Settlement Computations

The settlement of the corner of a rectangular base of dimensions B' X L' on the surface of an elastic
half-space can be computed from an equation from the Theory of Elasticity.

qo = intensity of contact pressure in units of Es

B = least lateral dimension of contributing base area in units of delta H

Ii = influence factors, which depend on L'/B’ thickness of stratum H, Poisson's

ratio µ, and base embedment depth D

Es,µ= elastic soil parameters

The influence factors I1 and I2 can be computed using equations as follows:

Influence factor If for footing at a depth D.

The half-space may consist of either cohesionless materials of any water content or unsaturated
cohesive soils. The soils may be either inorganic or organic; however, if organic, the amount of
organic material should be very small, because both E5 and µ are markedly affected by high organic
content. Also, in organic soils the foregoing equation has limited applicability since secondary
compression or "creep" is usually the predominating settlement component.

In practice, most foundations are flexible. Even very thick ones deflect when loaded by the
superstructure loads. Some theory indicates that if the base is rigid the settlement will be uniform
(but may tilt), and the settlement factor Is will be about 7 percent less than computed by Eq. (a). On
this basis if your base is "rigid" you should reduce the Is factor by about 7 percent (that is, Isr =0.931IS).

qo = 134 kPa ; BxL = 33.5x39.5 m

Soil is layered clays with one sand seam from ground surface to sandstone bedrock at -14 m;
mat at -3 m.

Es from 3 to 6 = 42.5 MPa ; Es from 6 to 14 = 60 MPa ; Es for sandstone ≥ 500 MPa

Solution : For clay µ = 0.35

Es(average) = (3x42.5+8x60)/11 = 55 MPa

From base to sandstone H = 14-3 =11 m

For center :

B’ = B/2 ; L’ = L/2 ; s=qo.B’.(1-µ2) (I1 + (1-2 µ).I2/(1-µ)).If/E

I1 = (1/ π ).[M.ln((1+(M2 + 1)^(0.5))/M.(1+(M2 +N2+1)^(0.5))) +ln((M+(M2 + 1)^(0.5). (N2 + 1)^(0.5))/(M+

I2= (N/2 π ).tan^-1(M/N. +(M2 +N2+1)^(0.5))

M= L’/B’ ; N=H/B’

B’ = 33.5/2 = 16.75 m L’=39.5/2= 19.75 m

M = 19.75/16.75 = 1.18 ; N = 11/16.75 = 0.66

I1= 0.0733 ; I2 = 0.0856

Is = I1 + (1-2.µ).I2/(1-µ) = 0.113

D/B = 3/33.5 = 0.09 From the chart If ≈0.9

L/B = 39.5/33.5 = 1.18

For the edge :

B=33.5 ; L=39.5 ; M=1.18 ; N=0.33; I1=0.0213 ; I2=0.0604 ; Is=0.0492 ;

s=134x33.5(1-0.352)(0.0213 +(1-2x0.35)x0.0604/(1-0.352))x0.9/55.2=3.16 mm

At point 1:

B1’=8.4 ; L1’=3.9 ; M=1.18 ; N=1.31; I1=0.194 ; I2=0.087 ; Is=0.234 ;

s=134x8.4(1-0.352)(0.194 +(1-2x0.35)x0.087/(1-0.352))x0.9/55.2=3.77 mm

At point 2:

B2’=8.4 ; L2’=29.6 ; M=3.54 ; N=1.31; I1=0.169 ; I2=0.126 ; Is=0.227 ;

s=134x8.4(1-0.352)(0.169 +(1-2x0.35)x0.126/(1-0.352))x0.9/55.2=3.66 mm

At point 3:

B3’=9.9 ; L3’=25.1 ; M=2.54 ; N=1.11; I1=0.141 ; I2=0.117 ; Is=0.134 ;

s=134x9.9(1-0.352)(0.141 +(1-2x0.35)x0.117/(1-0.352))x0.9/55.2=3.7 mm

At point 4:

B4’=25.1 ; L4’=29.6 ; M=1.18 ; N=0.44; I1=0.036 ; I2=0.072; Is=0.0695 ;

s=134x25.1(1-0.352)(0.036 +(1-2x0.35)x0.072/(1-0.352))x0.9/55.2=3.33 mm

∑ s = 14.46 mm

k= qo/s = 9.28x103

Matlab Code For Settlement Calculation

%% Input Data
disp('Calculation of Subgrade Modulus of Soil')
disp('Please Enter the Foundation Dimensions')
%Collecting Foundation Dimensions
width=input('Width of the foundation (Short Side of Raft) B=.....(m)');
length=input('Length of the foundation (Long Side of Raft) L=.....(m)');
depth=input('Depth of the Foundation Df=.....(m)');
%Collecting Load Informations
load=input('Please Enter the Service Load q=......(kN/m^2)');
%Collecting Soil Informations
defmod=input('Please Enter the Average Value of the Deformation Modulus of
the Soil E=......(MPa)');
height=input('Please Enter the Thickness of The Idealized Soil Layer to the
Hard Layer H=......(m)');
poisson=input('Please Enter the Poisson Ratio of the Soil v=.....');
% Collecting Analysis Precision Option Data
spacing_x=input('Please Define the Lateral (Through Width) Analysis Spacing
deltaX=....(m)');
spacing_y=input('Please Define the Vertical (Through Length) Analysis
Spacing deltaY=....(m)');
%% Calculation Part
% Creation of the Coordinate Matrices
stepnumber_x=width/spacing_x;
stepnumber_y=length/spacing_y;
for i=1:stepnumber_x+1
for j=1:stepnumber_y+1

if i==1

KX(i,j)=0;

else

KX(i,j)=((i-1)*spacing_x);

end
end

for j=1:stepnumber_y+1

if j==1

KY(i,j)=0;

else

KY(i,j)=((j-1)*spacing_y);

end
end

end
%% Defining Rectangular Dimensions
for i=1:stepnumber_x+1
for j=1:stepnumber_y+1
r=[KX(i,j) KY(i,j)];
for p=1:4
switch(p)
case 1
b(p)=r(1);
l(p)=length-r(2);
case 2
b(p)=width-r(1);
l(p)=length-r(2);
case 3
b(p)=r(1);
l(p)=r(2);
case 4
b(p)=width-r(1);
l(p)=r(2);
end
end
for x=1:4
if b(x)<=l(x)
m(x)=l(x)/b(x);
 n(x)=height./b(x);
else
m(x)=b(x)/l(x);
n(x)=height./l(x);
b(x)=l(x);
end
end
for x=1:4
I1(x)=(1/pi)*((m(x)*(log(((1+(1+m(x)^2)^0.5)*(m(x)^2+n(x)^2)^0.5)/
((m(x))*(1+(m(x)^2+n(x)^2+1)^0.5)))))+log(((m(x)+
(m(x)^2+1)^0.5)*(1+n(x)^2)^0.5)/(m(x)+(m(x)^2+n(x)^2+1)^0.5)));
I2(x)=(n(x)/(2*pi))*atan((m(x))/((n(x))*(m(x)^2+n(x)^2+1)^(0.5)));
if b(x)==0
I1(x)=0;
I2(x)=0;
end
f(x)=depth/width;
F=0.95;
IF(x)=F;
settlement(x)=(load*b(x))*((1-poisson^2)/(1000*defmod))*(I1(x)+
((1-2*poisson)/(1-poisson))*(I2(x)))*IF(x)*1000;
tot_settlement=sum(settlement);
end
KZ(i,j)=tot_settlement;
KS(i,j)=(1000*load)./KZ(i,j);
end
end
%% Plotting
surf(KX,KY,KZ);figure(1)
hold on
surf(KX,KY,KS);figure(2)