USE OF ELASTIC THEORY FOR SETTLEMENT PREDICTION UNDER THREE-DIMENSIONAL CONDITIONS

The results of recent research into the immediate and final settlement and rate of settlement of pad foundations on clay are given. The necessity for a three-dimensional approach is discussed and a method of predicting settlements is proposed, based on the use of elastic displacement theory in combination with experimental soil parameters determined over a representative range of stress. The results of computations of elastic theory suitable for this method are outlined. The limitations of an elastic approach to the calculation of immediate settlements are discussed in relation to local yield within the soil. The results of laboratory tests on model footings and predictions by the proposed method are compared. The agreement is good with respect to the total final settlement, fair with respect to the immediate settlement, and good with respect to the rate of settlement. © 1968, Thomas Telford Ltd. All rights reserved.