Software for Settlement Calculation

[GeoGrouting]

Would somebody be kind to let me know a software for settlement calculation other than Unisettle. Unisettle is definitely a good software but I found it difficult to understand and am more in favor of SLOPE/w type software. Thanks.

 

[FixedEarth]

We have not needed it thus far, but try the following:

http://www.geologismiki.gr/Products/SteinP.html

http://www.FoundEng.com

 

[oldestguy]

I made up such a program on a spreadsheet using simple load spread as well as soil properties related to consolidation. If you can find a copy of the book by Hough "Basic Soil;s Engineering", he has proposed a term called "Bearing capacity Index" that he applies to all soils including granular. The interesting thing about it is that some engineers have found it to work quite well.

From my experience with that method, it seems to work well, mainly because the actual job experiences conform quite well to the predictions.

It is written up in an old ASCE paper 2195 SM4 of the Soil Mechanics and Foundation Division, August 1959. The reviewers in February 1960, include Ralph Peck (who po-pooed it) but two discussors from California DOT made a study of 20 cases where settlemnt was measured and found no more than10% error in 70% of the cases, with maximum error of 40%, all in sand.

If you can't find the paper or the book, I'll see if I can get the basic info to you via these threads.

There also are some later papers comparing several settlement methods, including this one. I seem to recall ASTM also has some adoption of this Hough Method.

 

[GeoGrouting]

oldestguy

Thank you for the feedback. I do not have the book but will search for it.

Am looking for a tool to calculate BC and settlement without getting into research as seems research on this subject is endless.

 

[emmgjld]

I am afraid that Slope/W type software would end up including both the simple & many of the esoteric methods (which would probably defeat your request). I suggest going through Hough's method, develop a usable (to you anyway) spreadsheet and be prepared to learn that the field logging, sampling and especially the laboratory testing is very seldom sufficient for anything more than simple computation methods.

I also recommend Hough's book. While it is old, there are a lot of basics that are simply covered, with fairly good examples.

 

[GeoGrouting]

emmgjld

Thanks. I have referred to Das, CFM, NAVFAC, Tomlinson, and some web based formulations but am a bit tired of comparing those and going to the most onerous answers which may not be the right thing to do. Therefore I am looking for only one reference that could give me some reliable data and the rest as you suggested would depend on the field data, how they were obtained and engineering judgement (intuition). I assume the Hough's reference could be one and will go to find it. Thanks again.

 

[Ron]

GG...as you've probably figured out, geotechnical engineering is like, to use one of my favorite sayings, measuring with a micrometer, marking with a crayon and cutting with an ax.

I agree with oldestguy...a spreadsheet is sufficient. As for references...take your pick. Hough, Peck, Terzaghi, Sowers, Seed, Bowles, Lambe or Das...all have their ideas and all are probably right in some context...the problem with geotechnical evaluation is picking the context....it is varied and changes greatly with locale and location...sometimes within a few feet. Granular coastal plains soils with a high water table react differently than arid granular soils. Clays can be so varied that you have difficulty predicting the activity across a site.

Good luck.