ASSIGNMENT # 2

FOUNDATION SETTLEMENT

Issue Date: 08 Dec 16 Due Date 13 Dec 16

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Question #1

A foundation of 3 story building is to be laid 5 ft below ground surface on cohesive soil

which extend to a depth of 45 ft from the ground surface, having γwet =110 pcf, γsat =125
pcf,. Water table is at base of the foundation. The void ratio found in lab under 1.0 tsf
load is 0.85. The liquid limit determined in lab is 45 %. The stress increase due to
foundation load at a depth of 25 ft below ground surface is 850 psf. Find settlement due to
consolidation of clay.

Question #2

A clay layer 40 ft thick weighing 120 pcf is bounded by layer of gravel at the top and
bottom. The upper gravel layer is 45 ft thick with γ wet =1120 pcf, . Water table is 10 ft
below ground surface. Lab test indicated void ratio at 3.0 ksf load equal to 1.07 and
compression index of 0.692. A foundation 20 ft by 70 ft is likely to cause a stress of 4000
psf at the mid span of clay layer. Find consolidation settlement of clay layer.

Question #3

A 2.5 cm thick sample of clay took 12 minutes for 50% consolidation in a laboratory. How
long would a 6.0 m thick layer of that clay take for 90 % consolidation. The layer starts
from ground surface and is underlain by sand.

Question #4

A clay of 15 ft thick is covered by sand on top and impervious layer at the bottom. For
this clay, a representative sample was taken to the lab and consolidation test was
conducted on 1 inch thick sample. During the test, 50% consolidation was achieved in 10
mins. How long this clay layer will take to 50 % consolidation under the building load.