dense s a n d strata a b o v e the g r o u n d water table. At the time that the chart was
c o n s t r u c t e d o n l y limited plate b e a r i n g test d a t a were available a n d , m o r e o v e r ,
t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g S P T values w e r e p r o b a b l y f r o m t w o different sized s p o o n s . It
w a s t h e r e f o r e d e c i d e d t o c o n s t r u c t a n u p d a t e d v e r s i o n of t h e c h a r t u s i n g t h e
c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y g r a d i n g classification. D a t a w a s collected from t h e case r e c o r d s
e x a m i n e d b y B u r b i d g e (1982), B a z a r a a (1967), M e i g h a n d N i x o n (1961) a n d
R o d i n (1961).
T h e r e s u l t i n g c h a r t s a r e s h o w n i n F i g . 5 a n d t h e y r e l a t e t o t h r e e size r a n g e s
of p l a t e : 0-25 m t o 0-4 m , 0-4 m t o 0-7 m a n d 0-7 m t o 1-2 m. T h e s c a t t e r of r e s u l t s
o n w h i c h t h e s e c h a r t s a r e b a s e d is l a r g e b u t t e n d s t o r e d u c e w i t h l a r g e r p l a t e s .
I n c o m p i l i n g t h e c h a r t s n o difference w a s a p p a r e n t b e t w e e n t e s t s o n d r y a n d
m o i s t s a n d s . A few t e s t r e s u l t s w e r e a v a i l a b l e for w h i c h t h e w a t e r t a b l e w a s a t a
d e p t h of less t h a n B a n d t h e s e s h o w e d c o n s i d e r a b l y l a r g e r s e t t l e m e n t s t h a n for
d r y s a n d . T h e i n f l u e n c e of t h e d e p t h of w a t e r t a b l e is d i s c u s s e d i n S e c t i o n 8.3
w h e r e it is s h o w n t h a t t h e r e s u l t s of p l a t e t e s t s w i t h Hw/B > 1 c o r r e l a t e well
w i t h t h e d a t a for l a r g e r l o a d e d a r e a s a n d h i g h w a t e r t a b l e s .
D e s p i t e t h e a p p r o x i m a t e n a t u r e of F i g . 5 s e v e r a l i n t e r e s t i n g f e a t u r e s e m e r g e :
(i) T h e l a r g e r t h e p l a t e s t h e g r e a t e r t h e l i n e a r r a n g e a n d t h e l o w e r the
c u r v a t u r e of t h e p r e s s u r e - s e t t l e m e n t c u r v e s .
(ii) F o r a n y g i v e n p r e s s u r e a n d c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y g r a d e , s e t t l e m e n t i n c r e a s e s
w i t h p l a t e size.
(iii) T h e i n i t i a l t a n g e n t s l o p e s t o t h e p r e s s u r e - s e t t l e m e n t c u r v e s b e c o m e
m o r e d i s t i n c t w i t h i n c r e a s i n g p l a t e size. T h u s for t h e s m a l l e s t size of
plate b e d d i n g errors a n d m i n o r density variations w o u l d lead to
serious errors in interpretation.
SETTLEMENT O F F O U N D A T I O N S O N SAND AND GRAVEL 17
2
Bearing pressure - kN/m
3 500 1000
(a) B = 0.25m to 0.4 m
(b) B = 0.45m to 0.70 m
(c) B = 0.7m to 1.2m
Fig. 5. Charts for assessing the compressibility grade of sand from plate loading tests
carried out at shallow depth or in the base of w i d e excavations.
M e i g h ( 1 9 6 3 ) h a s s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e g r a i n size a n d g r a d i n g of s a n d s c o u l d b e
i m p o r t a n t factors influencing their compressibility u n d e r a test plate. W h i l e
c o n s t r u c t i n g t h e c h a r t s i n F i g . 5 n o d i s c e r n a b l e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h g r a i n size
c o u l d b e found, a c o n c l u s i o n also r e a c h e d b y T e r z a g h i a n d P e c k (1948). I n t h e
c a s e of g r a v e l s a n d g r a v e l l y s a n d s t h e d a t a w e r e f o u n d t o b e o n l y i n t h e z o n e s
for g r a d e I V a n d b e t t e r w i t h l i t t l e c o r r e l a t i o n w i t h S P T b l o w c o u n t .
5. Depth of influence
G u i d a n c e v a r i e s o n t h e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e b e n e a t h a l o a d e d a r e a o n s a n d .
T e r z a g h i a n d P e c k (1948) r e c o m m e n d t a k i n g t h e a v e r a g e b l o w c o u n t o v e r a
d e p t h e q u a l t o t h e b r e a d t h B. P a r r y ( 1 9 7 1 ) t a k e s t h e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e e q u a l t o
2B b u t p l a c e s g r e a t e r e m p h a s i s o n t h e N v a l u e s i m m e d i a t e l y b e l o w t h e
foundation.
S c h m e r t m a n n ( 1 9 7 0 ) a l s o t a k e s t h e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e e q u a l t o 2B a n d u s e s a
s i m p l e i n f l u e n c e d i a g r a m t o o b t a i n t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of v e r t i c a l s t r a i n . I n t h e i r
s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y s i s of a n u m b e r of s e t t l e m e n t o b s e r v a t i o n s S c h u l t z e a n d S h e r i f
( 1 9 7 3 ) t o o k t h e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e e q u a l t o IB.
F o r a u n i f o r m l y d i s t r i b u t e d circular l o a d o n a n i s o t r o p i c elastic half space
t h e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e is u s u a l l y t a k e n a s IB. T h e s e t t l e m e n t a t t h i s d e p t h is
a b o u t 2 5 % of t h e s u r f a c e s e t t l e m e n t . H e n c e , for p r a c t i c a l p u r p o s e s , t h e d e p t h of
i n f l u e n c e m a y b e a s s u m e d t o b e t h e d e p t h a t w h i c h t h e s e t t l e m e n t is 2 5 % of t h e
s u r f a c e s e t t l e m e n t a n d is d e n o t e d b y z ( o r t h e r e l a t i v e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e
7
T h e r e a r e n o t m a n y e x p e r i m e n t a l d a t a for a s s e s s i n g t h e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e for
f o u n d a t i o n s o n s a n d a n d m u c h of t h e d a t a a r e f r o m m o d e l t e s t s . M o r g a n a n d
G e r r a r d ( 1 9 7 1 ) p l o t t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n s of v e r t i c a l d i s p l a c e m e n t w i t h d e p t h for a
n u m b e r of t e s t s o n m o d e l f o o t i n g s r a n g i n g f r o m 0-2 m t o 0-9 m d i a m e t e r . T h e
? 5 % s e t t l e m e n t p o i n t s c o r r e s p o n d t o (z/B)j v a r y i n g f r o m 1-8 t o 1-13. B r e t h et al.
(1976) m e a s u r e d the settlement distributions b e n e a t h 1 0 m diameter footings o n
c a r e f u l l y p r e p a r e d b e d s of v e r y l o o s e m e d i u m t o c o a r s e d r i e d s a n d . A n
a p p r o x i m a t e l y l i n e a r d i s t r i b u t i o n of s e t t l e m e n t w i t h d e p t h for all t h e t e s t s w a s
o b s e r v e d w i t h 2 5 % of t h e s u r f a c e s e t t l e m e n t o c c u r i n g a t (z/B)j equal to about
1-5.
T u r n i n g n o w t o t h e field m e a s u r e m e n t s , S h v e t s a n d K u l c h i t s k i i ( 1 9 7 0 )
m e a s u r e d t h e settlement distribution b e n e a t h 1 m s q u a r e plates o n t w o alluvial
s o i l s — a s l i g h t l y s i l t y s a n d y g r a v e l a n d a v e r y silty s l i g h t l y g r a v e l l y s a n d . T h e
r e s u l t s a r e g i v e n i n F i g . 6 a n d it c a n b e s e e n t h a t t h e 2 5 % s e t t l e m e n t p o i n t
o c c u r s b e t w e e n (zjB) l e q u a l t o 0-8 a n d 0-6.
F i g . 7 s h o w s t h e n o r m a l i z e d d i s t r i b u t i o n of m e a s u r e d s e t t l e m e n t w i t h z/B
b e n e a t h five b u i l d i n g s o n d e e p l a y e r s of s a n d . T h e r e s u l t s f r o m N i k i t i n et al.
( 1 9 7 0 ) a r e f r o m a 6 1 m d i a m e t e r r i n g f o u n d a t i o n for a t e l e v i s i o n t o w e r ( C a s e
6 3 ) . W i t h i n t h e m a i n r i n g w e r e f o o t i n g s for a s e r v i c e t o w e r a l o n g w i t h a s e c o n d
f o u n d a t i o n r i n g . T h e w h o l e f o u n d a t i o n c o m p l e x o c c u p i e d m o s t of t h e a r e a a n d
m a y b e t r e a t e d a s a s i n g l e e n t i t y . T h e s o i l p r o f i l e c o n s i s t e d of 2 0 m of d e n s e t o
v e r y d e n s e s a n d , 15 m of stiff t o v e r y stiff c l a y f o l l o w e d b y r o c k . R e f e r e n c e
p o i n t s w e r e l o c a t e d a t d e p t h s of 6 m , 12 m a n d 2 5 m b e l o w t h e f o u n d a t i o n . T h e
m a x i m u m o b s e r v e d s e t t l e m e n t of t h e f o u n d a t i o n w a s 37-8 m m of w h i c h a t l e a s t
19-5 m m t o o k p l a c e i n t h e c l a y . E i g h t y - f i v e p e r c e n t of t h e c o m p r e s s i o n of t h e
s a n d t o o k p l a c e i n t h e t o p 1 2 m i.e. z/B = 02. T h e r e s u l t s p l o t t e d i n F i g . 7 r e l a t e
o n l y t o t h e i m m e d i a t e c o m p r e s s i o n of t h e s a n d .
T h e r e s u l t s f r o m B r e t h a n d C h a m b o s s e ( 1 9 7 4 ) a r e for a r e a c t o r b u i l d i n g a t
B i b l i s , G e r m a n y ( C a s e 27). T h e s e t t l e m e n t d i s t r i b u t i o n w a s m e a s u r e d d o w n a
b o r e h o l e 1-8 m t o o n e s i d e of t h e 6 0 m d i a m e t e r c i r c u l a r raft f o u n d a t i o n . T h e
g r o u n d c o n d i t i o n s b e n e a t h t h e f o u n d a t i o n s c o n s i s t e d of 7 m of d e n s e g r a v e l l y
s a n d , 4 8 m of d e n s e t o v e r y d e n s e fine a n d m e d i u m s a n d f o l l o w e d b y a g r e a t
d e p t h of v e r y stiff c l a y e y silt. W h e n t h e s e t t l e m e n t of t h e raft h a d r e a c h e d
4 0 m m t h e s u r f a c e s e t t l e m e n t of t h e i n s t r u m e n t w a s 13-5 m m . N e a r t h e s u r f a c e
t h e s e t t l e m e n t d e c r e a s e d v e r y r a p i d l y w i t h d e p t h r e d u c i n g t o 5 m m a t z/B =
0 - 2 5 . T h e r e a f t e r it d e c r e a s e d m o r e s l o w l y b e c o m i n g a b o u t 2-5 m m a t a d e p t h of
5 7 m a t t h e t o p of t h e silt l a y e r . T h e n o r m a l i z e d s e t t l e m e n t d i s t r i b u t i o n s h o w n
b y t h e c u r v e l a b e l l e d (27) i n F i g . 7 is for t h e s a n d l a y e r o n l y . A l t h o u g h n o
m e a s u r e m e n t s w e r e m a d e b e n e a t h t h e c e n t r e of t h e raft it is c l e a r t h a t m o s t of
t h e s e t t l e m e n t t a k e s p l a c e a b o v e z/B = 0 2 5 .
SETTLEMENT O F F O U N D A T I O N S O N SAND A N D GRAVEL 19
p/p 0 - percent
0 20 AO 60 80 100
2.0 I
Fig. 6. Observed settlement distribution beneath 1 m square plates on t w o natural
alluvial soils (Shvets and Kulchitskii, 1 9 7 0 ) .
T h e r e s u l t s p r e s e n t e d b y D u n n ( 1 9 7 4 ) a r e for a n u c l e a r p o w e r s t a t i o n
f o u n d e d o n a raft 55 m w i d e a n d 1 0 1 m l o n g ( C a s e 32). T h e u n d e r l y i n g g r o u n d
c o n s i s t s of 3 1 m o f v e r y d e n s e fine b e a c h s a n d o v e r l y i n g stiff s i l t y c l a y s a n d
d e n s e silt. F i v e s e t t l e m e n t p l a t e s w e r e l o c a t e d a t v a r i o u s l e v e l s i n a b o r e h o l e
b e n e a t h t h e raft w i t h t h e d e e p e s t p l a t e b e i n g a t a b o u t 12 m d e p t h . C u r v e (32)
s h o w s t h e o b s e r v e d s e t t l e m e n t d i s t r i b u t i o n . U n d o u b t e d l y s o m e s e t t l e m e n t will
h a v e t a k e n p l a c e i n t h e u n d e r l y i n g c l a y s a n d silts i n w h i c h c a s e t h e s e t t l e m e n t s
in t h e s a n d w o u l d d i m i n i s h m o r e r a p i d l y t h a n s h o w n b y t h e c u r v e .
C u r v e s (A) a n d (B) i n F i g . 7 s h o w t h e s e t t l e m e n t d i s t r i b u t i o n b e n e a t h t w o
b u i l d i n g s in Berlin (Kriegel a n d W e i s n e r (1973)). T h e d e t a i l e d n o r m a l i z e d
d i s t r i b u t i o n o f s e t t l e m e n t v a r i e d w i t h t h e m a g n i t u d e of t h e l o a d i n g . T h e p o i n t s
show the extreme values a n d the curves have been d r a w n t h r o u g h the m e a n
v a l u e s . I t m u s t b e e m p h a s i s e d t h a t v e r y little i n f o r m a t i o n is g i v e n b y K r i e g e l
a n d W e i s n e r a b o u t t h e g r o u n d c o n d i t i o n s for t h e s e t w o b u i l d i n g s e x c e p t t h a t
t h e s a n d is 4 0 m t o 5 0 m d e e p a n d is of m e d i u m d e n s i t y . C l a y l a y e r s a r e
_ e r c e n t
P/Po P
0 20 AO 60 80 100
Fig. 7. Observed settlement distributions beneath buildings (numbers refer to case

records in A p p e n d i x A ) .
f r e q u e n t l y e n c o u n t e r e d in B e r l i n a n d t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of a d e e p c l a y l a y e r a t t h i s
site s h o u l d n o t b e r u l e d out.
I n F i g . 8 t h e v a l u e s of (z/B) I c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o p/p = 25% h a v e b e e n p l o t t e d
0
a g a i n s t b r e a d t h for t h e v a r i o u s m o d e l s t u d i e s a n d field m e a s u r e m e n t s . I t c a n b e
s e e n t h a t , a l t h o u g h t h e s c a t t e r is l a r g e , t h e r e is a m a r k e d t e n d e n c y for {z/B) I to
decrease as t h e b r e a d t h increases.
I t s h o u l d b e e m p h a s i z e d t h a t t h e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o a g i v e n
v a l u e of B will n o t b e u n i q u e a n d will d e p e n d o n t h e v a r i a t i o n of stiffness w i t h
d e p t h . N e v e r t h e l e s s t h e r e s u l t s g i v e n i n F i g . 8 i n d i c a t e a t r e n d w h i c h is b r o a d l y
i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e o r y for a n o n - h o m o g e n e o u s l a y e r h a v i n g a n i n c r e a s i n g
Y o u n g ' s m o d u l u s w i t h d e p t h . F i g u r e 9 s h o w s t h e n o r m a l i z e d d i s t r i b u t i o n of
s e t t l e m e n t w i t h z/2a b e n e a t h t h e c e n t r e of a r i g i d r o u g h c i r c u l a r l o a d of r a d i u s
' a ' o n a G i b s o n s o l i d for v a r i o u s v a l u e s of E'Ja.k ( t h e r e s u l t s w e r e o b t a i n e d b y
m e a n s of a finite e l e m e n t a n a l y s i s ) . F o r a g i v e n v a l u e of E' a n d k it is c l e a r t h a t
0
a s ' a ' i n c r e a s e s t h e r e l a t i v e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e {z/2a) I d e c r e a s e s . T h e full l i n e i n
SETTLEMENT O F FOUNDATIONS O N SAND AND GRAVEL 21
B (metres)
0.1 10 100
0 i i ii i i i ii TT
• Case 6 3
• Case 27
CD
N
CL • Eggestad
/
• Melbourne Series H
2.0
Fig. 8. Relationship between measured depth of influence z and foundation breadth. 7
Full line is taken from Fig. 9 and is fitted at £ = 0 - 2 m assuming that E' /a.k='\0. Q
F i g . 8 w a s d e r i v e d f r o m F i g . 9 a n d w a s fitted a t a b r e a d t h of 0-2 m
c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o a v a l u e o f E' /a.k=
0 10. G a r g a a n d Q u i n ( 1 9 7 4 ) g i v e a s i m i l a r
r e l a t i o n s h i p for t h e d e p t h of s t r a i n i n f l u e n c e for a n o n - h o m o g e n e o u s l a y e r .
M a n y m o r e m e a s u r e m e n t s a r e n e e d e d of t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of s e t t l e m e n t w i t h
d e p t h b e n e a t h f o u n d a t i o n s o n g r a n u l a r s o i l s b o t h f r o m t h e p o i n t of v i e w of
e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e a n d , of m o r e i m p o r t a n c e , for s t u d y i n g t h e in
situ d e f o r m a t i o n p r o p e r t i e s . F o r t h e p u r p o s e s of t h i s s t u d y t h e full l i n e i n F i g . 8
w a s u s e d a s a r o u g h g u i d e t o t h e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e w h e n N is c o n s t a n t o r
i n c r e a s e s w i t h d e p t h . I n a v e r y few c a s e s iV d e c r e a s e d w i t h d e p t h a n d i n t h e s e
i n s t a n c e s t h e b e s t fit t o t h e g e n e r a l t r e n d s of t h e d a t a w a s o b t a i n e d b y t a k i n g
t h e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e e q u a l t o IB.
T h e a r i t h m e t i c m e a n of t h e S P T b l o w c o u n t (N) o v e r t h e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e
w a s u s e d t o o b t a i n t h e c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y g r a d e of t h e f o u n d a t i o n s u b g r a d e . I t
s h o u l d b e n o t e d t h a t t h e full l i n e i n F i g . 8 w h e n p l o t t e d a s B v e r s u s z on I
d o u b l e l o g a x e s f o r m s a s t r a i g h t l i n e a s g i v e n i n F i g . 3.
6. Pressure-settlement relationship
M o s t of t h e c u r r e n t m e t h o d s of s e t t l e m e n t p r e d i c t i o n o n s a n d s a s s u m e t h a t t h e
r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n b e a r i n g p r e s s u r e a n d s e t t l e m e n t is l i n e a r o v e r t h e w o r k i n g
r a n g e of s t r e s s e s . S c h u l t z e ( 1 9 6 3 ) a n d S c h u l t z e a n d S h e r i f ( 1 9 7 3 ) c o n c l u d e f r o m
t h e s t u d y of a n u m b e r of c a s e r e c o r d s t h a t t h e p r e s s u r e - s e t t l e m e n t r e l a t i o n s h i p
is l i n e a r o v e r t h e p e r i o d of c o n s t r u c t i o n . I t h a s a l r e a d y b e e n n o t e d f r o m F i g . 5
t h a t a s t h e s i z e of t e s t p l a t e s is i n c r e a s e d t h e i n i t i a l p o r t i o n of t h e p r e s s u r e -
settlement curve b e c o m e s m o r e linear.
22 J. B. B U R L A N D A N D M. C. B U R B I D G E
p/Po - Percent
z/2.a
Fig. 9. Distribution of settlement w i t h depth for a rough rigid foundation resting on

an isotropic n o n - h o m o g e n e o u s elastic soil.
A n u m b e r of t h e c a s e r e c o r d s c o l l e c t e d t o g e t h e r b y B u r b i d g e ( 1 9 8 2 ) c o n t a i n
c o m p l e t e pressure-settlement data a n d m a k e possible a study covering a range
of g r o u n d c o n d i t i o n s , f o u n d a t i o n d i m e n s i o n s a n d b e a r i n g pressures. F i v e
e x a m p l e s will b e given.
C a s e - 2 7 is a n u c l e a r r e a c t o r f o u n d e d a t a d e p t h of 5 m o n a 3 m t h i c k 6 0 m
d i a m e t e r raft. T h e u n d e r l y i n g g r o u n d c o n s i s t s of 6 0 m of d e n s e s a n d a n d g r a v e l ,
assessed as G r a d e II, overlying Tertiary sands a n d clays. T h e net pressure
v e r s u s a v e r a g e s e t t l e m e n t r e l a t i o n s h i p for t h e r e a c t o r is s h o w n i n F i g . 10 a n d is,
for all p r a c t i c a l p u r p o s e s , linear.
C a s e 5 1 c o n s i s t s of t w o 12 s t o r e y t o w e r s e a c h f o u n d e d o n f o u r 5 m d e e p
f o o t i n g s 4 m w i d e a n d 7 m l o n g . T h e u n d e r l y i n g g r o u n d c o n s i s t s of 7 m of d e n s e
s a n d y g r a v e l o v e r w e a t h e r e d s a n d s t o n e . S P T t e s t s o n t h e g r a v e l i n d i c a t e t h a t it
is of G r a d e I I I . T h e n e t p r e s s u r e - s e t t l e m e n t c u r v e s for t h e f o u r o u t e r m o s t
footings a r e s h o w n in Fig. 11. Settlement o b s e r v a t i o n s only c o m m e n c e d once
2
Net Bearing Pressure - kN/m
0 100 200 300 A 00 500
>
<
50 L
Fig. 10. Case 27. Nuclear reactor founded at 5 m depth on dense sand and gravel
assessed as Grade II ( A / = 4 1 - 6 0 ) .
2
Net Bearing Pressure - kN./ m
0 100 200 300 A00 500
H
^ Footings
Fig. 1 1 . Case 5 1 . T w o tower blocks each founded on four 5 m deep footings resting
on sandy gravel assessed as Grade III ( / V = 2 6 - 4 0 ) .
2
t h e p r e s s u r e h a d r e a c h e d 1 3 4 k N / m . T h r e e of t h e f o o t i n g s e x h i b i t e d l i t t l e
2
s e t t l e m e n t u p t o a b e a r i n g p r e s s u r e of 2 2 3 k N / m b u t t h e r e a f t e r t h e r e l a t i o n
s h i p s a r e a g a i n l i n e a r for a l l p r a c t i c a l p u r p o s e s . T h i s c a s e is of i n t e r e s t s i n c e t h e
2
bearing pressures exceed 500 k N / m .
C a s e ( 6 0 A ) is a n 18 s t o r e y r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e b u i l d i n g f o u n d e d o n a 1-2 m
t h i c k raft. T h e raft is 22-9 m x 32-6 m a n d is f o u n d e d a t a d e p t h of 3 m . T h e
u n d e r l y i n g g r o u n d c o n s i s t s of fine t o m e d i u m s a n d s t o g r e a t d e p t h w i t h t h e t o p
seven metres c o m p a c t e d by vibroflotation to G r a d e IV. Settlement observations
2
w e r e s t a r t e d a t a g r o s s p r e s s u r e of 55 k N / m . I t c a n b e s e e n f r o m F i g . 12 t h a t
2
Gross Bearing Pressure - kN/m
0 100 200
Fig. 12. Case 60A. 18 storey building_on a raft f o u n d e d at a depth of 3 m on fine to

m e d i u m sands assessed as Grade IV ( / V = 1 6 - 2 5 ) .
t h e i n i t i a l p o r t i o n of t h e p r e s s u r e - s e t t l e m e n t c u r v e is l i n e a r b u t a t h i g h e r
p r e s s u r e s t h e c u r v e s t e e p e n s . T h i s is d u e t o t i m e d e p e n d e n t s e t t l e m e n t s
o c c u r r i n g d u r i n g t h e m u c h s l o w e r a p p l i c a t i o n s o f l o a d n e a r t h e e n d of
construction.
C a s e 4 1 is a t e n s t o r e y b u i l d i n g f o u n d e d o n a r a f t a t t h e c e n t r e s u r r o u n d e d
b y p a d f o o t i n g s . T h e raft is 11-0 m w i d e , 33-4 m l o n g a n d is f o u n d e d a t a d e p t h
of 5 m . T h e footings a r e also f o u n d e d at a d e p t h of 5 m . T h e u n d e r l y i n g g r o u n d
c o n s i s t s of 1 2 - 4 m of s a n d , a s s e s s e d f r o m S P T v a l u e s a s G r a d e I V , o v e r stiff
clay. S e t t l e m e n t observations were c o m m e n c e d w h e n the gross pressure o n the
2
r a f t w a s 3 8 k N / m . T h e p r e s s u r e - s e t t l e m e n t r e l a t i o n s h i p for t h e raft is s h o w n
b y t h e full l i n e i n F i g . 13. O n c e t h e g r o s s p r e s s u r e e x c e e d s t h e i n i t i a l v e r t i c a l
effective p r e s s u r e a' v0 t h e c u r v e b e c o m e s s i g n i f i c a n t l y s t e e p e r . T h e b r o k e n l i n e is
f o r a 4 T m s q u a r e f o o t i n g a d j a c e n t t o t h e raft. S e t t l e m e n t r e a d i n g s o n l y
c o m m e n c e d w h e n t h e g r o s s b e a r i n g p r e s s u r e w a s l a r g e r t h a n t h e effective
o v e r b u r d e n pressure a n d the pressure-settlement relationship can be seen to be
linear.
C a s e 6 9 is for a b u i l d i n g i n n o r t h - w e s t B e r l i n w h i c h is f o u n d e d o n a raft
5-5 m x 6-5 m o n s a n d of G r a d e V . A l t h o u g h t h e p r e c i s e d e p t h of f o u n d i n g is
n o t k n o w n it is p r e s u m e d t o b e b e t w e e n 2 a n d 3 m . T h e p r e s s u r e - s e t t l e m e n t
r e l a t i o n s h i p is p l o t t e d i n F i g . 1 4 a n d it is e v i d e n t t h a t t h e r e is a m a r k e d c h a n g e
of c u r v a t u r e o v e r t h e i n i t i a l p o r t i o n of t h e p r e s s u r e - s e t t l e m e n t c u r v e after
w h i c h it is l i n e a r .
T h e c a s e s d i s c u s s e d in t h i s s e c t i o n i n c l u d e s a n d s a n d g r a v e l s w i t h G r a d e s
r a n g i n g f r o m II t o V, f o u n d a t i o n w i d t h s r a n g i n g from 4 m to 60 m a n d b e a r i n g
2
p r e s s u r e s u p t o 5 0 0 k N / m . All t h e d e p o s i t s a r e b e l i e v e d t o b e n o r m a l l y
c o n s o l i d a t e d . I t c a n b e c o n c l u d e d t h a t for p r e s s u r e s i n e x c e s s of t h e i n i t i a l
2
50
b
Footing
Footing
4 . 1 m square
Fig. 13. Case 4 1 . 1 0 storey building founded at a_depth of 5 m, partly on a raft and
partly on footings, on sand assessed as Grade IV (/V=16-25).
2
Bearing Pressure - kN/m
100 200
Fig. 14. Case 69. Building founded on raft at a depth of 2 m to 3 m on sand of

Grade V ( # = 9 - 1 5 ) .
effective o v e r b u r d e n p r e s s u r e t h e p r e s s u r e - s e t t l e m e n t r e l a t i o n s h i p is, for p r a c t

ical p u r p o s e s , l i n e a r . F o r p r e s s u r e s less t h a n t h e i n i t i a l effective o v e r b u r d e n
p r e s s u r e t h e c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y is r e d u c e d b y a f a c t o r of 2 t o 4. O b s e r v a t i o n s
p r e s e n t e d b y D u n n ( 1 9 7 4 ) o n t h e s e t t l e m e n t of t h e D u n g e n e s s B n u c l e a r p o w e r
s t a t i o n ( C a s e 32) a r e i n a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h i s c o n c l u s i o n . D ' A p p o l o n i a ( 1 9 7 0 )
2
d e d u c e d t h a t t h e m o d u l u s (M = E'/(l — v' )) for a p r e l o a d e d s a n d w a s a p p r o
x i m a t e l y t w i c e t h a t of a n o r m a l l y c o n s o l i d a t e d s a n d .
T h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y is r e d u c e d a t p r e s s u r e s b e l o w t h e
m a x i m u m p r e v i o u s o v e r b u r d e n p r e s s u r e is a t v a r i a n c e w i t h t h e c o n c l u s i o n s of
S c h u l t z e (1963), Sherif (1973) a n d S c h u l t z e a n d Sherif (1973) w h o c o n c l u d e t h a t
t h e p r e s s u r e - s e t t l e m e n t c u r v e is u n i n f l u e n c e d b y t h e r e m o v a l of o v e r b u r d e n
p r e s s u r e . A s t u d y of t h e o b s e r v a t i o n s p r e s e n t e d b y S c h u l t z e ( 1 9 6 2 a n d 1963)
reveals the following. Firstly, rather large time corrections h a v e been applied to
t h e s e t t l e m e n t o b s e r v a t i o n s a n d s e c o n d l y , i n m a n y i n s t a n c e s e x c a v a t i o n for t h e
r a f t f o u n d a t i o n s t o o k p l a c e b e l o w t h e w a t e r t a b l e . If t h e u n c o r r e c t e d s e t t l e m e n t
o b s e r v a t i o n s a r e u s e d a n d t h e g r o s s t o t a l p r e s s u r e s t o w a r d s t h e e n d of
c o n s t r u c t i o n a r e r e d u c e d b y t h e h y d r o s t a t i c uplift of t h e g r o u n d w a t e r t h e n t h e
p r e s s u r e - s e t t l e m e n t relationships reveal small b u t discernable preconsolidation
p r e s s u r e s . F o r e x a m p l e t h e r e s u l t s for C a s e 8 3 a r e p l o t t e d i n F i g . 15 a n d a k i n k
i n t h e v i c i n i t y of t h e effective o v e r b u r d e n p r e s s u r e is a p p a r e n t g i v i n g a c h a n g e
of s l o p e of a b o u t 2.
2
0 100 200
Fig. 15. Case 83. Building founded on a_ 17-6 m ><840 m raft at a depth of 1 0 - 7 m in
sand and gravel assessed as Grade IV ( / V = 1 6 - 2 5 ) . Water table at 8 - 5 m depth below
g r o u n d level.
7. Relationship between foundation subgrade compressibility and

breadth
I n t h e p r e v i o u s s e c t i o n it w a s s h o w n t h a t t h e s l o p e of t h e p r e s s u r e - s e t t l e m e n t
c u r v e Ap/Aq' ( = a t h e f o u n d a t i o n s u b g r a d e c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y ) is a p p r o x i m a t e l y
f
c o n s t a n t for n o r m a l l y c o n s o l i d a t e d s a n d s a n d gravels. I n t h e table in A p p e n d i x

A t h e i m p o r t a n t d e t a i l s of e a c h of t h e c a s e r e c o r d s r e f e r r e d t o i n t h i s p a p e r a r e
s u m m a r i s e d . W h e r e the detailed pressure-settlement relationship was available
t h e v i r g i n p o r t i o n of t h e c u r v e w a s u s e d t o d e t e r m i n e Ap/Aq'. Where the
pressure-settlement relationship was not available a n d only the immediate
s e t t l e m e n t a n d t h e g r o s s effective p r e s s u r e s a r e g i v e n t h e a s s u m p t i o n w a s m a d e
t h a t t h e r e l o a d i n g c u r v e u p t o t h e effective o v e r b u r d e n p r e s s u r e a' h a s a s l o p e
v0
e q u a l t o o n e t h i r d of t h e v i r g i n c u r v e . T h u s t h e v a l u e of Ap/Aq' is g i v e n b y
x
Aq <7gross-3
I n m a n y c a s e s (e.g. for m o s t f o o t i n g s ) o n l y t h e n e t b e a r i n g p r e s s u r e and

i m m e d i a t e s e t t l e m e n t w e r e k n o w n i n w h i c h c a s e v a l u e s of pi/q' are given.
net
7.1 Relationship between a and B

f
A s s t a t e d i n t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n t o P a r t I I of t h i s p a p e r t h e a p p r o a c h t o a n a l y s i n g
t h e c a s e r e c o r d s is s i m i l a r t o t h a t a d o p t e d b y B u r l a n d et al. ( 1 9 7 7 ) viz. t o
c o r r e l a t e t h e v a l u e s of f o u n d a t i o n s u b g r a d e c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y a g i v e n i n A p p e n
f
d i x A w i t h t h e b r e a d t h B for e a c h c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y g r a d e a l s o g i v e n i n A p p e n d i x
A.
I n F i g s . 16 t o 2 0 t h e m e a s u r e d v a l u e s of f o u n d a t i o n s u b g r a d e c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y
2
af (in m m / ( k N / m ) ) a r e p l o t t e d a g a i n s t B ( m e t r e s ) o n d o u b l e l o g a x e s for
c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y g r a d e s of I I t o V I . I t c a n b e s e e n t h a t for e a c h g r a d e t h e
m a j o r i t y of t h e o b s e r v a t i o n s g i v e a w e l l d e f i n e d l i n e a r c o r r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n
l o g a a n d l o g B. A few of t h e c a s e s lie o u t s i d e t h e g e n e r a l s p r e a d of t h e r e s u l t s .
f
I n F i g . 16 ( G r a d e I I ) c a s e s 2 9 a n d 3 2 lie w e l l a b o v e t h e s c a t t e r of t h e r e s u l t s .
C a s e 2 9 is t h e 9 3 m d i a m e t e r oil s t o r a g e t a n k i n t h e E k o f i s k F i e l d of t h e N o r t h
S e a . T h e s o i l p r o f i l e s h o w s t h a t t h e s a n d is u n d e r l a i n a t a d e p t h of 2 6 m b y a
5 0 m t h i c k s t r a t u m of h a r d c l a y . I t s e e m s v e r y p r o b a b l e t h a t s i g n i f i c a n t
settlements t o o k place within this clay s t r a t u m .
C a s e 3 2 is t h e D u n g e n e s s ' B ' N u c l e a r P o w e r S t a t i o n i n K e n t , E n g l a n d , w h i c h
is f o u n d e d o n fine s a n d . I t will b e s h o w n l a t e r t h a t t h e r e is s o m e e v i d e n c e f r o m
t h e p r e s e n t s t u d y t o s u g g e s t t h a t S P T b l o w c o u n t s o n fine s a n d g i v e N v a l u e s
which are t o o high a n d s h o u l d be reduced in a c c o r d a n c e with the r e c o m m e n d a
t i o n s o f T e r z a g h i a n d P e c k ( s e e S e c t i o n 3.3). O n t h i s b a s i s t h e v a l u e o f N for
C a s e 3 2 r e d u c e s f r o m 6 0 t o 36, t h i s falls w i t h i n c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y G r a d e I I I a n d is
p l o t t e d i n F i g . 17 w h e r e it lies w i t h i n t h e s p r e a d of t h e r e s u l t s .
I n F i g . 19 ( c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y G r a d e V) C a s e 8 5 lies w e l l b e l o w t h e s p r e a d of t h e
r e s u l t s . T h i s c a s e is a c h i m n e y for a p o w e r s t a t i o n a t C o l o g n e , G e r m a n y ,
r e p o r t e d b y S c h u l t z e ( 1 9 6 2 a n d 1963). T h e S P T r e s u l t s w e r e c o n s i s t e n t l y less
t h a n 10 b e l o w t h e w a t e r t a b l e a n d , i n v i e w of t h e s m a l l s e t t l e m e n t of t h e
s t r u c t u r e , it c a n o n l y b e c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e S P T r e s u l t s a r e u n r e l i a b l e . P a r r y
(1971) also n o t e d t h e a n o m a l o u s results from this case.
I n F i g . 2 0 ( c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y G r a d e V I ) C a s e 7 9 B lies a b o v e t h e s p r e a d of t h e
r e s u l t s . C a s e s 7 9 A a n d B c o n s i s t of 2 p r e l o a d e m b a n k m e n t s n e x t t o e a c h o t h e r
b e i n g 8 m a n d 1 1 m h i g h r e s p e c t i v e l y . A s t u d y of t h e p r e s s u r e - s e t t l e m e n t c u r v e s
for e a c h e m b a n k m e n t s h o w s t h a t C a s e 7 9 B h a d a s t e e p e r p r e s s u r e - s e t t l e m e n t
c u r v e f r o m t h e s t a r t of l o a d i n g a n d t h a t t h e m u c h l a r g e r v a l u e of a f cannot
therefore be a t t r i b u t e d to local yielding u n d e r the higher e m b a n k m e n t . It w o u l d
a p p e a r t h a t t h e c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y of t h e soil for C a s e 7 9 B c o r r e s p o n d s t o G r a d e
V I I w h i c h is c o n s i s t e n t w i t h s o m e of t h e c o n e t e s t r e s u l t s o n t h e site.
I n F i g s . 16 t o 2 0 t h e b r o k e n l i n e s d r a w n t h r o u g h t h e p o i n t s h a v e b e e n fitted
u s i n g l i n e a r r e g r e s s i o n of l o g a o n l o g B. T h e c a s e s d i s c u s s e d p r e v i o u s l y w h i c h
f
lie o u t s i d e t h e s p r e a d of. t h e r e s u l t s h a v e n o t b e e n i n c l u d e d i n t h e a n a l y s i s . F o r
100 r
10
regression line of log. af on log. B
Compressibility Grade IE ( N = 41 to 60)
_i I i I I i _i i I i I i I
0.1 L-LLL
10 100
Bread th ( metres )
Fig. 16. Relationship between ^ a n d B for Compressibility Grade II (/V=41-60).
t h e G r a d e I I r e s u l t s i n F i g . 16 t h e r e g r e s s i o n l i n e is h e a v i l y w e i g h t e d b y t h e
r e l a t i v e l y l a r g e n u m b e r of c a s e s for B less t h a n 3 m e t r e s a n d t h e p a r a l l e l c h a i n
d o t t e d l i n e is felt t o b e m o r e r e a l i s t i c .
T a b l e 2 l i s t s t h e s l o p e , c o r r e l a t i o n coefficient a n d s t a n d a r d e r r o r for e a c h
r e g r e s s i o n l i n e i n F i g s . 16 t o 2 0 . I n a l l c a s e s t h e c o r r e l a t i o n coefficient e x c e e d s
0-8. T h e s t a n d a r d e r r o r for a v a r i e s f r o m x 1-46 t o x 1-9 w i t h a t e n d e n c y t o
f
increase as the compressibility increases.

A p a r t i c u l a r l y s i g n i f i c a n t f e a t u r e t o n o t e i n T a b l e 2 is t h e s i m i l a r i t y i n t h e
s l o p e s o f t h e r e g r e s s i o n lines. T h e w e i g h t e d a v e r a g e * of t h e s l o p e s is 0-704 a n d
*The weighting takes account of the correlation coefficient and the n u m b e r of cases
associated with each regression line.
100 r
10
regression line of log. af on log. B
Compressibility Grade HI ( N = 26 to AO)
0.1 I I I I _l I i i i i i
1 10 100
Breadth ( metres )
Fig. 17. Relationship between aând B for Compressibility Grade III (A7=26-40).
Table 2. Analysis of regression lines in Figs. 16 to 20

N o . of Correlation Std. error af
I *= J
Grade cases Slope m coefficient of a c 07
f
B
II 19 0-669 0-89 x 1-60 0-620x 1 0 " 2
III 45 0-71Q 0-91 xl-46 l-279xl0- 2
IV 68 0-592 0-82 xl-60 2-168 x l 0 ~ 2
V 39 0-833 0-84 xl-90 5-585 x l 0 ~ 2
VI 27 0-805 0-86 xl-79 14-656xl0~ 2
Weij *hted average = 0-704.
kN
I B in metres.
Regression line of log. af on l o g . B
Compressibility Grade ET ( N = 16 to 25 )
0 1 I »i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i
1 10 100
Breadth ( metres )
Fig. 18. Relationship between aând B for Compressibility Grade IV {N= 1 6 - 2 5 ) .
t h e g r e a t e s t d e v i a t i o n s from this are + 2 0 % a n d — 1 4 % . It w o u l d therefore

a p p e a r t h a t t h e s l o p e is i n d e p e n d e n t of t h e c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y g r a d e — a n o b s e r v a
t i o n w h i c h l e a d s t o c o n s i d e r a b l e simplifications in t h e s u b s e q u e n t analysis.
I n F i g . 2 1 t h e r e g r e s s i o n lines for e a c h c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y g r a d e a r e s h o w n as
b r o k e n l i n e s . T h e full l i n e s all h a v e s l o p e s of 0-7 a n d t h e i r l o c a t i o n s h a v e b e e n
fixed b y a l e a s t s q u a r e s a n a l y s i s of t h e d e v i a t i o n s of \oga . f They are termed
' a d j u s t e d m e a n lines'.
C o m p a r i s o n of t h e a d j u s t e d m e a n lines in F i g . 21 w i t h t h e o b s e r v a t i o n s
r e v e a l s a n i n t e r e s t i n g r e s u l t . I t t r a n s p i r e s t h a t t h e a d j u s t e d m e a n l i n e for a n y
g i v e n g r a d e f o r m s a r e a s o n a b l e u p p e r b o u n d for t h e n e x t g r a d e u p a n d a
r e a s o n a b l e l o w e r b o u n d for t h e n e x t g r a d e d o w n . T h i s is i l l u s t r a t e d i n F i g . 17
regression line of log. af on log.B
Compressibility Grade Y ( N = 9 to 15)
01 I i i I l I I I ) I i I i i I i i l I i l l
1 10 100
Breadth (metres )
Fig. 19. Relationship between a and f B for Compressibility Grade V (A7=9-15).
for G r a d e I I I c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y . T h e a d j u s t e d m e a n l i n e s for G r a d e s I V a n d I I a r e
s h o w n c h a i n d o t t e d a n d are seen to form very r e a s o n a b l e u p p e r a n d lower
l i m i t s t o t h e s p r e a d o f t h e r e s u l t s . U p p e r a n d l o w e r l i m i t l i n e s for t h e o t h e r
compressibility g r a d e s h a v e b e e n o b t a i n e d in t h e s a m e w a y a n d are s h o w n b y
c h a i n d o t t e d l i n e s in t h e a p p r o p r i a t e figures. I n g e n e r a l t h e l i m i t l i n e s s h o w n i n
0.1 —I i I I i l i —l I l I I I I
100
Breadth (metres )
Fig. 2 1 . Relationship between afl B and Compressibility Grade s h o w i n g mean lines

and upper and lower limits.
F i g s . 16 t o 2 0 c o r r e s p o n d t o a s p r e a d of r a t h e r less t h a n p l u s o r m i n u s t w o
s t a n d a r d e r r o r s f r o m t h e r e g r e s s i o n l i n e for e a c h g r a d e . V e r y few of t h e r e s u l t s
lie a b o v e t h e u p p e r l i m i t l i n e s w h e r e a s r a t h e r m o r e lie b e l o w t h e l o w e r l i m i t
l i n e s p a r t i c u l a r l y for v a l u e s of B less t h a n a b o u t 3 m e t r e s . T h u s F i g . 21 f o r m s a
c o n v e n i e n t s u m m a r y of t h e d a t a a n d c o u l d b e u s e d for d e s i g n p u r p o s e s .
I t is of t h e u t m o s t i m p o r t a n c e t o r e c o g n i s e t h a t t h e r e g r e s s i o n l i n e s o r
a d j u s t e d m e a n l i n e s c a n n o t b e u s e d for e x t r a p o l a t i n g t h e s e t t l e m e n t for a s m a l l
f o o t i n g t o a l a r g e r o n e . B y i n c r e a s i n g t h e b r e a d t h of t h e f o o t i n g , t h e d e p t h of
i n f l u e n c e is i n c r e a s e d a n d t h i s m a y w e l l r e s u l t i n a n u p g r a d i n g of t h e
compressibility grade.
7.2 Relationship between a , B and N

f
T h e e q u a t i o n for t h e a d j u s t e d m e a n l i n e s i n F i g . 2 1 is g i v e n b y :
l o g a = mx
f log B + C(N) (12)
w h e r e t h e s l o p e m = 0-7. T h e t e r m C(N) is a f u n c t i o n of t h e c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y
g r a d e a n d h e n c e of t h e m e a n S P T b l o w c o u n t JV. T h e v a l u e of C c o r r e s p o n d i n g
t o a p a r t i c u l a r c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y g r a d e is g i v e n b y t h e i n t e r c e p t of t h e a p p r o p r i a t e
a d j u s t e d m e a n l i n e w i t h t h e a a x i s (i.e. w h e n B = l m ) . H e n c e
f
C W = l o g ^ = l o g ^ ( = log/ ) c
(13)
w h e r e I is t e r m e d t h e c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y i n d e x .
c
0 7
I n T a b l e 2 t h e v a l u e s of a /B ' f ( = I ) for e a c h c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y g r a d e a r e
C
listed a n d in Fig. 22 they are plotted as o p e n points against N o n d o u b l e log

a x e s . T h e u p p e r a n d l o w e r l i m i t s for e a c h c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y g r a d e a r e a l s o s h o w n .
I t c a n b e s e e n t h a t t h e r e is a n a p p r o x i m a t e l y l i n e a r r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n l o g I c
a n d l o g N a n d t h e r e a s o n for h a v i n g a p r o g r e s s i v e l y i n c r e a s i n g i n t e r v a l i n JV for
s u c c e s s i v e c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y g r a d e s n o w b e c o m e s a p p a r e n t . T h e s p r e a d of I c
b e t w e e n t h e u p p e r a n d l o w e r l i m i t s i n c r e a s e s f r o m a f a c t o r of a b o u t f o u r for
G r a d e I I t o a b o u t e i g h t for G r a d e V I .
I n v i e w of t h e a p p a r e n t l y l i n e a r r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n l o g / a n d l o g i V a n
c
i n d e p e n d e n t r e g r e s s i o n a n a l y s i s w a s c a r r i e d o u t o n all t h e c a s e s i n A p p e n d i x A
f o r w h i c h S P T o r c o n e t e s t d a t a a r e a v a i l a b l e . T h e r e s u l t s of t h e a n a l y s i s a r e
01
g i v e n i n F i g . 2 2 . T h e r e g r e s s i o n l i n e for \og(a /B )
f o n l o g i V is s h o w n a s a full
l i n e . I t h a s a s l o p e of —1-43 a n d a n i n t e r c e p t o n t h e N=l a x i s of J = l - 7 . T h e
c
c o e f f i c i e n t of c o r r e l a t i o n is 0 - 8 4 8 .
T h e r e g r e s s i o n l i n e i n F i g . 2 3 h a s b e e n p l o t t e d i n F i g . 2 2 a n d is s e e n t o a g r e e
well w i t h t h e p o i n t s for e a c h c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y g r a d e . M e a n u p p e r a n d l o w e r limit
lines h a v e a l s o b e e n d r a w n in as c h a i n d o t t e d lines a n d a r e r e p r o d u c e d in Fig.
2 3 . I t c a n b e s e e n t h a t m o s t of t h e i n d i v i d u a l c a s e s lie b e t w e e n t h e s e l i m i t l i n e s
a n d t h e m a j o r i t y of t h o s e t h a t d o n o t a r e for B less t h a n 3 m for w h i c h t h e
s c a t t e r is s o m e w h a t l a r g e r .
T h u s F i g . 2 2 is a m o r e c o m p a c t f o r m of F i g . 2 1 a n d c a n b e u s e d for d e s i g n
purposes—see Section 2.1.
8. The influence of various factors on settlement
T h e c o l l e c t i o n of a r e l a t i v e l y l a r g e set of d a t a s u c h a s is g i v e n i n A p p e n d i x A
m a k e s it p o s s i b l e t o s t u d y s t a t i s t i c a l l y t h e i n f l u e n c e of v a r i o u s f a c t o r s o n t h e
i m m e d i a t e s e t t l e m e n t of l o a d e d a r e a s o n g r a n u l a r m a t e r i a l s .
T h e regression line in Fig. 23 c a n be r e p r e s e n t e d b y the expression:
N l 4
' '
log = 2-23(±0-26) (14)
w h e r e t h e figure i n b r a c k e t s r e p r e s e n t s o n e s t a n d a r d e r r o r .
36
100
10
— regression line of log I on c
log N
— upper and lower limit lines
f r o m Fig. 22
• B > 3m
o B < 3m
_l l i i L_J_ _i i I i i i
0.1
10 100
SPT V
Fig. 23. Relationship between compressibility index l and A/ for all cases in w h i c h c
SPT or cone tests were carried out.
l 4 01 2
D e n o t i n g l o g [N ' /B ] xa x 10 a s T, t h e v a l u e o f T f o r e a c h c a s e g i v e n i n
f
A p p e n d i x A m a y b e c a l c u l a t e d . F i g u r e 2 4 s h o w s a h i s t o g r a m of T for t h e
c o m p l e t e d a t a set w h i c h c a n b e seen t o b e a p p r o x i m a t e l y n o r m a l l y d i s t r i b u t e d .
T h e m e a n v a l u e of T is d e n o t e d b y T a n d is e q u a l t o 2-232. F o r a n y g i v e n
f o u n d a t i o n t h e b e s t e s t i m a t e of t h e f o u n d a t i o n c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y a is g i v e n b y f
.0-7
B .0-7
{
B l
af = -x 10 7
- x 1-706. (15)
1
100AT
T h e d e v i a t i o n of a n y m e a s u r e d v a l u e of a f r o m t h e b e s t e s t i m a t e a m a y b e
f f
e x p r e s s e d a s a /df fo r a /a . T h e v a l u e s of a /a
f f a n d d /a corresponding to f f f f
Fig. 24. Frequency distribution of the settlement observations for all the cases.
o n e s t a n d a r d d e v i a t i o n f r o m a a r e b o t h 1-82. H e n c e a n y s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y s i s
f
will o n l y d e t e c t m a j o r i n f l u e n c e s o n a a n d c a r e m u s t b e t a k e n n o t t o r e a d t o o
f
m u c h into minor trends.

I t is a s s u m e d t h a t t h e m a j o r f a c t o r s i n f l u e n c i n g a ( a p a r t f r o m N a n d B) a r e
f
t h e l e n g t h L , t h e d e p t h D , t h e d e p t h of t h e w a t e r t a b l e H wa n d t h e t h i c k n e s s of
t h e s a n d l a y e r b e n e a t h t h e f o u n d a t i o n H . E a c h of t h e s e p a r a m e t e r s will b e
s
studied separately.
8 J Influence of L/B
I n F i g . 2 5 v a l u e s of a /a f f h a v e b e e n p l o t t e d for v a r i o u s v a l u e s of L/B for t h o s e
c a s e s i n w h i c h D/B<0-25, Hw/B<0 2 a n d HJB>2. T h e c h a i n d o t t e d lines
c o r r e s p o n d t o o n e s t a n d a r d d e v i a t i o n e i t h e r s i d e of t h e m e a n . I t c a n b e s e e n
t h a t t h e m e a s u r e d v a l u e s of a a r e l a r g e r t h a n a for t h e m a j o r i t y of c a s e s
f f
i n d i c a t i n g a p o s i t i v e c o r r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n L/B a n d a . H o w e v e r t h e i n f l u e n c e of
f
L/B is n o t l a r g e a n d it w o u l d a p p e a r t h a t t h e a v e r a g e v a l u e of a /a f f is u n l i k e l y
t o e x c e e d a b o u t 1-5 a t L/B e q u a l t o 5. A l t h o u g h t h e r e a r e v e r y few o b s e r v a t i o n s
for l a r g e r v a l u e s of L/B t h e r e s u l t s d o n o t p o i n t t o a n y f u r t h e r i n c r e a s e i n t h e
a v e r a g e v a l u e of a /af f b e y o n d a b o u t 1-6. F o r c o m p a r i s o n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p for
h o m o g e n e o u s e l a s t i c t h e o r y is s h o w n a s a b r o k e n l i n e a n d is s e e n t o g i v e
s i g n i f i c a n t l y l a r g e r a v e r a g e v a l u e s of a /a
f f t h a n o b s e r v e d . T h e full line i n F i g .
2 5 is g i v e n b y t h e e m p i r i c a l e x p r e s s i o n
f = a la = (6)
> '' lLJB^W5\
J. B. B U R L A N D A N D M . C. B U R B I D G E
G—*>
cr ©—*•
• 3m
© B < 3m
3-
Elastic
- , fl-25 L/B l 2
Fig. 25. Influence of L/B on foundation subgrade compressibility
w h i c h a p p e a r s t o r e p r e s e n t t h e o b s e r v e d t r e n d r e a s o n a b l y well a n d t e n d s to
1-56 a s L/B t e n d s t o infinity.
8.2 Influence of D/B

I n F i g . 2 6 o b s e r v e d v a l u e s o f a /d h a v e b e e n p l o t t e d a g a i n s t D/B f o r t h e c a s e s
f f
i n w h i c h L/B< 15, H /B<02 wa n d HJB>2. T h e r e a r e a n u m b e r of o b s e r v a

t i o n s f o r D/B < 0 - 3 b u t r e l a t i v e l y few for l a r g e r v a l u e s . I t a p p e a r s t h a t t h e r e is
n o o b v i o u s c o r r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n a /a a n d D/B. I n t h e i r a n a l y s i s of a l a r g e
f f
n u m b e r of o b s e r v a t i o n s o n o n e s i t e D ' A p p o l o n i a et al. ( 1 9 6 8 ) r e p o r t o n l y a
a /a
f f
3
•
•
• ©
2 ©
© ©
•
<•
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0
2.5 . 3.0
• D/B
• •
•
2
3!
©
©
f /a f • B >3m
© B < 3m
Fig. 26. Influence of D/B on foundation subgrade compressibility a . f
1 2 % r e d u c t i o n i n s e t t l e m e n t a s D/B i n c r e a s e s f r o m 0-5 t o 1-0. S u c h a v a r i a t i o n

is t o o s m a l l t o d e t e c t i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e s c a t t e r of t h e r e s u l t s p r e s e n t e d h e r e a n d
s u p p o r t s t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e i n f l u e n c e of D/B is s m a l l .
8.3 Influence of depth of water table H w
T h e r e a r e differing o p i n i o n s a b o u t t h e i n f l u e n c e of t h e d e p t h of t h e w a t e r t a b l e
o n settlement. F o r e x a m p l e Terzaghi a n d Peck (1948) a s s u m e t h a t for a deep
w a t e r t a b l e t h e s e t t l e m e n t of a f o u n d a t i o n is h a l f t h a t for a w a t e r t a b l e a t
f o u n d i n g level. H o w e v e r M e y e r h o f ( 1 9 6 5 ) r e c o m m e n d s t h a t t h e p r e s e n c e of t h e
g r o u n d w a t e r t a b l e s h o u l d b e i g n o r e d o n t h e b a s i s t h a t its effect is a l r e a d y
reflected in t h e S P T b l o w c o u n t .
I n t h e f o l l o w i n g a n a l y s i s a d i s t i n c t i o n is d r a w n b e t w e e n r e s u l t s f r o m b u i l d i n g
f o u n d a t i o n s a n d results from plate l o a d i n g tests. It c a n b e seen from A p p e n d i x
A a n d B t h a t for t h e m a j o r i t y of b u i l d i n g f o u n d a t i o n s , e m b a n k m e n t s a n d t a n k s
t h e w a t e r t a b l e is c l o s e t o f o u n d i n g level. H e n c e it is p o s s i b l e t o a n a l y s e t h e
r e s u l t s o f t h o s e c a s e s w h e r e t h e w a t e r t a b l e is d e e p ( t a k e n a s g r e a t e r t h a n 5 m )
a n d c o m p a r e t h e m w i t h t h e w h o l e d a t a set. T h e r e a r e fifteen c a s e s w h i c h fall
i n t o t h i s c a t e g o r y a n d F i g . 27(a) s h o w s t h e f r e q u e n c y d i s t r i b u t i o n of T. T h e
(a) B u i l d i n g foundations
H > w 5m
No. of v a l u e s = 15
30
T(mean) = 2.176
a" = 0.187
( a f / d ) mean = 1 . 1 3
f
u
c
cr
£ 10
1.0 2.0 3.0

1 , 4
N
B 0.7
( b ) Plate tests
30
H / B >1
w
No. of v a l u e s = 24
T ( m e a n ) = 2.103
i 20 h 0" = 0.215
1.0 2.0 3.0
Fig. 27. (a) Frequency distribution of settlement observations for buildings w i t h H w
greater than 5 m. (b) Frequency distribution of settlement observations for plate

loading tests w i t h Hw/B greater than 1.
m e a n v a l u e of T f o r t h i s d a t a s e t ( g i v e n b y t h e full line) is 2-18 a n d t h e

s t a n d a r d d e v i a t i o n a is 0-19. T h e s e v a l u e s m a y b e c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e
c o r r e s p o n d i n g v a l u e s for t h e c o m p l e t e d a t a s e t w h i c h a r e T = 2 - 2 3 ( s h o w n b y
t h e b r o k e n l i n e ) a n d o = 0-26. T h e a v e r a g e v a l u e of a /a f = 1-13 i.e. t h e
f
s e t t l e m e n t s of t h e f o u n d a t i o n s w i t h d e e p w a t e r t a b l e s a r e , o n a v e r a g e , o n l y 1 3 %
less t h a n t h e b e s t e s t i m a t e s f r o m t h e w h o l e d a t a set. I t m u s t b e c o n c l u d e d f r o m
t h e a b o v e a n a l y s i s t h a t t h e level of t h e w a t e r t a b l e h a s n o s i g n i f i c a n t i n f l u e n c e
o n t h e v a l u e of a for b u i l d i n g f o u n d a t i o n s .
f
A l m o s t a l l of t h e p l a t e l o a d i n g t e s t s l i s t e d i n A p p e n d i x B h a v e WH /B>1.
F i g u r e 2 7 ( b ) s h o w s t h e f r e q u e n c y d i s t r i b u t i o n of T for 2 4 p l a t e t e s t s w i t h
Hw/B>l. T h e m e a n v a l u e of T f o r t h i s d a t a s e t is 2 T a n d t h e s t a n d a r d
d e v i a t i o n is 0-22. T h e a v e r a g e v a l u e of d /a f f is 1-34. T h u s t h e s e t t l e m e n t s of t h e
p l a t e s a r e , o n a v e r a g e , 2 5 % less t h a n t h e b e s t e s t i m a t e s . H o w e v e r t h e l o a d i n g of
t h e p l a t e s w a s c a r r i e d o u t i n less t h a n a d a y w h e r e a s t h e l o a d i n g of t h e
b u i l d i n g f o u n d a t i o n s u s u a l l y t o o k p l a c e o v e r a y e a r o r m o r e . I t will b e c o m e
evident later in t h e p a p e r t h a t significant time d e p e n d e n t settlements occur o n
s a n d . H e n c e t h e fact t h a t a f r o m t h e p l a t e t e s t s is less t h a n d is n o t s u r p r i s i n g
f f
a n d c a n b e a t t r i b u t e d p r i n c i p a l l y t o t i m e effects.
I t w o u l d a p p e a r f r o m t h i s s t u d y t h a t t h e p o s i t i o n of t h e w a t e r t a b l e o n l y h a s
a s m a l l i n f l u e n c e o n t h e v a l u e of T. I t is i m p o r t a n t t o e m p h a s i z e t h a t t h i s
c o n c l u s i o n m u s t n o t b e t a k e n t o i m p l y t h a t t h e p o s i t i o n of t h e w a t e r t a b l e d o e s
n o t i n f l u e n c e t h e s e t t l e m e n t . W h a t it d o e s d o is t o c o n f i r m M e y e r h o f s v i e w
t h a t t h e effect of t h e w a t e r t a b l e is p r o b a b l y r e f l e c t e d i n t h e v a l u e of N. If a
w a t e r t a b l e c h a n g e s s u b s e q u e n t t o t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n of t h e N v a l u e s t h e
s e t t l e m e n t s m a y differ a p p r e c i a b l y f r o m t h e p r e d i c t e d v a l u e s .
8.4 Influence of thickness of sand layer

A few of t h e c a s e s g i v e n i n A p p e n d i x A h a v e a t h i c k n e s s of s a n d l a y e r H s
b e n e a t h t h e f o u n d a t i o n of less t h a n IB. A s m i g h t b e e x p e c t e d t h e r e is a
t e n d e n c y for t h e v a l u e s of a t o lie b e l o w a b u t t h e r e a r e i n s u f f i c i e n t c a s e s for
f f
a n y u s e f u l t r e n d t o e m e r g e . I t is s u g g e s t e d t h a t , for d e s i g n p u r p o s e s , t h e
p r e d i c t e d v a l u e of a s h o u l d b e r e d u c e d b y t h e f a c t o r :
f
w h e n H ^Zj
s where z l is t h e d e p t h o f i n f l u e n c e g i v e n b y F i g . 3 .
8.5 Influence of grain size on N

I t is g e n e r a l l y a c c e p t e d t h a t g r a i n size d o e s n o t h a v e a m a j o r i n f l u e n c e o n t h e
n u m b e r of b l o w s i n a n S P T . T w o s o i l t y p e s w h e r e u n c e r t a i n t i e s e x i s t a r e fine
s a n d s o r silty s a n d s b e l o w t h e w a t e r t a b l e a n d gravelly soils as d i s c u s s e d in
S e c t i o n s 3.3 a n d 3.2 r e s p e c t i v e l y .
Fine sands and silty sands. I n F i g . 2 8 t h e b l a c k p o i n t s refer t o t h e o b s e r v e d
s e t t l e m e n t s of f o u n d a t i o n s o n fine s a n d s a n d silty s a n d s for w h i c h N w a s
e v a l u a t e d f r o m S P T t e s t s b e l o w t h e w a t e r t a b l e . I n S e c t i o n 3.3 t w o m e t h o d s of
c o r r e c t i n g for s u b m e r g e n c e for fine s a n d s w e r e m e n t i o n e d , T e r z a g h i a n d P e c k
( 1 9 4 8 ) a n d B a z a r a a ( 1 9 6 7 ) . T h e o p e n p o i n t s i n F i g . 2 8 refer t o c o r r e c t e d b l o w
c o u n t s N' w h e r e N'= 15 + (0-5)(iV — 1 5 ) a s p r o p o s e d b y T e r z a g h i a n d P e c k . I t
' 1 10 100
SPT N and N'
Fig. 28. Relationship between compressibility index l and N for submerged fine and c
silty sands.
c a n b e s e e n t h a t o n l y five c a s e s a r e affected a n d o n l y t w o of t h e m ( 3 2 a n d 64)

s i g n i f i c a n t l y s o . T h e effect of t h e c o r r e c t i o n is t o b r i n g t h e s e t w o c a s e s c l o s e r t o
t h e m e a n r e g r e s s i o n l i n e t a k e n f r o m F i g . 2 3 . A p p l i c a t i o n of t h e B a z a r a a
c o r r e c t i o n (N' = 0.6N) t r a n s l a t e s all t h e p o i n t s s i g n i f i c a n t l y t o t h e left w h i c h
r e s u l t s i n a p o o r e r o v e r a l l c o r r e l a t i o n . T h e r e f o r e o n t h e b a s i s of t h e l i m i t e d
e v i d e n c e a v a i l a b l e it a p p e a r s t h a t t h e S P T c o r r e c t i o n p r o p o s e d b y T e r z a g h i a n d
P e c k for s u b m e r g e d fine o r silty s a n d s r e s u l t s i n a n i m p r o v e d a s s e s s m e n t of
compressibility.
Gravel and gravelly sands. F i g u r e 2 9 s h o w s a p l o t of I v N for all t h e c a s e s

c
i n v o l v i n g g r a v e l , s a n d y g r a v e l a n d g r a v e l / s a n d . B y i n s p e c t i o n it c a n b e s e e n
t h a t t h e m e a n of t h e p o i n t s t e n d s t o lie t o t h e left of t h e m e a n r e g r e s s i o n l i n e
for t h e c o m p l e t e d a t a set. T h i s is c o n f i r m e d b y a s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y s i s of t h e
r e s u l t s w h i c h g i v e s a m e a n v a l u e of T=2-085 a n d a = 0-246 c o m p a r e d w i t h T=
2-232 a n d 5 = 0-263 for t h e w h o l e d a t a set. I t is a s i m p l e m a t t e r t o s h o w t h a t
c a n D e
Tmean m a d e e q u a l t o T b y c o r r e c t i n g t h e N v a l u e s s u c h t h a t N' =
1-23 xN. T h i s is a fairly s m a l l c o r r e c t i o n a n d i n m a n y c a s e s c o u l d p e r h a p s b e
n e g l e c t e d . It is w o r t h n o t i n g t h a t t h e l o w e s t v a l u e of N for t h e c a s e r e c o r d s
i n v o l v i n g g r a v e l is 13 a n d m o r e d a t a a r e r e q u i r e d for l o w e r v a l u e s of N.
100 , n — i — i — i i i i i
~i 1—i i i i i i
10
CM
o
o I CO
II
0 1
1 10 100
SPT 'N'
Fig. 29. Relationship between compressibility index l and N for gravels and sandy c
gravels.
8.6 Inherent variability

N a t u r a l d e p o s i t s of g r a n u l a r s o i l s a r e i n h e r e n t l y v a r i a b l e b o t h l a t e r a l l y a n d
v e r t i c a l l y . C l e a r l y t h e v a r i a b i l i t y will differ f r o m o n e s i t e t o a n o t h e r . Effects of
d i f f e r e n t f o u n d a t i o n g e o m e t r i e s a n d l o a d i n g s h a v e m a d e it difficult t o i s o l a t e
t h e effects o f i n h e r e n t v a r i a b i l i t y o n t h e s e t t l e m e n t of s e p a r a t e f o u n d a t i o n s a t a
g i v e n s i t e . T h e p r e s e n t s t u d y i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e i n f l u e n c e of g e o m e t r y a n d l o a d
c a n b e l a r g e l y e l i m i n a t e d b y e x p r e s s i n g t h e m e a s u r e m e n t s f r o m a given site as
t h e q u a n t i t y T. T h e v a r i a t i o n i n T for a g i v e n site is t h e n a m e a s u r e of t h e
i n h e r e n t v a r i a b i l i t y of t h e s e t t l e m e n t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h e s i t e . F i g u r e 3 0 s h o w s
a p l o t of T / T m e a n f o r all t h e c a s e s w h e r e m o r e t h a n o n e f o u n d a t i o n w a s
o b s e r v e d a t a given site. It c a n b e seen t h a t t h e m e a s u r e d s e t t l e m e n t s generally
lie b e t w e e n a b o u t ± 5 0 % of t h e a v e r a g e a l t h o u g h o n s o m e sites it is less t h a n
± 2 0 % . I t c a n b e c o n c l u d e d t h a t g i v e n p e r f e c t m e t h o d s of m e a s u r i n g t h e
c o m p r e s s i o n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of g r a n u l a r d e p o s i t s a n d p r e d i c t i n g s e t t l e m e n t o n e
c o u l d n o r m a l l y e x p e c t differences of u p t o a f a c t o r of a b o u t 3 i n t h e a c t u a l
s e t t l e m e n t s d e p e n d i n g o n t h e s i t e c o n d i t i o n s . I t c a n b e s e e n t h a t t h e m e t h o d of
c o r r e l a t i n g f o u n d a t i o n compressibility w i t h compressibility g r a d e given in Fig.
2 2 g i v e s d i f f e r e n c e s v a r y i n g b e t w e e n f a c t o r s of 4 t o 8. C l e a r l y t h e r e is still r o o m
SETTLEMENT O F F O U N D A T I O N S ON SAND AND GRAVEL 43
2.0 h
1 6
T h
1
mean
1.4 - (15) ( )
3
1.2 -
1.0 —
1.2 -
1.4 -
T mean
T 1.6 h
2.0
_J I I I I l_J_ I I I I I l
100
SPT N
Fig. 30. Investigation into the inherent variability of settlement characteristics at a

number of sites.
for c o n s i d e r a b l e i m p r o v e m e n t i n p r e d i c t i v e m e t h o d s but the limitations of

i n h e r e n t variability s h o u l d a l w a y s be b o r n e in m i n d .
9. Time dependent settlement

A s p o i n t e d o u t b y S c h m e r t m a n n ( 1 9 7 0 ) it is n o t c o m m o n t o c o n s i d e r t h e t i m e
d e p e n d e n t s e t t l e m e n t of s a n d . H o w e v e r all t h e c a s e r e c o r d s r e p o r t e d h e r e w h i c h
h a v e m e a s u r e m e n t s s u b s e q u e n t t o c o m p l e t i o n of c o n s t r u c t i o n s h o w t i m e
d e p e n d e n t s e t t l e m e n t , a s c a n b e s e e n f r o m A p p e n d i x A. H o w e v e r of t h e 2 7
c a s e s g i v e n i n t h e A p p e n d i x , 14 h a v e t o b e t r e a t e d w i t h c a u t i o n d u e t o t h e
p r e s e n c e of c l a y o r silt l a y e r s b e n e a t h t h e l o a d e d a r e a o r d u e t o t h e s a n d
h a v i n g b e e n r e c e n t l y p l a c e d . M o r e o v e r for a n u m b e r of t h e r e m a i n i n g c a s e s t h e
periods over which creep m e a s u r e m e n t s h a v e been m a d e are relatively s h o r t
a n d d o n o t g i v e a c l e a r p a t t e r n of b e h a v i o u r .
F o r t u n a t e l y a v e r y c o m p l e t e s e t of s e t t l e m e n t o b s e r v a t i o n s h a s b e e n p u b
l i s h e d b y B o l e n s k i ( 1 9 7 3 ) for t e n s t r u c t u r e s f o u n d e d o n s a n d i n W a r s a w ( C a s e s
16 t o 25). B o l e n s k i , w h o w a s i n fact n o t a n e n g i n e e r , w h i l e w o r k i n g for t h e
Polish Building Research Institute and, later as a h o b b y , collected settlement
d a t a o n s t r u c t u r e s o v e r a p e r i o d of a b o u t 2 0 y e a r s . I n v i e w of t h e l e n g t h of t h e
r e c o r d s ( s o m e o v e r 16 y e a r s ) t h e y a r e i n v a l u a b l e for s t u d y i n g t h e c r e e p
s e t t l e m e n t of f o u n d a t i o n s o n s a n d .
I n F i g . 31 t h e m e a s u r e m e n t s o n f o u r b u i l d i n g s i n W a r s a w ( C a s e s 2 2 t o 25)
a r e p l o t t e d i n t e r m s of pjp t v e r s u s l o g t i m e after c o m p l e t i o n of c o n s t r u c t i o n (p t
is t h e s e t t l e m e n t a t c o m p l e t i o n of c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d p is t h e s e t t l e m e n t a t t i m e t
t
Time a f t e r completion of c o n s t r u c t i o n - days
100 500 1000 5000

1.0
1.1
p
ypi
1.2
1.3
Fig. 3 1 . Time-settlement characteristics of four buildings in Warsaw (Bolenski, 1973).

1973).
a f t e r c o n s t r u c t i o n ) . I n s p i t e of t h e l e n g t h of t h e s e t t l e m e n t r e c o r d s n o c l e a r
p a t t e r n emerges. C a s e s 22 a n d 25 a p p e a r t o s h o w c o n t i n u i n g settlement which
is a p p r o x i m a t e l y l i n e a r w i t h t h e l o g a r i t h m of t i m e . H o w e v e r C a s e s 2 3 a n d 2 4
s h o w s t e p w i s e b e h a v i o u r w i t h l o n g p e r i o d s of l i t t l e s e t t l e m e n t f o l l o w e d b y
sudden downward movement.
B o l e n s k i a l s o p r e s e n t e d l o n g c a s e r e c o r d s of s e t t l e m e n t of c h i m n e y s o n s a n d
a n d these s h o w markedly m o r e time dependent behaviour than buildings. In
F i g . 3 2 t h e r e s u l t s for t h r e e c h i m n e y s ( C a s e s 16 a n d 19) a r e p l o t t e d a s p /p
t t
v e r s u s l o g t i m e . C a s e 19 s h o w s l i n e a r s e t t l e m e n t w i t h t h e l o g a r i t h m of t i m e b u t
C a s e s 1 6 A a n d B a g a i n s h o w s t e p w i s e b e h a v i o u r . B y c o m p a r i n g F i g s . 31 a n d
3 2 it c a n b e s e e n t h a t t h e c h i m n e y s r e a c h m u c h l a r g e r v a l u e s of p lp t t than the
b u i l d i n g s a n d a l s o s h o w a m o r e r a p i d c r e e p r a t e . T h e r e a s o n for t h i s is t h o u g h t
t o b e d u e t o t h e a c t i o n of w i n d i n d u c i n g f l u c t u a t i n g p r e s s u r e s o n t h e s a n d .
B o l e n s k i a l s o r e p o r t s s o m e r e c o r d s of s e t t l e m e n t of t u r b i n e f o u n d a t i o n s w h i c h
s h o w similar characteristics to the chimneys a n d which were undoubtedly
s u b j e c t e d t o f l u c t u a t i n g l o a d s . T h e s t e p w i s e n a t u r e of t h e t i m e - s e t t l e m e n t
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of s o m e of t h e s t r u c t u r e s m a y b e d u e t o p e r t u r b a t i o n s in l o a d i n g
( p o s s i b l y m i n o r s e i s m i c e v e n t s ) t r i g g e r i n g g r a i n s l i p w i t h i n t h e m a s s of t h e s a n d .
T h e r e s u l t s p r e s e n t e d in F i g s . 31 a n d 3 2 m a y b e a p p r o x i m a t e l y r e p r e s e n t e d
by the expression
Pt
(8)
Pi
where:
t is t h e t i m e a f t e r c o m p l e t i o n of c o n s t r u c t i o n i n y e a r s a n d is ^ 3,
R is t h e c r e e p r a t i o ( t h e p r o p o r t i o n of t h e i m m e d i a t e s e t t l e m e n t t h a t t a k e s
p l a c e p e r l o g c y c l e of t i m e ) ,
R is t h e p r o p o r t i o n of i m m e d i a t e s e t t l e m e n t t h a t t a k e s p l a c e d u r i n g t h e first
3
three years following completion.
Time after completion of construction - days
100 1000 10 000

1.0 r -
1.5
2.0
2.5
Fig. 32. Time-settlement characteristics of three chimneys in Warsaw (Bolenski,

1973).
I n T a b l e 3 t h e v a l u e s of R a n d R are l i s t e d for t h e r e l e v a n t c a s e s . T h e r e is
3
n o o b v i o u s c o r r e l a t i o n w i t h soil t y p e . C a s e 51 consists of eight l a r g e footings

o n g r a v e l a n d it c a n b e s e e n t h a t t h e v a l u e s o f R a n d R h a v e a w i d e r a n g e
3
e v e n o n t h e s a m e site.
A c o n s e r v a t i v e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f T a b l e 3 l e a d s t o t h e f o l l o w i n g e x p r e s s i o n for
buildings:
— = 1 - 3 + 0-2 l o g (10)
Pt
a n d for c h i m n e y s :
^ = 1-7 + 0-8 l o g ( { (17)

3
Pt \
T h e l a t t e r e x p r e s s i o n m a y b e a p p r o p r i a t e for o t h e r f o u n d a t i o n s s u b j e c t t o
fluctuating l o a d s s u c h a s b r i d g e a b u t m e n t s a n d s i l o s . A n o t h e r w a y of i n t e r p r e t
i n g t h e a b o v e e x p r e s s i o n s is t h a t after 3 0 y e a r s p = \-5p t t for b u i l d i n g s a n d
p = 2-5p for c h i m n e y s .
t t
T h e a b o v e expressions have been derived from limited d a t a which are mainly

r e s t r i c t e d t o G r a d e I I I s a n d a n d g r a v e l . C l e a r l y t h e r e is a n e e d f o r m o r e p o s t
c o n s t r u c t i o n s e t t l e m e n t o b s e r v a t i o n s o v e r a p e r i o d of y e a r s .
Table 3. Creep of foundations on sand and gravel
Case Grade Principal soil type (days) *3 R
Buildings:
22 III F i n e / m e d i u m sand 751 0-11 0-23
23 III Clayey silty sand 334 0-30 0
24 III Silty fine sand 355 0-26 0
25 III Fine sand 894 0-14 0-21
51 III Gravel 880 0-37* 0-17t
83 IV Sand/gravel 822 0-13 0-13
84 V Sand/gravel 488 0-05 0-07
Chimneys:
16A III M e d i u m sand 1208 0-55 0-85
16B III M e d i u m sand 542 0-35 0-53
19 III Fine silty sand 61 100 0-67
N o t e : pjpi = 1 4- R + R log(t/3) t in years.

3
* M e a n of r a n g e 0 0 6 to 0-62.
t M e a n of r a n g e 0-02 to 0-4.
10. Discussion and conclusions

N o a t t e m p t is m a d e h e r e t o c o m p a r e t h e r e s u l t s of t h e c o r r e l a t i o n s d e r i v e d i n
t h i s p a p e r w i t h t h e p r e d i c t i o n s of o t h e r m e t h o d s . T o d o s o w o u l d r e q u i r e a
c a s e b y c a s e c o m p a r i s o n . T h e c o n f i d e n c e l i m i t s of t h e c o r r e l a t i o n s u m m a r i s e d
i n F i g . 1 a r e l a r g e a n d a r e b e l i e v e d t o p r i n c i p a l l y reflect t h e l i m i t a t i o n s of t h e
S P T , c o n e p e n e t r a t i o n test a n d o t h e r indirect m e t h o d s for assessing t h e
c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y of g r a n u l a r m a t e r i a l s . M o s t o t h e r m e t h o d s of s e t t l e m e n t p r e d i c
t i o n , a l t h o u g h m o r e a n a l y t i c a l l y b a s e d , r e l y o n s u c h i n d i r e c t m e t h o d s of
a s s e s s i n g c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y a n d will t h e r e f o r e a l s o h a v e w i d e c o n f i d e n c e l i m i t s . A
r e c o g n i t i o n of t h i s fact, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e v a r i a b i l i t y i n h e r e n t o n a n y site, is a n
i m p o r t a n t factor in the design process.
S c h u l t z e a n d S h e r i f (1973) c a r r i e d o u t a s i m i l a r c o r r e l a t i o n t o t h e o n e
described here using a multi-correlation technique. Their d a t a base was very
m u c h m o r e l i m i t e d t h a n in t h i s s t u d y a n d w a s l a r g e l y d o m i n a t e d b y c a s e s w i t h
N = 20 a n d N = 3 0 . N e v e r t h e l e s s it is of i n t e r e s t t o c o m p a r e t h e r e s u l t s of t h e i r
correlation w i t h the one derived here. F o r a square footing resting o n the
surface of a d e e p s a n d layer Schultze a n d Sherif s results m a y be expressed as:
0-596 x X /B
V 1 8
" f = ttO-87 ( )
w h i c h m a y b e c o m p a r e d w i t h e q u a t i o n (15):
0 7
1-706 x B '
T h e t w o e q u a t i o n s a r e c o m p a r e d i n F i g . 3 3 for 5 = 3 m a n d £ = 3 0 m a n d
a g r e e r e a s o n a b l y w e l l b e t w e e n N = 1 0 a n d N = 3 0 . T h e difference i n s l o p e
I I I I I I M i l l
10 _ 100
N
Fig. 33. Comparison between the correlation between a and 7\7 derived in the paper f
w i t h that obtained by Schultze and Sherif ( 1 9 7 3 ) .
b e t w e e n t h e t w o r e l a t i o n s h i p s is p r o b a b l y d u e t o t h e fact t h a t N i n e q u a t i o n
(18) is d e t e r m i n e d o v e r a m u c h g r e a t e r d e p t h (2B) t h a n for e q u a t i o n (15). I t
s h o u l d also be n o t e d t h a t Schultze a n d Sherif arrive at m u c h larger s h a p e a n d
d e p t h c o r r e c t i o n factors t h a n o b t a i n e d in t h e p r e s e n t study.
T h e following conclusions can be d r a w n from the s t u d y described o n this
paper:
1. T h e r e s u l t s of a s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y s i s of o v e r t w o h u n d r e d c a s e r e c o r d s of
settlement o n s a n d s a n d gravels h a s resulted in a simple c o r r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n a f
(the foundation subgrade compressibility), B a n d N the average S P T blow

c o u n t o v e r t h e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e . T h e s t a n d a r d e r r o r of a v a r i e s f r o m a b o u t
f
( x / - = - ) l - 5 for N g r e a t e r t h a n 2 5 t o ( x / - = - ) l - 8 for N less t h a n a b o u t 10. T h u s t h e

a c c u r a c y of t h e c o r r e l a t i o n is n o t p a r t i c u l a r l y h i g h b u t , i n v i e w of t h e s m a l l
s e t t l e m e n t s t h a t a r e u s u a l l y i n v o l v e d , it is g o o d e n o u g h for m o s t p r a c t i c a l
p u r p o s e s . H o w e v e r it is r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t o t h e r w i d e l y a c c e p t e d m e t h o d s a r e
also used as a check.
2. T h e a v a i l a b l e e x p e r i m e n t a l e v i d e n c e s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e r e l a t i v e d e p t h of
i n f l u e n c e (zjB)
1 b e n e a t h a f o u n d a t i o n r e d u c e s s i g n i f i c a n t l y a s t h e v a l u e of B
i n c r e a s e s . T h e r e is a n u r g e n t n e e d for field m e a s u r e m e n t s of s e t t l e m e n t a t
v a r i o u s d e p t h s b e n e a t h l o a d e d a r e a s n o t o n l y t o e s t a b l i s h t h e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e
b u t t o e s t a b l i s h t h e in situ c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y of g r a n u l a r s o i l s w i t h d e p t h .
3. F o r n o r m a l l y c o n s o l i d a t e d s a n d s t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h e effective
f o u n d a t i o n p r e s s u r e a n d s e t t l e m e n t is a p p r o x i m a t e l y l i n e a r u p t o a b o u t o n e
t h i r d of t h e b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y . T h e effect of o v e r c o n s o l i d a t i o n is t o r e d u c e t h e
f o u n d a t i o n s u b g r a d e c o m p r e s s i b i l i t y for b e a r i n g p r e s s u r e s b e l o w t h e effective
preconsolidation pressure.
4. U s i n g t h e c o m p l e t e d a t a s e t a s a b a s i s for c o m p a r i s o n it w o u l d a p p e a r
t h a t t h e d e p t h of f o u n d i n g a n d t h e level of t h e w a t e r t a b l e d o n o t h a v e a
s i g n i f i c a n t i n f l u e n c e o n a . H o w e v e r t h e effect of i n c r e a s i n g L/B is t o i n c r e a s e
f
a by u p to a b o u t 50%.
f
5. I t h a s b e e n s h o w n t h a t t h e T e r z a g h i a n d P e c k r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s for
c o r r e c t i n g t h e S P T b l o w c o u n t for s u b m e r g e d d e n s e fine s a n d s a n d s i l t y s a n d s
g i v e a n i m p r o v e d c o r r e l a t i o n . S i m i l a r l y a n a n a l y s i s of all t h e c a s e r e c o r d s
involving gravels a n d sandy gravels indicates that the S P T blow count should
b e i n c r e a s e d b y a f a c t o r of a b o u t 1-25 for t h e p u r p o s e of a s s e s s i n g t h e
compressibility.
6. A n a n a l y s i s o f t h e r e s u l t s f r o m a n u m b e r o f s i t e s w h e r e t h e s e t t l e m e n t of
t w o or m o r e foundations has been observed indicates that the inherent
v a r i a b i l i t y o f t h e g r o u n d f r e q u e n t l y g i v e s r i s e t o s e t t l e m e n t s w h i c h differ f r o m
t h e m e a n b y a f a c t o r of 1-5 o r m o r e . T h i s f i n d i n g g i v e s s u p p o r t t o T e r z a g h i ' s
(1956) s t a t e m e n t t h a t t h e s e t t l e m e n t s of u n i f o r m l y l o a d e d a r e a s o n n a t u r a l s a n d
strata vary erratically.
7. T h e field m e a s u r e m e n t s s h o w t h a t t i m e d e p e n d e n t s e t t l e m e n t s t a k e p l a c e
o n s a n d s a n d g r a v e l s . F o r s t a t i c l o a d s t h i s a d d i t i o n a l s e t t l e m e n t is fairly s m a l l
a n d m a y r e a c h 5 0 % of t h e i n i t i a l s e t t l e m e n t a f t e r a b o u t 3 0 y e a r s . F o r
fluctuating loads the time d e p e n d e n t settlements are m u c h larger.
Appendix A
List of symbols
a—Radius of l o a d e d area
2
a —ApJAq'.
f F o u n d a t i o n subgrade compressibility ( m m / ( k N / m ) )
af—Most p r o b a b l e value of a f
B—Width of l o a d e d a r e a in metres
D—Depth of founding level
E—Effective Young's modulus
/ / — C o r r e c t i o n faction factor for thickness of sand layer
f —Correction
s factor for shape
f —Correction
t factor for time
H —Thickness
s of s a n d layer
H —Depth
w of water table below founding level
0 1
I —cif/B ' .c I n d e x of compressibility
k—Rate of increase of Young's m o d u l u s with d e p t h
L — L e n g t h of l o a d e d a r e a
m —Volume v compressibility from o e d o m e t e r test
N—Average S P T b l o w count over t h e d e p t h of influence
2
q—Average b e a r i n g pressure ( k N / m )
2
q —Cone c resistance ( M N / m )
R—Creep r a t i o expressed as a p r o p o r t i o n of immediate settlement
T—Defined in e q u a t i o n (14)
T—Most p r o b a b l e value of T
t—time
Zj—Depth of influence of loaded a r e a
v'—Effective Poisson's ratio
p —Final
f m e a s u r e m e n t of settlement
— I m m e d i a t e settlement
P i
p —Settlement
t at time t after c o m p l e t i o n of loading
o—Standard deviation
2
o' —Vertical
v0 effective overburden pressure ( k N / m )
Details of Case Records and measurements

This appendix contains a t a b u l a t i o n of the details of the various case records referred to
in the paper. F o r ease of reference the n u m b e r i n g of the records is the same as used by
Burbidge (1982) a l t h o u g h for various reasons n o t all of his cases have been used. A n
explanation of some of the c o l u m n s is given below:
C o l u m n 3—N: M e a n values of Af over the depth of influence (see Section 5).
Column 4—Grade: See Table 1.
Column 6—Method: S P T — S t a n d a r d Penetration Test.
C—Static C o n e Penetration Test.
Oed—Oedometer.
P — P l a t e L o a d i n g Test.
Columns 6 to 8: B = Breadth; L = length; D = d e p t h of founding.
Column 9—H :w
D e p t h of water table beneath founding level.
Column 10—H : s
Thickness of sand or gravel stratum.
Columns 11 to 13: g is the gross bearing pressure at founding level.
g r o s s
q' is the net effective bearing pressure at founding level.

net
Aq' is the k n o w n change in q' .

net nci
C o l u m n 14—p :t T h e observed average immediate settlement d u e to q' *. ne
C o l u m n 15—Ap : t Observed increase in average settlement due to Aq' neV

1
C o l u m n 17—ApJAq : O b t a i n e d from columns 13 and 15 or from slope of p r e s s u r e -
settlement curve or from equation (11).
Column 18—^: Length of construction or loading period.
C o l u m n s 19 and 20: Total final settlement p a n d corresponding time t since
f f
c o m m e n c e m e n t of construction or loading.
*When only the edge settlement of a tank has been measured a factor of 1-1 has been
applied for tanks up to 40 m diameter and 1-2 applied for diameters a b o v e 40 m
(Burbidge 1982).
J. B. B U R L A N D A N D M . C. B U R B I D G E
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
D i m e n s i o n s (m)
Case Principal soil Hw Hs
no. type N Grade Method B L D (m) (m)
1 Fine to coarse 28 III SPT 36-6 0 1-5 > 12-2

sand
2 F i n e sand 17 IV SPT 12-2 1-2 7-3 >7-8
3/A Sand 8 VI C 3-3 14-0 1-8 1-6 >25
3/B Sand 8 VI C 3-3 14-0 1-8 1-6 >25
6/P Sand 30 III C 60 16-0 2-8 -1-5 >15
6/R Sand 30 III C 60 160 3-6 -2-3 >15
7/A Sand 35 III C 5-5 160 2-85 -1-6 >15-4
7/P Sand 38 III C 3-0 14-25 2-85 -1-6 > 15-4
8/B Silty sand 10 V C 4-5 24-0 2-5 0-5 >18
8/P Silty sand 10 V C 2-6 22-0 2-0 0 >18
9/N Sand 60 II C 2-5 9-5 3-0 — > 13-6
9/S Sand 60 II C 2-5 9-5 3-0 > 13-6
12/A Silty sand 17 IV C 5-3 52-5 2-6 -0-5 > 14-8
13/A Silty fine sand 15 V C 190 190 0 10

13/B Silty fine sand 15 V C 150 200 0 10
13/C Silty fine sand 15 V C 0-8 0 10
14 Fine sand 7 VI C 29-4 0 0 25
15/3-4 Sand 6 VI c 14-5 64 10 2 >23
15/7 Sand 6 VI c 22-4 84 1-0 2 >23
15/17 Sand 6 VI c 22-4 84 1-0 1-6 >23
15/8-18 Sand 6 VI c 250 25-0 1-2-6 2 >23
16/A M e d i u m sand III Oed 17-7 4-0 -10 > 12-2
16/B M e d i u m sand III Oed 17-7 3-7 -0-7 >12-2
19 Fine silty sand III Oed 70 110 6 0-5 >16-2
20/A Fine/medium III Oed 18-0 360 2-2 0-7 10-4

sand
20/B Fine/medium - III Oed 180 360 2-3 0-6 10-4

sand
21 Fine/medium III Oed 16-5 500 40 2-2 15-6

sand
22 Fine/medium III Oed I S O 270 2-7 -1-7 > 15-2

sand
23 Clayey silty sand III Oed 10-6 22-0 3-0-50 3-2 >8-7
24 Silty fine sand - III Oed 9-0 28-5 2-2 0-7 121
25 F i n e sand III Oed 140 20-0 2-8 2-6 > 15-6
27 Gravelly sand 47 II C 600 5-2 -3-7 600
29 Fine/medium II 98-0 0 0 26
sand
30/1-7 Fine/medium 20 IV SPT 3-0 4-8 1-5 4 8
sand
30/8 Fine/medium 20 IV SPT 3-4 5-4 1-7 4 8
(11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20)
F o u n d a t i o n press
(kN/m ) 2
P Ap,-
Pi Ap Aq' t; Pf
<?gros S 4net Aq' (mm) (mm) ( x 100) ( x 100) (days) (mm) (days) Remarks
193 18 9-3 Centre settlement
150 130 22 16-9 Edge settlement x 1-1

52 20 38-5 1000
52 35 67-3 1000
162 10-5 6-5 600
162 110 5-1 600
93 6-5 7-0 1800
140 3-0 2-1 1800
93 8 8-6 500
147 12 8-2 500
284 1 0-35 1100 Bridge piers founded in base
of 3-8 m deep cutting
284 3 0-88 1100 Bridge piers founded in base
of 3-8 m deep cutting
121 6-12 50-16-5 300
12 9-9
80 52 77-5 400
60 80 133
78 7 9 1
164 143 87-2 120 Measured edge settlement
130 m m
74 74 100 — P o o r l y graded sand, s o m e
thin layers of clay and silt
64 50-90 78-141 — P o o r l y graded sand, s o m e
75 75 123 — P o o r l y graded sand, s o m e
70-86 84-121 112-173 — P o o r l y graded sand, s o m e
196 118 7-2 50 1208 15-2 5888 Ap/Aq' (corrected for o b
pressure)
196 126 101 6-8 542 17-0 5677 Ap/Aq' (corrected for o b
pressure)
245 143 5-4 3-1 61 13-2 4598 Ap/Aq' (corrected for o b
pressure)
pressure). Clay underlying
sand
sand
sand
140 77 101 9-9 751 11-8 2547 Ap/Aq' (corrected for ob
pressure).
134 66 3-3 3-8 334 4-3 2352 Ap/Aq' (corrected for ob
pressure).
pressure). Clayey silty sand
below 12-1 m
pressure)
417 417 45 45 10-8 880 Ap/Aq' from slope of
pressure-settlement curve.
Stiff to very stiff sandy clay
below 60 m
135 52 38-5 6 Hard clay below 26 m
231 81 3-4 1460 Range of p = 6 - 6 - 1 1 - 2 mm;

t
(mean) (mean) p/q' = 2-8-4-7

247 12-2 4-9 1460
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
D i m e n s i o n s (m )
Case Principal soil H w

sand
30/16-18 Fine/medium 20 IV SPT 40 6-4 2-0 4 8
sand
sand
sand
30/33-^3 Fine/medium 20 IV SPT 4-9 7-8 2-5 4 8
sand
30/44 Fine/medium "20 IV SPT 5-5 8-8 2-6 4 8
sand
30/45 Fine/medium 20 IV SPT 61 98 3-0 4 8
sand
30/46 Fine/medium 20 IV SPT 6-4 10-2 3-2 4 8
sand
30/47^8 Fine/medium 21 IV SPT 6-7 10-7 3-4 4 8
sand
sand
Fine/medium II P 1-2 — 0-6 .... _
30/C -
sand
31/A Fine/medium 21 IV SPT 42-7 0 0-6 27-4
sand
31/B Fine/medium 19 IV SPT 33-5 0 0-6 27-4
sand
31/C Fine/medium 17 V SPT 27-4 — 0 0-6 27-4
sand
31/D Fine/medium 20 IV SPT 38-1 0 0-6 27-4
sand
32 F i n e sand 60 II SPT 55-0 1010 9-7 -7-2 21-3
33/A F i n e sand - IV P 410 50 0 110
33/B F i n e sand IV P 32-0 4-5 0-5 110
33/C Fine/medium IV P 21-5 40 10 12-5

sand
34 Sand/gravel III P 2-4 Strip
35/A M e d i u m sand 11 V SPT 24-4 0 0-6 9-6
35/B M e d i u m sand 11 V SPT 23-8 0 0-6 9-6
36 Sand 25 IV SPT 22-9 88-4 0-3 3-7 7-3
37 Gravelly sand 60 I SPT 135 179 20-9 -9-2 Very

great
38 M e d i u m sand 12 V SPT 3-5 3-5 1-5 0 16-2
39/0 M e d i u m sand 21 IV SPT 22-0 75-0 50 100 >50
39/C M e d i u m sand 21 IV SPT 22-0 50 100 >50
39/P M e d i u m sand 16 IV SPT 2-5

- 0 100 >50
39/P M e d i u m sand 16 IV SPT 10 0 100 >50
40 Fine sand 12 V C 16 20-5 1-5 Small 26-7
(11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20)
2
(kN/m )
P Ap
Pi Ap q'
nel Aq' tt p
f
<? ro
g SS 4nct A<j' (mm) (mm) ( x 100) ( x 100) (days) (mm) (days) Remarks
139-290 10-4 4-6 1460 Range of p, = 6 - 4 - 1 6 - 5 mm;

(mean) (mean) p/q' = 3-1-7-0
97-225 7-5 5 1 1460 Range of p = 6 - 1 - 9 - 1 mm;
t
(mean) (mean) p/q' = 4-0-6-3

102-161 71 4-9 1460 Range of p , - = 3-6-11-2 mm;
(mean) (mean) p/q' = 2-2-7-7
113-166 5 1-8.1 4-5-4-9 1460
97-199 8-7 61 1460 Range of p, = 3 - 6 - 1 9 1 mm;

p/ ' = 3-4-10-5
q
139 9-4 6-8 1460
161 10-2 6-3 1460
150 14-5 9-7 1460
113 4-1-5-8 3-6-5-1 1460
177 7-6-8-9 4-3-5-0 1460
215 1-7 0-8 1
166 80 48-2 — Occasional clay bands
241 131 54 — Occasional clay bands
289 65 30-4 2821 Stiff silty clays below 21-3 cm.

Ap/Aq' from slope of q' v p
curve
294 209 45 19-2 1500 Clay 1 1 - 1 4 m, Marl b e l o w
14 m. Ap/Aq' corrected for
o b pressure
147 70 24 25-8 1820 Clay below 1 1 m . Ap/Aq'
corrected for o b pressure.
(p = 3 m m at depth
(
= 14-5m)
186 118 25 18-1 1820 Clay below 12-5 m. Ap/Aq'
corrected for o b pressure
490 14 2-9
182 232 128 52 277 66 9-6-11-1 m limestone; 1 1 1 -
1 6 1 m very stiff silty clay
158 196 124 30 290 47 9-6-11 1 m limestone; 1 1 - 1 -
16-1 m very stiff silty clay
180 39-4 21-9 7-6-9 1 m stiff clay. Below
9 1 m Gneiss bedrock
500 15 3 761 Ap/Aq' from pressure
settlement curve
25 3-0 12-0
82 7-7 9-4 Bore holes 3 and 6 used for
SPT
79 10-5 13-3 Bore holes 3 and 6 used for
SPT
254 110 4-5 1 12 plate tests: p = 6 - 3 -
(mean) (mean) 2 0 5 m m ; p/q' = 2-6-8-4
245 9-9 4-0 1 4 plate tests: p = 7 - 0 - 1 4 0 , , ;
(mean) (mean) p/q' = 2-9-5-7
220 210 95-5 Firm silty clay below 26-7 m.
Grade determined over
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
D i m e n s i o n s (;m)
Case Principal soil H w Hs
41 M e d i u m sand 22 IV SPT 24-6 77-4 50 3-2 12-5

43/A Sand II Oed 36-6 — 0 1-5 15-2
43/B Sand II Oed 36-6 0 1-5 15-2
44/P1 M e d i u m sand 35 III SPT 1-5 1-5 0-6 >30 >3-0

44/P2 M e d i u m sand 50 II SPT 1-5 1-5 0-6 >30 >3-0
44/M1 M e d i u m sand 28 III SPT 1-2 1-2 0-6 >30 >30
44/M3 M e d i u m sand 45 II SPT 1-2 1-2 0-6 >30 >3-0
45/A F i n e t o coarse 18 IV C/SPT 13 31-5 2-1 0 19-2
sand
45/B F i n e t o coarse 18 IV C/SPT 13 27-4 2-1 0 192

sand
45/C F i n e t o coarse 18 IV C/SPT 13 22-5 21 0 19-2

sand
47/A S a n d with gravel 29 III SPT 1-2 1-2 2-6 >2-5 >20
47/B Sand with gravel 26 III SPT 1-2 1-2 2-6 >2-5 >20
47/C Sand with gravel 18 V SPT 1-2 1-2 2-6 >2-5 >20
48 M e d i u m sand 30 III SPT 34 57 7-9 -0-9 >27
49 M e d i u m sand 6 VI C 18 18 0 1-2 8-7

50/A Silty fine sand 20 IV SPT 18-3 — 0-3 1-8 >8-9
50/B Silty fine sand 20 IV SPT 15-2 0-3 1-8 >8-9

51/A to H Gravel 37 III SPT 40 70 5-0 5-6 7-0
52/C Sand/gravel 50 II SPT 1-2 1-2 0-5 Dry 41

52/H Sand/gravel 50 II SPT 1-4 1-4 3-7 1-5 1-5
52/A3 Sand/gravel 30 III SPT 0-9 0-9 1-2 3-7 61
52/D3 Sand/gravel 20 IV SPT 0-9 0-9 3-1 0-9 61
52/J Sand/gravel 20 IV SPT 0-9 0-9 1-2 1-8 3-4
53 Silty sand 12 V C 4-5 30-5 2-7 -11 7-1
56/B F i n e sand — V Oed 5-3 36-5 40 >30
56/0 F i n e sand — V Oed 5-3 36-5 4-0 >30
57 Fine sand 6 VI C 3-5 3-5 ._. >5 >14
58/A S a n d y gravel 13 V SPT 11 11 1-2 1-5

58/B S a n d y gravel 13 V SPT 1-5 1-5 1-2 1-5
58/C Sandy gravel 13 V SPT 1-5 1-5 1-2 1-5
59/A F i n e to medium 35 III C 23-6 26-9 30 0-3 >25

sand
59/B Fine to medium 25 IV C 1-8 1-8 3-0 0-3 >25
sand
59/C Fine t o medium 25 IV C 1-4 1-4 30 0-3 >25
sand
59/D Fine t o medium 25 IV C 2-2 30 0-3 >25
sand
59/E F i n e to medium 35 III C 4-5 5-7 3-0 0-3 >25
sand
59/F Fine to medium 35 III C 150 72-9 30 0-3 >25
sand
59/G F i n e to medium 25 IV C 1-4 Strip 0-4 2-6 >25
sand
59/H Fine t o medium 25 IV C 1-6 12 6 0-4 2-6 >25
sand
SETTLEMENT OF FOUNDATIONS ON SAND AND GRAVEL 55
(11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20)
2 y
(kN/m ) A.
Pi Ap q'nel Aq' tt p f t
f
<? ross
g tfnet Ag' (mm) (mm) (xlOO) ( x 100) (days) (mm) (days) Remarks
55-7 15 26-9 600 Stiff clay below 12-5 m

144 5-6 3-9 Treated by vibroflotation to
7-5 m depth. Limestone
below 15-2 m
144 10-9 7-6 Treated by vibroflotation to
7-5 m depth. Limestone
below 15-2 m
150 21 1-4
150 10 0-7 C o m p a c t e d by vibroflotation
150 1-3 0-9
150 0-6 0-4 C o m p a c t e d by vibroflotation
210 10-9 488 22-0 853 Ap/Aq' from slope of q' v p
curve. Firm clay below
19-2 m
193 18-0 18-8 580 23-5 853 Ap/Aq' from slope of q' v p
curve. Firm clay b e l o w
19-2 m
193 14-0 15-5 488 18-8 853 Ap/Aq' from slope of q' v p
curve. Firm clay below
19-2 m
215 2-5 1-2 1
215 1-5 0-7 1
215 8-6 4-0 1
270 22 12-2 730 Ap/Aq' corrected for o b
pressure
75 44-5 59-3. 15 M o r a i n e b e l o w 8-7 m
41 4-8 11-7 207 L o w values of S P T below
W T due to boiling
33 2-8 8-5 207
518 7-6-11-9 . 2-4 880 10-4-15-3 1838 Ap/Aq' from slope of q v p
(mean) curve. Ap/Aq' = 1-5 to 4-2
300 4-5 1-5 1
300 1-5 0-5 1
300 4-0 1-3 1
300 6-7 2-2 1
300 2-7 0-9 1
91 7-14 7-7-15-4 Sandstone below 7-1 m
171 16 9-4
171 16 9-4
123 90 73 1000 pi = 60 m m t o 130 m m ;
(mean) (mean) P / ^ n e t = 50 t o 150
78 2-0 2-6 125
77 2-1 2-7 125 Pressure increased t o
2
91 k N / m without further
settlement
77 1-3 1-7 125 Pressure increased to
2
107 k N / m without further
settlement
15-4 11-8 Ap/Aq' corrected for o b
pressure
230 3-4 1-5
230 3-9 1-7
284 10-5 3-7
195 3-9 20
5-4 12 Ap/Aq' corrected for o b

pressure
226 7-7 3-4
250 9-3 3-7
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
59/1 Fine to m e d i u m 25 IV c 1-2 12-7 0-3 2-7 >25

sand
18-4 2-7 >25
59/J Fine t o m e d i u m 25 IV
c 0-8 0-3
sand
24-1 0-3 2-7 >25
59/K F i n e to m e d i u m 25 IV
c 1-8
sand
30 >25
59/M Fine to medium 40 III c 10 10 0
sand
3-3 5-7 30 0-3 >25
59/N Fine to medium 40 III
c
sand
3-3 5-7 30 0-3 >25
59/0 Fine to m e d i u m 40 III
c
sand
III 3-6 6-3 30 0-3 >25
59/P Fine to medium 40
c
sand
3-6 6-3 3-0 0-3 >25
59/Q Fine to medium 40 III
c
sand
4-5 6-8 30 0-3 >25
59/R Fine to m e d i u m 40 III
c
sand
32-6 30 0-3 >25
60/A Fine to medium 30 IV
c 22-9
sand
0-3 >25
60/B Fine to medium 30 IV c 21-7 22-2 30
sand
10 10 30 0-3 >25
60/C Fine t o m e d i u m 25 IV
c
sand
61/A F i n e sand 34 III
c 10 10 0 >2 —
61/B Compacted moist 45 II
c 10 1-0 0-5 >2 —
sand
61/C1 Compacted moist 11 V
c 10 10 0-5 0 —
sand
V 10 10 0-5 0
61/C2 Compacted moist 11
c
sand
63 Sand and loam II p 610 -- 4-5 1-8 20
64/C Fine sand 23 IV SPT 110 22-4 17-1 -141 18-0
65 Sand/gravel 25 III SPT 1-2 1-2 0 —

66/A F i n e sand 12 V SPT 2-4 121-9 2-0 5-3 5-3
66/B F i n e sand 12 V SPT 4-6 121-9 20 5-3 5-3
69/A C o a r s e sand — VI P 5-5 6-5 - —
69/B C o a r s e sand — VI P 0-9 0-9
70 Fine to m e d i u m -— V P 40 50 — 0 >8-3
sand
71 F i n e sand VI P 1-5 Strip 2-3 Shallow > 12-8
72 F i n e sand VI P 3-5 3-5 »B

73 Fine/medium V P 30 30 - - »B
sand
74 Fine/medium IV P 2-8 30 - Shallow >15
sand
75 F i n e sand III P 4-8 5-6 — —
76 F i n e / c o a r s e sand 20 IV SPT 22-5 650 100 -2-5 >30
77 M e d i u m sand 60 II SPT 100 1-5 10 120
78A Silty fine sand 5 VI C 200 200 30 -1 32
78B Silty fine sand 5 VI C 200 200 30 -1 45
79/A F i n e sand/silt 5 VI C 27-5 200 0 0 40

79/B F i n e sand/silt 5 VI C 27-5 27-5 0 0 40
80 S a n d y gravel 36 III C 41-2 41-2 100 -5-5 13
81/C Fine sand 5 VI C 0-9 0-9 0-3 Deep
(11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20)
2
P Ap
(kN/m )
Pi Ap <?'net Aq' Pf h
4nel A (
l' (mm) (mm) ( X 100) 1{ x 100) (days) (mm) (days) Remarks
250 100 40
294 5-8 2-0
206 16-9 8-2
294 50 1-7 1
304 110 3-6
304 12-2 4-1
304 12-7 4-2
304 13-6 4-5
304 18-3 60
165 20-4 141 304 Ap/Aq' from slope of pressure

settlement curve
148 19-8 18-1 366 Ap/Aq' from slope of pressure
settlement curve
196 60 31 1
220 3-6 1-6 1 M o d e l tests

564 4-4 0-8 1 M o d e l tests
339 60 1-8 1 M o d e l tests
284 4-7 1-7 1 M o d e l tests
200 11-8 5-9 1220 18-3 2020 Settlement measured over

depth of sand layer
340 160 40 25 520 Ap/Aq' from slope of pressure
settlement curve
320 2-8 0-9 1
168 15-7 9-4 47 21-6 257 Stiff clay below 5-3 m
188 19-1 10-2 47 23-5 257 Stiff clay below 5-3 m
144 37-5 39-2
147 18-4 12-5 1
137 8-4 61
78 9-5 15-2 Ap/Aq' from slope of pressure

settlement curve
187 49 26-2
157 16-2 10-3 Ap/Aq' from pressure
settlement curve
216 5-8 4-7 Ap/Aq' from pressure
settlement curve
196 5-0 2-6
245-295 15-28 10-5-19-7 700 • Ap/Aq' corrected for o b
pressure
240 7-0 2-9 696 Limestone below 1 2 m. Sand
compacted to 5 m depth
85 116 237 854 Ap/Aq' corrected for o b
pressure
85 81 165 752 Ap/Aq' corrected for o b
pressure
130 139-368 107-283 12 219-487 100
176 993-1401 564-796 40 1225-1355 160
158 34 10 4 11-8 Ap/Aq' from pressure
settlement curve
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (V) (8) (9) (10)
81/D Fine sand 6 VI C 0-9 0-9 0-9 Deep

7 VI 1-2 1-2 0-2 Deep
81/E Fine sand
8 VI
c 1-2 1-2 0-9 Deep
—
81/F Fine sand
Sand/gravel 20 IV
c
SPT 17-6 840 10-7 -2-2 >37
' 83
84 Sand/gravel 14 V SPT 160 430 7-3 -1-8 >23
85 Gravel/sand 10 V SPT 20-5 - 3-5 2-5 >26
86 Sand/gravel 26 III SPT „ 14-5 14-5 3-5 7-5 21-5
87 Sand/gravel 34 III SPT „ 33-0 - 5-3 -2-5 8-2
89/A Sand/gravel 37 III SPT 2-6 10-7 10 ._ 51

91 Sand 27 III SPT 24-4 — 0 —•
92/A Sand 50 II SPT 2-1 2-4 2-4 - —
92/B Sand 50 II SPT 2-1 2-1 1-5 —
92/C Sand 50 II SPT 1-8 2-8 1-5 —
92/D Sand 50 II SPT 21 2-4 30 —
92/E Sand 50 II SPT 21 4-1 30
93/A Sand 5 VI SPT 8-2 61-0 — —
93/B Sand 5 VI SPT 1-8 Strip - —
94/A Fine/coarse 18 IV SPT 30-2 30-8 2-7 6-5 22-3
sand
94/B Sand/gravel 50 II SPT 3-8 Strip 7-0 60 ,170
95/A Silty fine sand IV Oed 2-5 30 3-7 0-4 100
95/B Silty fine sand - IV Oed 2-5 3-0 3-7 0-4 100
96/A Silty fine sand V Oed 2-3 3-4 2-5 1-6 130
96/B Silty fine sand V Oed 2-3 2-7 2-5 1-6 130
96/C M e d i u m sand V Oed 2-3 3-4 1-5 2-6 130
96/D M e d i u m sand V Oed 2-8 3-3 1-5 2-6 130
97/P Fine sand 7 VI SPT 60 60 0 0-9 180
97/E Fine sand 7 VI SPT 200 20-0 0 0-9 18-0

98/A Fine sand 4 VI C 2-8 140 10 100
98/B Fine sand 4 VI C 3-3 14-5 10 100
100 Fine/medium IV Oed 180 260 1-5-3-5 10 >18

sand
(11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20)
(kN/m ) 2
P Ap
Pi Ap 4net Aq' Pf h
Egress Aq' (mm) (mm) (xl00) (xlOO) (days) (mm) (days) Remarks
113 6-4 5-7 1

199 . 130 6-5 1
268 12-7 4-7 1
240 21-2 11-4 822 23-3 1462 Ap/Aq' from pressure
settlement curve
228 17-9 7-5 488 18-6 1158 Ap/Aq' from pressure
settlement curve
173 80 4-6 195 Settlements suggest Grade II.
Suspect S P T results
255 15-5 61 Ap/Aq' from pressure
settlement curve. Stiff clay
below 21-5 m
216 43-8 20-5 532 Ap/Aq' from pressure
settlement curve. Clayey
silt 8 - 2 m - 1 5 - 7 m
293 10-9 3-7
120 14-3 11-9 7
584 4-4 0-7 1
697 2-3 0-33 1
575 2-7 0-47 1
584 4-6 0-79 1
347 1-8 0-52 1
35 19 54-3
45 25 55-6
386 91-6 25-9 350 Ap/Aq' corrected for o b
pressure
383 4-8 1-6 Ap/Aq' corrected for o b
pressure
220 15 8-9 Ap/Aq' from pressure
settlement curve. Hydraulic
sand fill
220 10 7-7 Ap/Aq' from pressure
settlement curve. Hydraulic
sand fill
120 12 100 790 18 1020 Hydraulic sand fill
110 18 16-4 1594 Hydraulic sand fill
110 17 15-5 790 22 1594 Hydraulic sand fill
90 17 18-9 546 24 1594 Hydraulic sand fill
190 74 59 Ap/Aq' from pressure
settlement curve
145 120 83
142 97 68 500 Over consolidated clay below
10m
99 37 37 500 Over consolidated clay below
10m
140 27-2 20-8 391 , 36-9 1135 Ap/Aq from pressure
settlement curve.
C o m p a c t e d sand fill
Appendix B Case records—structures, geology and references
Case Structure Bearing strata Reference
1 Steel t a n k Recent a n d Pleistocene Baker (1965)

sands
2 Steel t a n k Recent a n d Pleistocene Baker (1965)
sands
3 Bridge Recent a n d Eocene sands de Beer (1948)
6 Bridge Recent alluvial/Eocene de Beer (1948)
sands
7 Bridge Eocene sand de Beer (1948)
12 Bridge Recent river/Eocene sands de Beer (1948)
13 Embankments Recent river s a n d Bjerrum (1962)
14 Steel t a n k Recent river sand Bjerrum (1964)
15 14 storey Q u a t e r n a r y river sand Bogdanovic et al.
building (1963)
16 100 m high Recent river sand Bolenski (1973)
chimneys
19 Chimneys Pleistocene lacustrian sands Bolenski (1973)
20 11 storey Recent river sands Bolenski (1973)
buildings
21 22 storey Pleistocene river sands Bolenski (1973)
building
22 11 storey Recent river sands Bolenski (1973)
building
23 9 storey Pleistocene river sands Bolenski (1973).
building
24 11 storey Pleistocene lake sands Bolenski (1973)
building
25 12 storey Pleistocene river sands Bolenski (1973)
buildings
27 Nuclear Pleistocene river sands Breth et al. (1974)
reactor
29 Concrete tank Pleistocene sands Clausen et al. (1975)
30 Steel mill Recent b e a c h / d u n e sands D ' A p p o l o n i a et al.
(1968)
31 Steel t a n k Recent river s a n d and Davisson et al.
gravel (1972)
32 Nuclear Recent beach s a n d D u n n (1974)
reactor
33 Chimneys Q u a t e r n a r y sand E g o r o v et al. (1971).
120/250m
34 Silo Pleistocene river sand/ Bjerrum et al. (1963)
gravel
35 Steel t a n k s Q u a t e r n a r y beach sand F a r r e n t (1963)
36 Silo Q u a t e r n a r y beach sand F a r r e n t (1963)
37 Nuclear Paleocene/Cretaceous sand Fischer et al. (1972)
reactor
38 Building Q u a t e r n a r y b e a c h / d u n e sand Frost(1970)
39 Steel mill Recent river sand G a r g a et al. (1974)
complex
40 22 storey Recent m a r i n e sand Geilly et al. (1974)
building
Appendix B (continued)
Case Structure Bearing strata Reference
41 10 storey Recent d u n e sand Glick (1970)

building
43 Steel t a n k s C o m p a c t e d Cainozoic sand G r e e n w o o d et al.
(1970)
44 Test footings Pleistocene river/dune G r e e n w o o d et al.
sand (1970)
45 20 storey Recent beach a n d lagoon Grimes et al. (1965)
buildings sands
47 Plate tests Pleistocene river sand B a z a r a a (1967)
48 13 storey Tertiary sand K o r n g o l d (1948)
buildings
49 Embankment H y d r a u l i c sand fill Lagging et al.
(1974)
50 Concrete t a n k Q u a t e r n a r y m a r i n e sands Langfelder et al.
(1971)
51 12 storey Pleistocene river s a n d / Levy et al. {191 A)
buildings gravel
52 Plate tests Q u a t e r n a r y river s a n d / Levy et al. (1974)
gravel
53 Bridge Recent river/Eocene sand Marivoet (1953)
56 Bridge Recent river/Eocene sands Marivoet (1953)
57 10 storey Recent coastal sands M a r t i n s et al. (1963)
building
58 Factory Pleistocene river gravel Meigh et al. (1961)
building
59 Various Pleistocene river sand M u h s et al. (1961)
60 18 storey Pleistocene river sand M u h s et al. (1963)
buildings
61 Test footings Pleistocene river sand M u h s (1963)
63 533 m Tower Pleistocene river/ Nikitin et al. (1970)
Jurassic sand
64 Silos Recent m a r i n e sand Nonveiler (1963)
65 Plate test — Oweis (1979)
66 2 storey Pleistocene river sand B a z a r a a (1967)
building
69-75 Buildings Q u a t e r n a r y river sand Press (1932)/( 1938)
76 25 storey Tertiary sand Rios et al (1948)
buildings
77 Concrete t a n k Recent Aeolian sand Ronan(1980)
(compacted)
78 10 storey Q u a t e r n a r y river sands Sanglerat et al.
buildings (1979)
79 Embankments Q u a t e r n a r y river sands Sanglerat et al.
(1979)
80 Building Recent river gravel Sanglerat et al.
(1979)
81 Plate tests Recent coastal/river S c h m e r t m a n n (1970)
sand
83 30 storey Pleistocene river/ Schultze (1962)/
building Tertiary sand (1963)
84 20 storey Pleistocene river/ Schultze (1962)/
building Tertiary sand (1963)
62 J. B. B U R L A N D A N D M . C . B U R B I D G E
Appendix B (continued)
Case Structure Bearing S t r a t a Reference
85 120 m chimney Recent/Pleistocene/ Schultze (1962)/

Tertiary sand (1963)
86 120 m chimney Pleistocene river s a n d / Schultze (1963)
gravel
87 Nuclear Pleistocene river/ Schultze (1963)
reactor Tertiary sand
89 Buildings Q u a t e r n a r y deposits Schultze et al.
(1973)
91 Steel T a n k Q u a t e r n a r y coastal sand Thorne(1970)
92 M a c h i n e Hall Q u a t e r n a r y coastal sand Thorne(1970)
93 3 storey Recent d u n e sand T o m l i n s o n (1969)
buildings
94 5 storey Q u a t e r n a r y deposit Tschebotarioff
buildings (1951)
95 1 storey Recent river sand Votjakov(1974)
frame
building
96 1 storey Recent river s a n d / Votjakov (1977)
frame fill
building
97 Footing/ Q u a t e r n a r y m a r i n e sand W e b b (1969)
embankment
98 Bridge Recent sand W e n n e r s t r a n d (1979)
99 Radar Q u a t e r n a r y coral sand W h i t m a n et al. (1971)
station
100 9 storey Pleistocene river/ Zakharenkov(1969)
building Aeolian sands
References
A N O N Y M O U S . P r o p o s e d E u r o p e a n s t a n d a r d of p e n e t r a t i o n testing. 9th ICSMFE, 1971, 3,
T o k y o , 95-120.
A . S . T . M . 1586-67. S t a n d a r d m e t h o d for p e n e t r a t i o n test a n d split barrel sampling of soil.
A m e r i c a n Society for Testing a n d Materials (Philadelphia). Book of Standards, P a r t
19.
B A K E R , C N . Discussion; 'Shallow f o u n d a t i o n s ' . Proc. ASCE SMFD, 1965, 9 1 , S M 6 ,
119-121.
B A Z A R A A , A . R. S. S. U s e of the s t a n d a r d p e n e t r a t i o n test for estimating settlements of
shallow f o u n d a t i o n s o n sand. P h . D Thesis, Univ. of Illinois, U r b a n a , 1967, 318 p p .
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SETTLEMENT O F FOUNDATIONS ON SAND A N D GRAVEL 63
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Settlement of Foundations On Sand and Gravel: J.B. Burland and M.C. Burbidget

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S e t t l e m e n t of f o u n d a t i o n s on

sand and gravel

J . B. Burland* and M . C. Burbidget

•Imperial College of Science and Technology.

T h e p r i m e objective of the study was to check w h e t h e r the a b o v e s t a t e m e n t

2.1. Determination of the foundation subgrade compressibility

depth of influence. Chain dotted lines s h o w upper and lower limits.

(ii) T h e S P T b l o w c o u n t is not c o r r e c t e d for effective o v e r b u r d e n p r e s s u r e

N ( c o r r e c t e d ) = 15 + 0.5(N -15). (2)

Table 1. Classification of compressibility of normally c o n ­

Compressibility G r a d e N o . of blows N* Interval

' U n c o r r e c t e d for overburden pressure.

2 . 2 . Depth of influence and the derivation of N

SILT SAND GRAVEL

2.3 Calculation of settlement

p r e s s u r e q' ( w h e r e q' < a' ) is m a d e u p of t w o c o m p o n e n t s a s f o l l o w s :

100 i—i i i 111 I I I U

Fig. 3 . Relationship between breadth of loaded area B and depth of influence z y

( w i t h i n w h i c h 7 5 % of the settlement takes place).

w h e n q' is less t h a n o' v0 the above expression becomes

2.5 Time dependent settlement

a n d R a r e 0-7 a n d 0-8 r e s p e c t i v e l y s o t h a t a t t = 30 y e a r s , f = 2-5. t

THE ANALYSIS OF CASE RECORDS OF SETTLEMENT ON SANDS

3. The standard penetration test as a measure of compressibility

3.1 The Standard Penetration Test

A S T M D l 5 8 6 - 6 7 . T h e testing procedures are broadly similar a n d outside the

3.2 Influence of grain size

3.3 Influence of submergence

N ( c o r r e c t e d ) = 15 + 0-5(N - 15). (2)

3.4 Influence of overburden pressure

stress history, the t w o m o s t i m p o r t a n t factors influencing the vertical compress­

3.5 Compressibility grade in terms of SPT

4. The relationship between SPT and other tests

Appendix A n o S t a n d a r d Penetration Tests were carried out. In order to m a k e

4.1 Cone penetration tests

4.2 Oedometer tests

t h e c o m p a r i s o n for e i g h t sites. T h e n u m b e r a g a i n s t e a c h p o i n t refers t o t h e

Fig. 4 . Relationship between N and m v (numbers refer to case records in Appendix

4.3 Plate loading tests

(a) B = 0.25m to 0.4 m

(b) B = 0.45m to 0.70 m

(c) B = 0.7m to 1.2m

Fig. 7. Observed settlement distributions beneath buildings (numbers refer to case

a s ' a ' i n c r e a s e s t h e r e l a t i v e d e p t h of i n f l u e n c e {z/2a) I d e c r e a s e s . T h e full l i n e i n

Fig. 8. Relationship between measured depth of influence z and foundation breadth. 7

Fig. 9. Distribution of settlement w i t h depth for a rough rigid foundation resting on

0 100 200 300 A 00 500

0 100 200 300 A00 500

Fig. 12. Case 60A. 18 storey building_on a raft f o u n d e d at a depth of 3 m on fine to

Fig. 14. Case 69. Building founded on raft at a depth of 2 m to 3 m on sand of

effective o v e r b u r d e n p r e s s u r e t h e p r e s s u r e - s e t t l e m e n t r e l a t i o n s h i p is, for p r a c t ­

7. Relationship between foundation subgrade compressibility and

c o n s t a n t for n o r m a l l y c o n s o l i d a t e d s a n d s a n d gravels. I n t h e table in A p p e n d i x

I n m a n y c a s e s (e.g. for m o s t f o o t i n g s ) o n l y t h e n e t b e a r i n g p r e s s u r e and

7.1 Relationship between a and B

regression line of log. af on log. B

Compressibility Grade IE ( N = 41 to 60)

Fig. 16. Relationship between ^ a n d B for Compressibility Grade II (/V=41-60).

increase as the compressibility increases.

regression line of log. af on log. B

Compressibility Grade HI ( N = 26 to AO)

Table 2. Analysis of regression lines in Figs. 16 to 20

II 19 0-669 0-89 x 1-60 0-620x 1 0 " 2

Table 1. Classification of compressibility of normally c o n

stress history, the t w o m o s t i m p o r t a n t factors influencing the vertical compress

effective o v e r b u r d e n p r e s s u r e t h e p r e s s u r e - s e t t l e m e n t r e l a t i o n s h i p is, for p r a c t

i n w h i c h L/B< 15, H /B<02 wa n d HJB>2. T h e r e a r e a n u m b e r of o b s e r v a