Deformation and Settlements

85










Chapter V
Deformation and Settlements
5.1 Introduction
Analysis of soil deformations under the action of external forces is of
great importance for practical design of foundation of structures.
Soil settlement is difficult to estimate. Settlement is stress induced, it is
time dependent accumulation of particles rolling and slipping which results in a
permanent soil skeleton change.
Settlements are of two general types:
1. Immediate or those which take place as soon as the load is applied ;
2. Consolidation or those which are time dependent;
5.2 Deformation in half space
5.2.1 The vertical point load
The method of total elastic deformations is based on rigid solutions of the
theory of elasticity for an elastic half-space.
In the case of a point load applied in the origin of a half space, the vertical
component of the displacement of the point M in a new position M is w:
Chapter 5

86


Figure 5.1 Deformation in half - space
under punctual load, where P is the point load

( ) ( ) ( )
2 2
3 3
1 2 1 2 1
2 4
P
z P z
s
E R R G R R
u u u
t t
( ( +
= + = +
( (

(5.1)

where:
( ) 2 1
E
G
u
=

; u = Poissons coefficient
At the surface of the half space (z = 0) the settlement will be:
( )
2
0 0
1
2
r
P
A P
s w
Er r E
u
t t

= = = (5.2)
where:
( ) ( )
2 1
2
1 1
1 2 1
1
1
r
r
A
z
r
r
z
z
u u
(
(
(
= + +
(
| |
| |
+
(
|
+
|
\ .

\ .
(5.3)
where:

is a function of
r
z
| |
|
\ .
and u [Table 5.1]
If the half space is loaded with several forces, actually the load is not
punctual but distributed on a certain surface.

Deformation and Settlements
87

Value of coefficients

is a function of
r
z
| |
|
\ .
andu Table 5.1
r/z
Coefficient
0.20 0.25 0.27 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.42
0.05 0.1556 0.1560 0.1558 0.1556 0.1549 0.1536 0.1530
0.10 0.3093 0.3097 0.3096 0.3092 0.3076 0.3051 0.3038
0.15 0.4589 0.4595 0.4593 0.4586 0.4562 0.4523 0.4504
0.20 0.6028 0.6043 0.6031 0.6021 0.5988 0.5935 0.5908
0.25 0.7396 0.7401 0.7396 0.7382 0.7338 0.7270 0.7236
0.30 0.8681 0.8683 0.8676 0.8657 0.8602 0.8518 0.8477
0.35 0.9874 0.9873 0.9863 0.9838 0.9771 0.9670 0.9621
0.40 1.0973 1.0966 1.0952 1.0921 1.0840 1.0722 1.0664
0.45 1.1974 1.1960 1.1943 1.1905 1.1809 1.1672 1.1606
0.50 1.2880 1.2857 1.2836 1.2790 1.2678 1.2522 1.2447
0.60 1.4417 1.4375 1.4344 1.4281 1.4136 1.3940 1.3846
0.70 1.5628 1.5563 1.5521 1.5440 1.5260 1.5022 1.4911
0.80 1.6563 1.6573 1.6419 1.6320 1.6104 1.5826 1.5697
0.90 1.7278 1.7161 1.7096 1.6978 1.6728 1.6411 1.6266
1.00 1.7819 1.7677 1.7601 1.7465 1.7182 1.6829 1.6668
1.25 1.8649 1.8450 1.8348 1.8173 1.7817 1.7384 1.7189
1.50 1.9050 1.8804 1.8682 1.8474 1.8061 1.7565 1.7344
1.75 1.9232 1.8948 1.8811 1.8578 1.8120 1.7561 1.7334
2.00 1.9320 1.9007 1.8856 1.8604 1.8112 1.7531 1.7273
2.50 1.9364 1.9011 1.8843 1.8564 1.8024 1.7392 1.7113
3.00 1.9355 1.8975 1.8797 1.8501 1.7932 1.7268 1.6975
4.00 1.9308 1.8900 1.8710 1.8395 1.7793 1.7094 1.6787
5.00 1.9280 1.8857 1.8661 1.8337 1.7718 1.7002 1.6688
7.00 1.9248 1.8813 1.8611 1.8278 1.7644 1.6912 1.6591
10.00 1.9223 1.8780 1.8575 1.8238 1.7596 1.6842 1.6530


5.2.2. The distributed load

With a local load p, uniformly distributed over the area A acting on the plane
limiting an elastic half-space, the settlements of any point are determined by
integration the elementary action.
The loaded surface is divided in elementary surfaces of the
dimensions .

( )
( )
( ) ( )
2
, 2 2
1
x y
p
d d
s
R
x y
u
q
t
q

=
+
}}
(5.4)

Soil stress strain curve. States of soil behavior
Chapter 5

88


( )
( ) ( )
2
0 1
2 2
2
,
1
p d d
s
E
x y
q q
u
q

A =
(
+


where:
( ) ( )
2 2
2
x y r q + =
( )
2
1
zo
p A
s
E
u
e

=
- Where is a coefficient depending on the shape of the surface, the point
considered (center, corner or mean value) and its stiffness.



b
y
q

x
b
p
2 1
x
y
0
z
c
1 - deformation of a finite -
thickness elastic layer supported
by an incompressible base
2 - deformations of an
elastic half - space
z
dq,d
Figure 5.2 Deformation of an elastic half-space, action of a local load

Deformation and Settlements
89



( )
( )
( )
( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
( )
( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
( )
( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
( )
( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
2
,
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2
1 1
1 1
2 2 2 2
1 1
1
1 1
1 ln 1 ln
1 1
1 1 1 1
ln ln
1 1 1 1
x y
p
s
R
x b y b y x b y b y
x x
x b y b y x b y b y
x b y x x b y x
b y b y
x b y x x b y x
u
t

+ + + + +

+ + +

+ + + + + + +

(
+ + + +
(
+ + +
(
+ + + + + + +


(5.5)
1
l l
b b
o = =
2
1 1
4
1 4 4
l
A b lb b o
o
= = = = where:
2
A
l
o
= and
1
1
2
A
b
o
=

Table 5.2
Side ratio

Square 0.95 1.12 0.76 0.76 0.56 0.88
Rectangle 0.94 1.11 0.79 0.73 0.55 0.88
Rectangle 0.92 1.08 0.79 0.69 0.54 0.86
Rectangle 0.88 1.03 0.78 0.64 0.51 0.83
Rectangle 0.82 0.94 0.75 0.57 0.47 0.77
Rectangle 0.71 0.80 0.67 0.47 0.40 0.67
Rectangle 0.37 0.40 0.36 0.22 0.20 -
Rectangle 0.63 0.173 0.159 0.093 0.087 -
Rectangle 0.66 0.069 0.065 0.037 0.035 -
Circle 0.96 1.13 - - 0.72 -
Circle, rigid foundation 0.89 0.89 - - 0.89 0.89

X=0 Y=0
( )
( )
( )
2
2 2
0,0
2 2
2
0
1
1 1 1 1
ln ln
1 1 1
1
p A
s
E
p A
E
u
o o o
o
t o
o o o
u
e
(
+ + + +
= + = (
+ + (

(5.6)
Chapter 5

90

X=1, Y=b
1



( )
( ) ( )
1
2 2
,
2 2
1 1
1 1
ln ln
1 1 1
l b
p A p A
s
E E
u u
o
o
t o
o o o

(
= + =
(
+ +



X=0; X=l and Y=b
1
; Y=0
( )
( ) ( )
1
2 2
2
0,
2 2
1 1
1 1 1 4 1
ln ln
1 4 2 1 4 1
A b
p A p A
s
E E
u u
o
o e
t o
o o o
(
+ +
= + = (
+ + (


( )
( ) ( )
2 2
2
,0
2 2
1 1
1 4
ln ln
4 4 2
B l
p A p A
s
E E
u u
o o o
o e
t o
o o o
(
+ +
= + = (
+ + (


1
4
xy x y
M
s d d
s
b l
=
}}

(5.7)



( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2
2 2 3 2
3
0
1 1 1 1
2
3
M M
p A p A
s
E E
u o o u
e e
to o
(
+ +
(
= =
(
(



( )
2
0
2 1 pr
s
E
u
= ,
( )
2
4 1
r
pr
s
E
u
t

= (5.8)


0
2
r
s
t
e =


( ) ( ) ( )
2 2 2
1 1 1
0.89
2 2
m
p p p A
s
Er E E A
u u u
e

= = = where
A
r
t
= (5.9)

Deformation and Settlements
91



Figure 5.3 Schleicher Melhad Method
Like many other materials soil may be characterized by its stress strain
curve the so called characteristic curve of the material.
The mechanical models have to consider the laws which control the
deformation of a physical body being called rheological models.










z
x
y
Me
Mb
o
l
b
z
x
y
Mo
o
l
b
Sb=
p A(1-v )
Eo
*eb
2
h1=A*eo*b
S1=
So=
pn*he
M
p A(1-v )
Eo
*ee
2
z
x
y
Me
Mb
o
l
b
z
x
y
Mo
o
l
b
Sb=
p A(1-v )
Eo
*eb
2
h1=A*eo*b
S1=
So=
pn*he
M
p A(1-v )
Eo
*ee
2
Chapter 5

92

5.3 Method of summation of the settlements of the elementary
strips (figure 5.4)

We consider a rectangular foundation embedded at a depth D. The
foundation soil is divided in strips taking into account the stratification and the
different values of the modulus of deformation for each layer, termed
elementary layer.
On the vertical of the center of the foundation are computed the stresses in
the middle of each layer. The settlement is equal to the sum of the settlement of
each layer.

1
100
m
n
zi
i
i
i
s h
E
o
|
=
=

(cm) (5.10)
Where:
-
zi
o - the stress in the middle of layer i at depth z;
-

- thickness of the layer i;

-

modulus of linear deformation at the layer i;

- | =0.7

Table 5.3
Z/B

for foundation under form of:

Circle
Rectangle with L/B
1 2 3
0.0 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
0.2 0.95 0.96 0.96 0.98 0.98
0.4 0.76 0.80 0.87 0.88 0.88
0.6 0.55 0.61 0.73 0.75 0.75
0.8 0.39 0.45 0.53 0.63 0.64
1.0 0.29 0.34 0.48 0.53 0.55
1.2 0.22 0.26 0.39 0.44 0.48
1.4 0.17 0.20 0.32 0.38 0.42
1.6 0.13 0.16 0.27 0.32 0.37
2.0 0.09 0.11 0.19 0.24 0.31
3.0 0.04 0.05 0.10 0.13 0.21
4.0 0.02 0.03 0.06 0.08 0.16
5.0 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.05 0.13
6.0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 1.10
Deformation and Settlements
93



Figure 5.4 STAS 3300 Methods












P
pn = pef -Df
B
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.45
Incompresible
layer
ogz
oz
0.00
Df
Chapter 5

94

When the surface of the foundation has a width larger then 10m we can use
following relation to compute the settlement (after the Romanian Standard a
soil is considered incompressible when E > 1000kPa),Figure 5.5.

( )
2 1
1
1
n
i i
n i
i
k k
s m p B
E
u

(5.13)
where:
-

- net pressure;
- width of the foundation;
- Poissons ratio;
- modulus of deformation;
-

- adimensional coefficient (Table 5.4);

- - depth of the point;
- - coefficient related to the conditions of work.


pgz1
pgz2
pgz3
Pz1
P=Paa0
Pz2
Pz3
p0
B
D
f
z
h
h
1
<
1
.
0
h
2
<
1
.
0
h
3
<
1
.
0
z
1
z
2
z
3
z = 0
0.00
ogz1
ogz2
ogz3

Figure 5.5 Homogeneous soil
Deformation and Settlements
95


Value of coefficient K Table 5.4

z/B
K for foundation under form of:

Circle
Rectangle with L/B
1 1.5 2 3 5
(continuous
foundation)
0.0 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
0.1 0.045 0.050 0.050 0.050 0.050 0.050 0.052
0.2 0.090 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.104
0.3 0.135 0.150 0.150 0.150 0.150 0.150 0.156
0.4 0.179 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.208
0.5 0.233 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.260
0.6 0.266 0.300 0.300 0.300 0.300 0.300 0.311
0.7 0.308 0.342 0.349 0.349 0.349 0.349 0.362
0.8 0.348 0.381 0.395 0.397 0.397 0.397 0.412
0.9 0.382 0.415 0.437 0.442 0.442 0.442 0.462
1.0 0.411 0.446 0.476 0.484 0.484 0.484 0.511
1.1 0.437 0.474 0.511 0.524 0.525 0.525 0.560
1.2 0.461 0.499 0.543 0.561 0.566 0.566 0.605
1.3 0.482 0.522 0.573 0.595 0.604 0.604 0.648
1.4 0.501 0.542 0.601 0.626 0.640 0.640 0.687
1.5 0.517 0.560 0.625 0.655 0.674 0.674 0.726
1.6 0.532 0.577 0.647 0.682 0.706 0.708 0.763
1.7 0.546 0.592 0.668 0.707 0.736 0.741 0.798
1.8 0.558 0.606 0.688 0.730 0.764 0.772 0.831
1.9 0.569 0.618 0.708 0.752 0.791 0.808 0.862
2.0 0.579 0.630 0.722 0.773 0.816 0.830 0.892
2.1 0.588 0.641 0.737 0.791 0.839 0.853 0.921
2.2 0.596 0.651 0.751 0.809 0.861 0.885 0.949
2.3 0.604 0.660 0.764 0.824 0.888 0.908 0.976
2.4 0.611 0.668 0.776 0.841 0.902 0.932 1.001
2.5 0.618 0.676 0.787 0.855 0.921 0.955 1.025
2.6 0.624 0.683 0.798 0.868 0.939 0.977 1.050
2.7 0.630 0.690 0.808 0.881 0.955 0.998 1.073
2.8 0.635 0.697 0.818 0.893 0.971 1.018 1.095
2.9 0.640 0.703 0.827 0.904 0.986 1.038 1.117
3.0 0.645 0.709 0.836 0.913 1.000 1.057 1.138
3.1 0.649 0.714 0.843 0.924 1.014 1.074 1.158
3.2 0.653 0.719 0.850 0.934 1.027 1.091 1.178
3.3 0.657 0.724 0.857 0.943 1.040 1.107 1.197
3.4 0.661 0.728 0.863 0.951 1.051 1.123 1.215
3.5 0.664 0.732 0.869 0.959 1.062 1.138 1.233
4.0 0.679 0.751 0.897 0.995 1.111 1.205 1.316
4.5 0.691 0.766 0.918 1.022 1.151 1.262 1.390
5.0 0.700 0.777 0.935 1.045 1.183 1.309 1.456


Chapter 5

96

5.4. Method of equivalent layer

Figure 5.6. Equivalent layer method

This method combines the solution based on the theory of elasticity and
solution for the settlement obtained for a confined specimen of soil of constant
thickness in which the distribution of stresses is uniform like in the oedometer.
In Figure 5.6 are shown the two situations for a partially uniform distributed
load.

2
2
1
1
e e
p
s h
E
u
u
| |
=
|

\ .
and
2
1
r
s pb
E
u
e

=

b
b
he
p p
a) b)
Deformation and Settlements
97

( )
( )
2
1
1 2
e
h b A b
u
e
u

= =

1
i
h
h m
n
= s (5.15)
i
i zi
i
h
s p
m
=
(5.16)
Result:
1
i n
i
zi
i
i
h
S p
M
=
=
=

(5.17)

The condition is that for a both foundations the settlements should be
equal:
1
e
s m A p h p b A
M
u
e = = 5.18)


5.5 The settlement for a continues strip foundation
For a square and circular foundation having a width B, the vertical stress at
a depth of z is equal too.

( )
2
2
2
z n
p B p B ztgo = + (5.19)
( )
2
2
2
z n
B
p p
B ztgo
=
+
(5.20)
The settlement for an elementary layer dz thick at a depth z will be:
( )
z
p
d h dz
E
A = (5.21)
( )
2
2
0 0
2
h h
z z
p p pB
h dz dz
E E
B ztgo
= =
+
} }
(5.22)
Result the settlement for :
Chapter 5

98

( ) 2
n
p B h
s
E B htgo

=
+
- a square foundation (5.23)

( ) 2
n
p d h
s
E d htgo

=
+
- a circular foundation (5.24)
where : d diameter of the foundation
For a continuous strip foundation the settlement will be:

( )
0
2
ln
2 2
h
z
p dz pB B htg
s h
M B z tg M tg B
o
o o
+
= A = =
+
}

(5.25)

B
D
f
z
Pz
Pn
P
d
z
h
1
h
2
h

Figure 5.7. Simplified settlement computations

(5.26)

There are recommended the following values for the angle of distribution :
Table 5.5

Type soils


Sandy soils 40
0
to 50
0

Hard clay (large Io) 60
0
to 70
0

Weak clay soils 30
0

2
ln
2
n
p B B htg
s
Etg B
+
=
o
o
Deformation and Settlements
99













Table 5.5
Designation soil
Coefficient
Of
Poisson

Sands


Silt clay
Silt sands


Clay
0.20 0.68 1.07 0.91 0.84
0.25 0.72 1.13 0.96 0.88
0.30 0.78 1.23 1.04 0.96
0.35 0.90 1.41 1.20 1.11
0.40 1.15 1.80 1.53 1.41

One of the most important of the study in Soil Mechanics is the prediction of
the magnitude of the stresses under some loading which will produce excessive
deformation termed failure stresses.