Question

three storey structure having a square footprint of 225 m2 is constructed on a clayey deposit. The structure is planned to be supported by square isolated footings having a width of 2m and spaced at 5m center to center. typical borehole indicates that the soil consists of 2m fill layer at the top (g=17KN/m3) followed by a very stiff clay layer 2m thick (gsat=18.5KN/m3) underlain by a normally consolidated soft clay layer of 4.5m thickness (gsat=17KN/m3) followed by a rock layer extending down to the bottom of borehole. The foundations are laid on top of the stiff clay layer. Water table is located at the top of the stiff clay layer. Undisturbed samples were taken from the middle of each clay layer and consolidation tests done on undisturbed samples indicated the following:

 Stiff Clay: Cc=0.15; Cs = 0.02; Pc = 120 kPa; e0=0.9

 Soft Normally Consolidated Clay: Cc=0.38; Cs = 0.06; e0=1.0

a) The isolated foundations are subjected to a stress of 140 kPa. Calculate the consolidation settlement. Consider the very stiff clay as one layer and divide soft clay layer into two equal sub-layers. Calculate settlement under one typical foundation.

b) What would be the maximum additional stress applied on a central foundation from two neighboring foundations (situated at the left and right sides of the central foundation). Is it necessary to consider the additional stresses from neighboring foundations in the settlement calculations?

Answer 1

Settlement under a footing and the additional stress due to adjacent left and right footings are to be determined and consideration of additional stress due to adjacent footings in settlements calculation is to be stated.