3434
Proceedings of the 18
th
International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Paris 2013
Figure 1. Contour lines for settlement at the biodigesters (in mm).
Figure 2. Settlement at point 53 of pool 2 based on the root of t (t= time
in minutes) between 0.5 and 9 years and adjustment of the model.
2.2
Settlement prediction
In their paper,
Yang Guang-hua
& al
. from China, analyze the
nonlinear settlement results of five plate loading tests carried
out on the sand foundation in Riverside Campus (Texas A & M
University) by using tangent modulus method.
Figure 3. Example of experimental and calculated Loading curves for a
1.5m x 1.5m footing.
They show that the tangent modulus method can calculate
the nonlinear settlement of foundation in a better way (see
figure 3).
They also seek for simpler in-situ tests such as the Cone
penetration test and the pressuremeter test to determine the soil
parameters required in nonlinear settlement calculation.
Their paper attempts providing a more convenient way of
using the tangent modulus method for calculation of the
nonlinear settlement of foundations.
In the paper of
Stokoe
& al.
, an approach based on field
seismic evaluation of small-strain (“elastic”) shear modulus
(Gmax) combined with nonlinear normalized shear modulus-
shear strain (G/Gmax-log γ) relationships is presented. The
effects of increasing confining pressure and strain amplitude on
soil stiffness during loading of the footing are incorporated in
this formulation.
Figure 4. Average Vs profile from SASW tests and the two-layers
model used in the finite element analysis..
Figure 5. Measured and predicted load-settlement curves for the 0.91-m
diameter footing.
The presented approach has several important benefits
including: (1) in-situ seismic testing (figure 5), such as surface
wave tests (SASW), which can readily be performed in all types
of granular soils, including gravels and cobbles, (2) continuous
load-settlement curves that are evaluated to stress states
