5.1 Settlement: What It Is and How Much Is Acceptable
Settlement of Soil · When a soil mass is subjected to a compressive force, like all other materials, its volume decreases. · The property of the soil due to which a decrease in volume occurs under compressive forces is known as the compressibility of soil. · The decrease in volume of soil, under stress is because of: o Compression and Expulsion of Pore Air. o Compression and Expulsion of Pore Water o Gradual readjustment of clay particles into more stable configuration. · Reduction in volume of soil mass results in change of lateral and vertical dimensions of soil mass. · As soil being infinitely large in the lateral direction, hence the change in dimension in this direction is considered to be negligible, but there is significant change in vertical...