Settlement Estimation
Settlement Estimation
(OP)
Two part question:
1. Should both immediate (elastic settlement) and consolidation settlement be added together where estimating settlement in a moist (stiff to soft) clay above groudwater; assuming stresses induced are below preconsolidation pressures? Or should one or the other method be used?
2. If elastic settlement is considered applicable and significant (in above soil profile), would pressuremeter and/or dilatometer testing prove beneficial for settlement estimates or would a series of consolidation tests with depth be more useful? Are pressuremeter/dilatometer methods applicable (for modulus/settlement estimation) where the soil profile is similar to above (stiff to soft clay) with occassional water table at deeper (60ft+) depths?
1. Should both immediate (elastic settlement) and consolidation settlement be added together where estimating settlement in a moist (stiff to soft) clay above groudwater; assuming stresses induced are below preconsolidation pressures? Or should one or the other method be used?
2. If elastic settlement is considered applicable and significant (in above soil profile), would pressuremeter and/or dilatometer testing prove beneficial for settlement estimates or would a series of consolidation tests with depth be more useful? Are pressuremeter/dilatometer methods applicable (for modulus/settlement estimation) where the soil profile is similar to above (stiff to soft clay) with occassional water table at deeper (60ft+) depths?





RE: Settlement Estimation
f-d
¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!
RE: Settlement Estimation
RE: Settlement Estimation
RE: Settlement Estimation
Was curious if others could to comment on this statement.
RE: Settlement Estimation
RE: Settlement Estimation
elastic and consolidation settlements should be both calculated as a rule, although often one of'em governs and since we are dealing with but rough estimates it all remains within the error range.
In your case dilatometer is good, it yields a drained edometric modulus which in the hypothesis of saturation<100% can be related to the elastic modulus by simple elastic relationships, or can be equated to the elastic modulus since in unsuturated soil Poisson's modulus is pretty low as research suggests.
beware: sometimes in soft clays elastic modulus may be relatively high whereas edometric modulus may be low, that is consolidation may govern (when clays retain water) so calculating only the elastic settlements may grossly underestimate total settlements.
That's why the safest procedure is to calculate always elastic and consolidation settlements.