9

Settlement of Shallow Foundations

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9.1 Introduction 337

9.9 Settlement Estimation Using
9.2 Elastic Settlement of Shallow the L1 2 L2 Method 375
Foundation on Saturated
Clay ( ms 5 0.5) 337
9.10 Effect of the Rise of Water Table on
Elastic Settlement 378
9.3 Settlement Based on the Theory
of Elasticity 339
9.11 Primary Consolidation Settlement
Relationships 380
9.4 Improved Equation for Elastic
Settlement 350
9.12 Three-Dimensional Effect on Primary
Consolidation Settlement 382
9.5 Settlement of Sandy Soil: Use of
Strain Influence Factor 354
9.13 Settlement Due to Secondary
Consolidation 386
9.6 Settlement of Foundation on Sand
Based on Standard Penetration
9.14 Field Load Test 388
Resistance 361 9.15 Presumptive Bearing Capacity 389
9.7 Settlement Considering Soil Stiffness 9.16 Tolerable Settlement of
Variation with Stress Level 366 Buildings 390
9.8 Settlement Based on Pressuremeter 9.17 Summary 392
Test (PMT) 370 PROBLEMS 392
REFERENCES 394

336
 9.2 ELASTIC SETTLEMENT OF SHALLOW FOUNDATION ON SATURATED CLAY (m s 5 0.5) 337

9.1 Introduction

T
he settlement process is different in granular and cohesive soil. In granular
soil, such as sand and gravel, the settlement occurs almost immediately upon
applying the load. This is referred to as immediate (or elastic) settlement
and is computed by using elastic theories. In clay, while there is a small immediate
(or elastic) settlement component, most of the settlement occurs during the
consolidation process, which includes primary and secondary consolidation.
The fundamentals of primary consolidation were summarized in Chapter 2. The
secondary consolidation is assumed to occur on completion of primary consolidation,
when the excess pore water pressure has fully dissipated. During the secondary
consolidation, the settlement continues indefinitely, due to the realignment of the clay
particles and the resulting change in the clay fabric. Primary consolidation settlement
is more significant than secondary settlement in inorganic clays and silty soil.
However, in organic soil, secondary consolidation settlement is more significant.
This chapter presents various theories presently available for estimating elastic
and consolidation settlements of shallow foundations. In computing the elastic
settlement, the modulus of elasticity (Es) and Poisson’s ratio (!s) are the two key
design parameters. The modulus of elasticity of the soil can vary over a wide range
(1–50 MPa), and it is often determined from in situ tests. Poisson’s ratio varies in the
range of 0–0.5. For all saturated clays subjected to undrained loading, which implies
no volume change, it can be shown from elastic analysis that !s 5 0.50.

9.2 Elastic Settlement of Shallow Foundation

on Saturated Clay (ms 5 0.5)
Janbu et al. (1956) proposed an equation for evaluating the average settlement of
flexible foundations on saturated clay soil (Poisson’s ratio, !s 5 0.5). Referring to
Figure 9.1, this relationship can be expressed as

qo B
Se 5 A1A2 (9.1)
Es

where
A1 5 f (HyB, LyB)
A2 5 f (Df yB)
L 5 length of the foundation
B 5 width of the foundation
Df 5 depth of the foundation
H 5 depth of the bottom of the foundation to a rigid layer
qo 5 net load per unit area of the foundation
Christian and Carrier (1978) modified the values of A1 and A2 to some extent,
and these are presented in Figure 9.1.
338 CHAPTER 9 SETTLEMENT OF SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

qo
Df

B
H

2.0
L /B 5 `
L /B 5 10

1.5 5

A1 1.0
2
Square
Circle
0.5

0
0.1 1 10 100 1000
H/B

1.0

A2 0.9

0.8
0 5 10 15 20
Df /B

FIGURE 9.1 Values of A1 and A2 for elastic settlement calculation—Eq. (9.1) (Based on
Christian, J. T. and Carrier, W. D. (1978). “Janbu, Bjerrum and Kjaernsli’s chart reinterpreted,”
Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 15, pp. 123–128)

The modulus of elasticity (Es) for saturated clays under undrained conditions can,
in general, be given as
Es 5 "cu (9.2)
where cu 5 undrained shear strength.
The parameter " is primarily a function of the plasticity index and overconsoli-
dation ratio (OCR). Table 9.1 provides a general range for " based on that proposed

TABLE 9.1 Range of " for Saturated Clay [Eq. (9.2)]a

Plasticity
index OCR 5 1 OCR 5 2 OCR 5 3 OCR 5 4 OCR 5 5
,30 1500–600 1380–500 1200–580 950–380 730–300
30 to 50 600–300 550–270 580–220 380–180 300–150
.50 300–150 270–120 220–100 180–90 150–75
a
Based on Duncan and Buchignani (1976)
 9.3 SETTLEMENT BASED ON THE THEORY OF ELASTICITY 339

by Duncan and Buchignani (1976). In any case, proper judgment should be used in
selecting the magnitude of ".

EXAMPLE 9.1
Consider a shallow foundation 2 m 3 1 m in plan in a saturated clay layer. A rigid
rock layer is located 8 m below the bottom of the foundation. Given:
Foundation: Df 5 1 m, qo 5 120 kN/m2
Clay: cu 5 150 kN/m2, OCR 5 2, and plasticity index, PI 5 35
Estimate the elastic settlement of the foundation.

SOLUTION
From Eq. (9.1),
qo B
Se 5 A1A2
Es

Given:
L 2
5 52
B 1
Df 1
5 51
B 1
H 8
5 58
B 1
Es 5 "cu

For OCR 5 2 and PI 5 35, the value of " ø 480 (Table 9.1). Hence,

Es 5 s480ds150d 5 72,000 kN/m2

Also, from Figure 9.1, A1 5 0.9 and A2 5 0.92. Hence,

qo B s120ds1d
Se 5 A1A2 5 s0.9ds0.92d 5 0.00138 m 5 1.38 mm
Es 72,000
■

Elastic Settlement in Granular Soil

9.3 Settlement Based on the Theory of Elasticity

In this section, the procedure to compute the elastic settlement in a granular soil is
discussed. Here, the soil is treated as an elastic continuum. The settlement profiles of
rigid and flexible foundations are shown in Figure 9.2. A flexible foundation applies
uniform pressure to the underlying soil, but its settlement is nonuniform. A rigid foun-
dation settles uniformly, but the pressure applied to the underlying soil is nonuniform.
In the first part of this section, an expression is developed for a flexible surface
foundation (Df 5 0) resting on an elastic half-space, as shown in Figure 9.3a. This is
further modified to account for
a. the presence of a rigid layer at a finite depth H (Figure 9.3b), and
b. embedment depth Df (Figure 9.3c).
340 CHAPTER 9 SETTLEMENT OF SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

Foundation B 3 L
qo Df

z Rigid Flexible
foundation foundation
settlement settlement H
!s 5 Poisson s ratio
Es 5 Modulus of elasticity
Soil
FIGURE 9.2 Elastic settlement of
Rock flexible and rigid foundations

B B B

qO qO qO
Df

Rigid layer Rigid layer

(a) (b) (c)

FIGURE 9.3 Elastic settlement of a flexible foundation: (a) elastic half-space, (b) underlain
by a rigid layer, and (c) with embedment

SURFACE FOUNDATIONS ON ELASTIC HALF-SPACE

For a flexible rectangular foundation of dimensions B 3 L lying on an elastic half-
space as shown in Figure 9.3a, the elastic settlement under a point on the foundation
is given by
qoB
Se 5 (1 2 !2s )I (9.3)
Es

where I is the influence factor that depends on the location of the point of interest on
the foundation. Here qo is the net pressure applied by the foundation to the underly-
ing soil, B is the width of the foundation, Es is the modulus of elasticity of the soil,
and ms is Poisson’s ratio of the soil.
Schleicher (1926) expressed the influence factor for the corner of a flexible
foundation as

3 1 2 4
1 1 1 Ïm92 1 1
Icorner 5 m9 ln 1 ln_m9 1 Ïm92 1 1+ (9.4)
# m9

where m9 5 L/B. The influence factors for the other locations on the foundation can
be determined by dividing the foundation into four rectangles and using the prin-
ciple of superposition. It can be deduced that the influence factor for the center is
twice that of the corner. The influence factors for the corner, center, midpoint of the
short side, and midpoint of the long side, as determined from Eq. (9.4), are shown
in Figure 9.4 for 1 # m9 # 1000. The values computed here are the same as those
 9.3 SETTLEMENT BASED ON THE THEORY OF ELASTICITY 341

r
nte
Ce
4
s ide
ong
in tl
po

Influence factor, I
id
M
3

e
t sid
t shor
poin
Mid
ner
2 Cor

0
1 10 100 1000
m9 5 L /B

FIGURE 9.4 Variation of I versus m9 for a flexible foundation

reported by Poulos and Davis (1974), who refer the work of Giroud (1968). The au-
thors note that these values can be approximated as follows.
Corner: I 5 0.7283 log m9 1 0.5469 (9.5)
Center: I 5 1.4566 log m9 1 1.0939 (9.6)
Midpoint short side: I 5 0.7318 log m9 1 0.7617 (9.7)
Midpoint long side: I 5 1.4357 log m9 1 0.6894 (9.8)
The settlements under the center and the perimeter of a uniformly loaded flexible
circular foundation of diameter B are given by:

qoB
Center: Se 5 (1 2 !2s ) (9.9)
Es

qoB 2
Perimeter: Se 5 (1 2 !2s ) (9.10)
Es #

From Eqs. (9.9) and (9.10), it can be seen that the influence factors for the cen-
ter and a point on the perimeter of a flexible circular foundation are 1.00 and 2/p,
respectively.
342 CHAPTER 9 SETTLEMENT OF SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

TABLE 9.2 Influence Factors to Compute Aver-

age Settlement of Flexible and Rigid
Foundation
m9 5 L/B Flexible Rigid
Circle 0.85 0.79
1 0.95 0.82
1.5 1.20 1.07
2 1.30 1.21
3 1.52 1.42
5 1.82 1.60
10 2.24 2.00
100 2.96 3.40

Flexible foundations apply uniform pressure and settle nonuniformly. Rigid

foundations apply nonuniform pressure and settle uniformly. Some influence factors
for estimating the average values of the settlements of flexible and rigid foundations,
as reported in the literature, are given in Table 9.2.
Based on the work of Timoshenko and Goodier (1951), Bowles (1987) sug-
gested that the settlement of the rigid foundation can be estimated as 93% of the
settlement computed for a flexible foundation under the center. The average values
of I reported by Giroud (1968) and Poulos and Davis (1974) suggest that the average
value of the settlement of a flexible foundation can be computed using 84–88% of
the I-value for the center.

EFFECTS OF A RIGID LAYER ON THE SETTLEMENTS

OF SURFACE FOUNDATIONS
When the soil is underlain by a rigid layer, as shown in Figure 9.3b, the settlement
computed by Eq. (9.3) has to be reduced. Steinbrenner (1934) suggested the follow-
ing expression for the influence factor for the corner of a rectangular flexible surface
foundation, taking into consideration the presence of the rigid layer, at depth of H
below the foundation and n9 5 H/B.

1 1 2 ! 2F
1 2 2!s
Is 5 F1 1 2 (9.11)
s

where

1
F1 5 (A 1 A1) (9.12)
# 0

n9
F2 5 tan21 A2 (9.13)
2#

A0, A1, and A2 are given by

_1 1 Ïm92 1 1 + Ïm92 1 n92
A0 5 m9 ln (9.14)
m9_ 1 1 Ïm92 1 n92 1 1 +

_m9 1 Ïm92 1 1 + Ï1 1 n92

A1 5 ln (9.15)
m9 1 Ïm92 1 n92 1 1
m9
A2 5 (9.16)
n9 1 Ïm92 1 n92 1 1
 9.3 SETTLEMENT BASED ON THE THEORY OF ELASTICITY 343

The influence factor determined using Eqs. (9.11) to (9.16) is for the corner of a uni-
formly loaded flexible rectangular surface foundation. The influence factor for any
other point on the foundation can be determined using the principle of superposition
as before. For H 5 `, n9 5 `, and Eqs. (9.14) to (9.16) become
1 1 Ïm92 1 1
A0 5 m9 ln (9.17)
m9
A1 5 ln _m9 1 Ïm92 1 1+ (9.18)

A2 5 0 (9.19)

Substituting these in Eqs. (9.12) and (9.13),

3 1 2 4
1 1 1 Ïm92 1 1
F1 5 m9 ln 1 ln _m9 1 Ïm92 1 1 + (9.20)
# m9

F2 5 0 (9.21)

Substituting Eqs. (9.20) and (9.21) in Eq. (9.11) gives the same expression we had
from Schleicher (1926) in Eq. (9.4). The variations of F1 and F2 [see Eqs. (9.12) to
(9.16)] with m9 and n9 are given in Tables 9.3 and 9.4.

EFFECT OF EMBEDMENT
When the foundation base is located at some depth beneath the ground level, the
embedment reduces the settlement further. Fox (1948) proposed the reduction
factor If to account for this reduction in settlement. The settlement computed
in Eq. (9.3) using the Schleicher (1926) or Steinbrenner (1934) influence
factors must be multiplied by If to account for the settlement reduction due
to embedment. If values for different values of Df /B, L /B, and ms are given in
Figure 9.5. Therefore, Eq. (9.3) becomes
qoB
Se 5 s1 2 !2s dIsIf (9.22)
Es
1
L/B = 1

0.9

0.8

If 0.7
!s 5
0.5
0.4
0.6 0.3

0.1
0.5
0.0

0.4
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
Df /B
FIGURE 9.5 Variation of If with Df /B:
(a) L/B 5 1; (b) L/B 5 2; (c) L/B 5 5 (a)
344 CHAPTER 9 SETTLEMENT OF SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

1
L/B = 2

0.9

0.8

!s 5
0.5
If 0.7
0.4
0.3
0.6
0.1

0.0
0.5

0.4
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
Df /B
(b)

1
L/B = 5

0.9

0.8 !s 5
0.5
0.4
0.3
If 0.7

0.1

0.6
0.0

0.5

0.4
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
Df /B
FIGURE 9.5 (Continued ) (c)
 9.3 SETTLEMENT BASED ON THE THEORY OF ELASTICITY 345

TABLE 9.3 Variation of F1 with m9 and n9

m9
n9 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
0.25 0.014 0.013 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.010
0.50 0.049 0.046 0.044 0.042 0.041 0.040 0.038 0.038 0.037 0.037
0.75 0.095 0.090 0.087 0.084 0.082 0.080 0.077 0.076 0.074 0.074
1.00 0.142 0.138 0.134 0.130 0.127 0.125 0.121 0.118 0.116 0.115
1.25 0.186 0.183 0.179 0.176 0.173 0.170 0.165 0.161 0.158 0.157
1.50 0.224 0.224 0.222 0.219 0.216 0.213 0.207 0.203 0.199 0.197
1.75 0.257 0.259 0.259 0.258 0.255 0.253 0.247 0.242 0.238 0.235
2.00 0.285 0.290 0.292 0.292 0.291 0.289 0.284 0.279 0.275 0.271
2.25 0.309 0.317 0.321 0.323 0.323 0.322 0.317 0.313 0.308 0.305
2.50 0.330 0.341 0.347 0.350 0.351 0.351 0.348 0.344 0.340 0.336
2.75 0.348 0.361 0.369 0.374 0.377 0.378 0.377 0.373 0.369 0.365
3.00 0.363 0.379 0.389 0.396 0.400 0.402 0.402 0.400 0.396 0.392
3.25 0.376 0.394 0.406 0.415 0.420 0.423 0.426 0.424 0.421 0.418
3.50 0.388 0.408 0.422 0.431 0.438 0.442 0.447 0.447 0.444 0.441
3.75 0.399 0.420 0.436 0.447 0.454 0.460 0.467 0.458 0.466 0.464
4.00 0.408 0.431 0.448 0.460 0.469 0.476 0.484 0.487 0.486 0.484
4.25 0.417 0.440 0.458 0.472 0.481 0.484 0.495 0.514 0.515 0.515
4.50 0.424 0.450 0.469 0.484 0.495 0.503 0.516 0.521 0.522 0.522
4.75 0.431 0.458 0.478 0.494 0.506 0.515 0.530 0.536 0.539 0.539
5.00 0.437 0.465 0.487 0.503 0.516 0.526 0.543 0.551 0.554 0.554
5.25 0.443 0.472 0.494 0.512 0.526 0.537 0.555 0.564 0.568 0.569
5.50 0.448 0.478 0.501 0.520 0.534 0.546 0.566 0.576 0.581 0.584
5.75 0.453 0.483 0.508 0.527 0.542 0.555 0.576 0.588 0.594 0.597
6.00 0.457 0.489 0.514 0.534 0.550 0.563 0.585 0.598 0.606 0.609
6.25 0.461 0.493 0.519 0.540 0.557 0.570 0.594 0.609 0.617 0.621
6.50 0.465 0.498 0.524 0.546 0.563 0.577 0.603 0.618 0.627 0.632
6.75 0.468 0.502 0.529 0.551 0.569 0.584 0.610 0.627 0.637 0.643
7.00 0.471 0.506 0.533 0.556 0.575 0.590 0.618 0.635 0.646 0.653
7.25 0.474 0.509 0.538 0.561 0.580 0.596 0.625 0.643 0.655 0.662
7.50 0.477 0.513 0.541 0.565 0.585 0.601 0.631 0.650 0.663 0.671
7.75 0.480 0.516 0.545 0.569 0.589 0.606 0.637 0.658 0.671 0.680
8.00 0.482 0.519 0.549 0.573 0.594 0.611 0.643 0.664 0.678 0.688
8.25 0.485 0.522 0.552 0.577 0.598 0.615 0.648 0.670 0.685 0.695
8.50 0.487 0.524 0.555 0.580 0.601 0.619 0.653 0.676 0.692 0.703
8.75 0.489 0.527 0.558 0.583 0.605 0.623 0.658 0.682 0.698 0.710
9.00 0.491 0.529 0.560 0.587 0.609 0.627 0.663 0.687 0.705 0.716
9.25 0.493 0.531 0.563 0.589 0.612 0.631 0.667 0.693 0.710 0.723
9.50 0.495 0.533 0.565 0.592 0.615 0.634 0.671 0.697 0.716 0.719
9.75 0.496 0.536 0.568 0.595 0.618 0.638 0.675 0.702 0.721 0.735
10.00 0.498 0.537 0.570 0.597 0.621 0.641 0.679 0.707 0.726 0.740
20.00 0.529 0.575 0.614 0.647 0.677 0.702 0.756 0.797 0.830 0.858
50.00 0.548 0.598 0.640 0.678 0.711 0.740 0.803 0.853 0.895 0.931
100.00 0.555 0.605 0.649 0.688 0.722 0.753 0.819 0.872 0.918 0.956
(Continued )
346 CHAPTER 9 SETTLEMENT OF SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

TABLE 9.3 Variation of F1 with m9 and n9 (Continued )

m9
n9 4.5 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 25.0 50.0 100.0
0.25 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.010
0.50 0.036 0.036 0.036 0.036 0.036 0.036 0.036 0.036 0.036 0.036
0.75 0.073 0.073 0.072 0.072 0.072 0.072 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.071
1.00 0.114 0.113 0.112 0.112 0.112 0.111 0.111 0.110 0.110 0.110
1.25 0.155 0.154 0.153 0.152 0.152 0.151 0.151 0.150 0.150 0.150
1.50 0.195 0.194 0.192 0.191 0.190 0.190 0.189 0.188 0.188 0.188
1.75 0.233 0.232 0.229 0.228 0.227 0.226 0.225 0.223 0.223 0.223
2.00 0.269 0.267 0.264 0.262 0.261 0.260 0.259 0.257 0.256 0.256
2.25 0.302 0.300 0.296 0.294 0.293 0.291 0.291 0.287 0.287 0.287
2.50 0.333 0.331 0.327 0.324 0.322 0.321 0.320 0.316 0.315 0.315
2.75 0.362 0.359 0.355 0.352 0.350 0.348 0.347 0.343 0.342 0.342
3.00 0.389 0.386 0.382 0.378 0.376 0.374 0.373 0.368 0.367 0.367
3.25 0.415 0.412 0.407 0.403 0.401 0.399 0.397 0.391 0.390 0.390
3.50 0.438 0.435 0.430 0.427 0.424 0.421 0.420 0.413 0.412 0.411
3.75 0.461 0.458 0.453 0.449 0.446 0.443 0.441 0.433 0.432 0.432
4.00 0.482 0.479 0.474 0.470 0.466 0.464 0.462 0.453 0.451 0.451
4.25 0.516 0.496 0.484 0.473 0.471 0.471 0.470 0.468 0.462 0.460
4.50 0.520 0.517 0.513 0.508 0.505 0.502 0.499 0.489 0.487 0.487
4.75 0.537 0.535 0.530 0.526 0.523 0.519 0.517 0.506 0.504 0.503
5.00 0.554 0.552 0.548 0.543 0.540 0.536 0.534 0.522 0.519 0.519
5.25 0.569 0.568 0.564 0.560 0.556 0.553 0.550 0.537 0.534 0.534
5.50 0.584 0.583 0.579 0.575 0.571 0.568 0.585 0.551 0.549 0.548
5.75 0.597 0.597 0.594 0.590 0.586 0.583 0.580 0.565 0.583 0.562
6.00 0.611 0.610 0.608 0.604 0.601 0.598 0.595 0.579 0.576 0.575
6.25 0.623 0.623 0.621 0.618 0.615 0.611 0.608 0.592 0.589 0.588
6.50 0.635 0.635 0.634 0.631 0.628 0.625 0.622 0.605 0.601 0.600
6.75 0.646 0.647 0.646 0.644 0.641 0.637 0.634 0.617 0.613 0.612
7.00 0.656 0.658 0.658 0.656 0.653 0.650 0.647 0.628 0.624 0.623
7.25 0.666 0.669 0.669 0.668 0.665 0.662 0.659 0.640 0.635 0.634
7.50 0.676 0.679 0.680 0.679 0.676 0.673 0.670 0.651 0.646 0.645
7.75 0.685 0.688 0.690 0.689 0.687 0.684 0.681 0.661 0.656 0.655
8.00 0.694 0.697 0.700 0.700 0.698 0.695 0.692 0.672 0.666 0.665
8.25 0.702 0.706 0.710 0.710 0.708 0.705 0.703 0.682 0.676 0.675
8.50 0.710 0.714 0.719 0.719 0.718 0.715 0.713 0.692 0.686 0.684
8.75 0.717 0.722 0.727 0.728 0.727 0.725 0.723 0.701 0.695 0.693
9.00 0.725 0.730 0.736 0.737 0.736 0.735 0.732 0.710 0.704 0.702
9.25 0.731 0.737 0.744 0.746 0.745 0.744 0.742 0.719 0.713 0.711
9.50 0.738 0.744 0.752 0.754 0.754 0.753 0.751 0.728 0.721 0.719
9.75 0.744 0.751 0.759 0.762 0.762 0.761 0.759 0.737 0.729 0.727
10.00 0.750 0.758 0.766 0.770 0.770 0.770 0.768 0.745 0.738 0.735
20.00 0.878 0.896 0.925 0.945 0.959 0.969 0.977 0.982 0.965 0.957
50.00 0.962 0.989 1.034 1.070 1.100 1.125 1.146 1.265 1.279 1.261
100.00 0.990 1.020 1.072 1.114 1.150 1.182 1.209 1.408 1.489 1.499
 9.3 SETTLEMENT BASED ON THE THEORY OF ELASTICITY 347

TABLE 9.4 Variation of F2 with m9 and n9

m9
n9 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
0.25 0.049 0.050 0.051 0.051 0.051 0.052 0.052 0.052 0.052 0.052
0.50 0.074 0.077 0.080 0.081 0.083 0.084 0.086 0.086 0.0878 0.087
0.75 0.083 0.089 0.093 0.097 0.099 0.101 0.104 0.106 0.107 0.108
1.00 0.083 0.091 0.098 0.102 0.106 0.109 0.114 0.117 0.119 0.120
1.25 0.080 0.089 0.096 0.102 0.107 0.111 0.118 0.122 0.125 0.127
1.50 0.075 0.084 0.093 0.099 0.105 0.110 0.118 0.124 0.128 0.130
1.75 0.069 0.079 0.088 0.095 0.101 0.107 0.117 0.123 0.128 0.131
2.00 0.064 0.074 0.083 0.090 0.097 0.102 0.114 0.121 0.127 0.131
2.25 0.059 0.069 0.077 0.085 0.092 0.098 0.110 0.119 0.125 0.130
2.50 0.055 0.064 0.073 0.080 0.087 0.093 0.106 0.115 0.122 0.127
2.75 0.051 0.060 0.068 0.076 0.082 0.089 0.102 0.111 0.119 0.125
3.00 0.048 0.056 0.064 0.071 0.078 0.084 0.097 0.108 0.116 0.122
3.25 0.045 0.053 0.060 0.067 0.074 0.080 0.093 0.104 0.112 0.119
3.50 0.042 0.050 0.057 0.064 0.070 0.076 0.089 0.100 0.109 0.116
3.75 0.040 0.047 0.054 0.060 0.067 0.073 0.086 0.096 0.105 0.113
4.00 0.037 0.044 0.051 0.057 0.063 0.069 0.082 0.093 0.102 0.110
4.25 0.036 0.042 0.049 0.055 0.061 0.066 0.079 0.090 0.099 0.107
4.50 0.034 0.040 0.046 0.052 0.058 0.063 0.076 0.086 0.096 0.104
4.75 0.032 0.038 0.044 0.050 0.055 0.061 0.073 0.083 0.093 0.101
5.00 0.031 0.036 0.042 0.048 0.053 0.058 0.070 0.080 0.090 0.098
5.25 0.029 0.035 0.040 0.046 0.051 0.056 0.067 0.078 0.087 0.095
5.50 0.028 0.033 0.039 0.044 0.049 0.054 0.065 0.075 0.084 0.092
5.75 0.027 0.032 0.037 0.042 0.047 0.052 0.063 0.073 0.082 0.090
6.00 0.026 0.031 0.036 0.040 0.045 0.050 0.060 0.070 0.079 0.087
6.25 0.025 0.030 0.034 0.039 0.044 0.048 0.058 0.068 0.077 0.085
6.50 0.024 0.029 0.033 0.038 0.042 0.046 0.056 0.066 0.075 0.083
6.75 0.023 0.028 0.032 0.036 0.041 0.045 0.055 0.064 0.073 0.080
7.00 0.022 0.027 0.031 0.035 0.039 0.043 0.053 0.062 0.071 0.078
7.25 0.022 0.026 0.030 0.034 0.038 0.042 0.051 0.060 0.069 0.076
7.50 0.021 0.025 0.029 0.033 0.037 0.041 0.050 0.059 0.067 0.074
7.75 0.020 0.024 0.028 0.032 0.036 0.039 0.048 0.057 0.065 0.072
8.00 0.020 0.023 0.027 0.031 0.035 0.038 0.047 0.055 0.063 0.071
8.25 0.019 0.023 0.026 0.030 0.034 0.037 0.046 0.054 0.062 0.069
8.50 0.018 0.022 0.026 0.029 0.033 0.036 0.045 0.053 0.060 0.067
8.75 0.018 0.021 0.025 0.028 0.032 0.035 0.043 0.051 0.059 0.066
9.00 0.017 0.021 0.024 0.028 0.031 0.034 0.042 0.050 0.057 0.064
9.25 0.017 0.020 0.024 0.027 0.030 0.033 0.041 0.049 0.056 0.063
9.50 0.017 0.020 0.023 0.026 0.029 0.033 0.040 0.048 0.055 0.061
9.75 0.016 0.019 0.023 0.026 0.029 0.032 0.039 0.047 0.054 0.060
10.00 0.016 0.019 0.022 0.025 0.028 0.031 0.038 0.046 0.052 0.059
20.00 0.008 0.010 0.011 0.013 0.014 0.016 0.020 0.024 0.027 0.031
50.00 0.003 0.004 0.004 0.005 0.006 0.006 0.008 0.010 0.011 0.013
100.00 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.004 0.005 0.006 0.006
(Continued )
348 CHAPTER 9 SETTLEMENT OF SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

TABLE 9.4 Variation of F2 with m9 and n9 (Continued)

m9

n9 4.5 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 25.0 50.0 100.0
0.25 0.053 0.053 0.053 0.053 0.053 0.053 0.053 0.053 0.053 0.053
0.50 0.087 0.087 0.088 0.088 0.088 0.088 0.088 0.088 0.088 0.088
0.75 0.109 0.109 0.109 0.110 0.110 0.110 0.110 0.111 0.111 0.111
1.00 0.121 0.122 0.123 0.123 0.124 0.124 0.124 0.125 0.125 0.125
1.25 0.128 0.130 0.131 0.132 0.132 0.133 0.133 0.134 0.134 0.134
1.50 0.132 0.134 0.136 0.137 0.138 0.138 0.139 0.140 0.140 0.140
1.75 0.134 0.136 0.138 0.140 0.141 0.142 0.142 0.144 0.144 0.145
2.00 0.134 0.136 0.139 0.141 0.143 0.144 0.145 0.147 0.147 0.148
2.25 0.133 0.136 0.140 0.142 0.144 0.145 0.146 0.149 0.150 0.150
2.50 0.132 0.135 0.139 0.142 0.144 0.146 0.147 0.151 0.151 0.151
2.75 0.130 0.133 0.138 0.142 0.144 0.146 0.147 0.152 0.152 0.153
3.00 0.127 0.131 0.137 0.141 0.144 0.145 0.147 0.152 0.153 0.154
3.25 0.125 0.129 0.135 0.140 0.143 0.145 0.147 0.153 0.154 0.154
3.50 0.122 0.126 0.133 0.138 0.142 0.144 0.146 0.153 0.155 0.155
3.75 0.119 0.124 0.131 0.137 0.141 0.143 0.145 0.154 0.155 0.155
4.00 0.116 0.121 0.129 0.135 0.139 0.142 0.145 0.154 0.155 0.156
4.25 0.113 0.119 0.127 0.133 0.138 0.141 0.144 0.154 0.156 0.156
4.50 0.110 0.116 0.125 0.131 0.136 0.140 0.143 0.154 0.156 0.156
4.75 0.107 0.113 0.123 0.130 0.135 0.139 0.142 0.154 0.156 0.157
5.00 0.105 0.111 0.120 0.128 0.133 0.137 0.140 0.154 0.156 0.157
5.25 0.102 0.108 0.118 0.126 0.131 0.136 0.139 0.154 0.156 0.157
5.50 0.099 0.106 0.116 0.124 0.130 0.134 0.138 0.154 0.156 0.157
5.75 0.097 0.103 0.113 0.122 0.128 0.133 0.136 0.154 0.157 0.157
6.00 0.094 0.101 0.111 0.120 0.126 0.131 0.135 0.153 0.157 0.157
6.25 0.092 0.098 0.109 0.118 0.124 0.129 0.134 0.153 0.157 0.158
6.50 0.090 0.096 0.107 0.116 0.122 0.128 0.132 0.153 0.157 0.158
6.75 0.087 0.094 0.105 0.114 0.121 0.126 0.131 0.153 0.157 0.158
7.00 0.085 0.092 0.103 0.112 0.119 0.125 0.129 0.152 0.157 0.158
7.25 0.083 0.090 0.101 0.110 0.117 0.123 0.128 0.152 0.157 0.158
7.50 0.081 0.088 0.099 0.108 0.115 0.121 0.126 0.152 0.156 0.158
7.75 0.079 0.086 0.097 0.106 0.114 0.120 0.125 0.151 0.156 0.158
8.00 0.077 0.084 0.095 0.104 0.112 0.118 0.124 0.151 0.156 0.158
8.25 0.076 0.082 0.093 0.102 0.110 0.117 0.122 0.150 0.156 0.158
8.50 0.074 0.080 0.091 0.101 0.108 0.115 0.121 0.150 0.156 0.158
8.75 0.072 0.078 0.089 0.099 0.107 0.114 0.119 0.150 0.156 0.158
9.00 0.071 0.077 0.088 0.097 0.105 0.112 0.118 0.149 0.156 0.158
9.25 0.069 0.075 0.086 0.096 0.104 0.110 0.116 0.149 0.156 0.158
9.50 0.068 0.074 0.085 0.094 0.102 0.109 0.115 0.148 0.156 0.158
9.75 0.066 0.072 0.083 0.092 0.100 0.107 0.113 0.148 0.156 0.158
10.00 0.065 0.071 0.082 0.091 0.099 0.106 0.112 0.147 0.156 0.158
20.00 0.035 0.039 0.046 0.053 0.059 0.065 0.071 0.124 0.148 0.156
50.00 0.014 0.016 0.019 0.022 0.025 0.028 0.031 0.071 0.113 0.142
100.00 0.007 0.008 0.010 0.011 0.013 0.014 0.016 0.039 0.071 0.113
 9.3 SETTLEMENT BASED ON THE THEORY OF ELASTICITY 349

It is suggested that the settlement be computed for the surface foundations (Df 5 0)
using Eq. (9.3) and then multiplied by If to account for the embedment.
Due to the nonhomogeneous nature of soil deposits, the magnitude of Es may
vary with depth. For that reason, Bowles (1987) recommended using a weighted
average of Es in Eqs. (9.3) and (9.22), or
oEssid Dz
Es 5 (9.23)
z
where
Essid 5 soil modulus of elasticity within a depth Dz
z 5 H or 5B, whichever is smaller

EXAMPLE 9.2
A flexible shallow foundation 1 m 3 2 m is shown in Figure 9.6. Calculate the elastic
settlement at the center of the foundation.

SOLUTION
We are given that B 5 1 m and L 5 2 m. Note that z 5 5 m 5 5B. From Eq. (9.23),
oEssid Dz
Es 5
z
s10,000ds2d 1 s8000ds1d 1 s12,000ds2d
5 5 10,400 kN/m2
5
For one of the four quarters of the foundation, B 5 0.5 m and L 5 1.0 m. Also, H 5
6.0 m (Note: The Steinbrenner factors in Tables 9.3 and 9.4 are for surface founda-
tions with Df 5 0.)

m9 5 L/B 5 2.0 and n9 5 H/B 5 12.0

From Table 9.3, F1 5 0.653, and from Table 9.4, F2 5 0.028.
From Eq. (9.11), with ms 5 0.3,

1 1 2 ! 2F 5 0.653 1 11 21 22 30.30.32s0.028) 5 0.669

1 2 2!s
Is 5 F1 1 2
s

qo 5 150 kN/m2
1m

lm32m Es (kN/m2)
0

1 10,000
!s 5 0.3
2
8000
3

4 12,000

Rock FIGURE 9.6 Elastic settlement

z (m) below the center of a foundation
350 CHAPTER 9 SETTLEMENT OF SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

For ms 5 0.3, L/B 5 2 and Df /B 5 1 (using B 5 1 m for the entire foundation); from
Figure 9.5b, If 5 0.71.
From Eq. (9.22) and considering the four quarters,
q0B
Se 5 s1 2 !2s dIs If
Es

s150ds0.5d
5 s1 2 0.32ds0.669 3 4ds0.71d 5 0.0124 m 5 12.4 mm
s10,400d
■

9.4 Improved Equation for Elastic Settlement

In 1999, Mayne and Poulos presented an improved formula for calculating the elastic
settlement of foundations. The formula takes into account the rigidity of the foun-
dation, the depth of embedment of the foundation, the increase in the modulus of
elasticity of the soil with depth, and the presence of a rigid layer at a limited depth.
To use Mayne and Poulos’ equation, one needs to determine the equivalent diameter
Be of a rectangular foundation, or

Be 5 Î 4BL
#
(9.24)

where
B 5 width of foundation
L 5 length of foundation
For circular foundations,

Be 5 B (9.25)

where B 5 diameter of foundation.

Figure 9.7 shows a foundation with an equivalent diameter Be located at a depth
Df below the ground surface. Let the thickness of the foundation be t and the modu-
lus of elasticity of the foundation material be Ef . A rigid layer is located at a depth H
below the bottom of the foundation. The modulus of elasticity of the compressible
soil layer can be given as

Es 5 Eo 1 kz (9.26)

Be
qo

Df
t Ef Eo
Es

Compressible
Es 5
soil layer H
Es Eo 1 kz
!s

Rigid layer
FIGURE 9.7 Improved equation for calcu-
lating elastic settlement: general parameters Depth, z
 9.4 IMPROVED EQUATION FOR ELASTIC SETTLEMENT 351

1.0
. 30 10.0
5.0
0.8
2.0

0.6 1.0

IG
0.4 0.5

0.2
H/Be 5 0.2

0
0.01 2 4 6 0.1 1 10 100
E
! 5 kBo (log scale)
FIGURE 9.8 Variation of IG with " e

With the preceding parameters defined, the elastic settlement below the center of the
foundation is

qo Be IG IF IE
Se 5 s1 2 !2s d (9.27)
Eo

where
IG 5 influence factor for the variation of Es with depth

1 2
Eo H
5f "5 ,
kBe Be
IF 5 foundation rigidity correction factor
IE 5 foundation embedment correction factor
Figure 9.8 shows the variation of IG with " 5 EoykBe and HyBe . The foundation
rigidity correction factor can be expressed as

# 1
IF 5 1 (9.28)

1 2
4
Ef
1B2t 2
3
4.6 1 10
Be e
Eo 1 k
2

Similarly, the embedment correction factor is

1
IE 5 1 2 (9.29)
1 2
Be
3.5 exps1.22!s 2 0.4d 1 1.6
Df

Figures 9.9 and 9.10 show the variation of IF and IE with terms expressed in
Eqs. (9.28) and (9.29).
352 CHAPTER 9 SETTLEMENT OF SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

1.0

0.95

0.9

0.85

IF
( )( )
3
Ef 2t
0.8 KF 5 Be Be
Eo 1 k
2
5 Flexibility factor
0.75

0.7
FIGURE 9.9 Variation of rigidity correc-
0.001 2 4 0.01 0.1 1.0 10.0 100
tion factor IF with flexibility factor KF
[Eq. (9.28)] KF

1.0

0.95

0.9
!s = 0.5
0.85 0.4
IE

0.3
0.2
0.8
0.1

0.75 0

0.7
FIGURE 9.10 Variation of 0 5 10 15 20
embedment correction factor IE with DfyBe Df
[Eq (9.29)] Be

EXAMPLE 9.3
For a shallow foundation supported by a silty sand, as shown in Figure 9.7,
Length 5 L 5 3 m
Width 5 B 5 1.5 m
Depth of foundation 5 Df 5 1.5 m
Thickness of foundation 5 t 5 0.3 m
Load per unit area 5 qo 5 240 kN/m2
Ef 5 16 3 106 kN/m2
The silty sand soil has the following properties:
H 5 3.7 m
!s 5 0.3
 9.4 IMPROVED EQUATION FOR ELASTIC SETTLEMENT 353

Eo 5 9700 kN/m2
k 5 575 kN/m2/m
Estimate the elastic settlement of the foundation.

SOLUTION
From Eq. (9.24), the equivalent diameter is

Be 5 Î Î4BL
#
5
s4ds1.5ds3d
#
5 2.39 m

so

Eo 9700
"5 5 5 7.06
kBe s575ds2.39d

and

H 3.7
5 5 1.55
Be 2.39

From Figure 9.8, for " 5 7.06 and HyBe 5 1.55, the value of IG < 0.7. From
Eq. (9.28),

# 1
IF 5 1

1 21 2
4
Ef 2t 3
4.6 1 10
Be Be
Eo 1 k
2
# 1
5 1 5 0.789

3 43
4

4
16 3 106 s2d s0.3d 3
4.6 1 10
1 2
2.39 2.39
9700 1 s575d
2

From Eq. (9.29),

1
IE 5 1 2
1D 1 1.62
Be
3.5 exps1.22!s 2 0.4d
f

1
512 5 0.907
1 2
2.39
3.5 exp [s1.22ds0.3d 2 0.4] 1 1.6
1.5

From Eq. (9.27),

qoBeIGIFIE
Se 5 s1 2 !2s d
Eo

so, with qo 5 240 kN/m2, it follows that

s240ds2.39ds0.7ds0.789ds0.907d
Se 5 s1 2 0.32d < 0.02696 m < 27 mm
9700
■