Settlement of Foundations on Sand

Schmertmann Method

M. Zoghi, Ph.D., P.E.

Department of Civil &
Environmental Engineering

CEE 434
Geotechnical Design
6 October 2008

Immediate Settlement of Shallow

Foundations on Sand

Comparisons of Vertical strain from FEM

Schmertmanns Method
Primarily used to estimate immediate settlement of foundations
in sand
Specially useful when SPT and/or CPT data are available
Results are compatible with field measurements
Based on analysis of vertical strain distribution with a linear
elastic half space subjected to a uniform pressure

Schmertmann's Method

Required Data
A profile of standard
penetration resistance N
(blows/ft) versus depth,
from the proposed
foundation level to a
depth of 2B, or to
boundary of an
incompressible layer,
whichever occurs first.

Soil Type
Silts, sands silts, slightly
cohesive silt-sand mixtures 4
Clean, fine to med,
sands & slightly silty sands
Coarse sands & sands
With little gravel
Sandy gravels and gravels

http://www.vulcanhammer.net/utc/ence361/f2001/361-sl10.pdf

Es/N

7
10
12

Schmertmann's Data
Required Data
Least width of foundation = B
Depth of embedment = Df
Proposed average contact pressure = q
Approximate unit weights of surcharge soils, and
position of water table if within Df
If the static cone bearing value qc , measured
compute Es, based on Es, = 2qc.

Analysis Procedure
Divide the subsurface soil profile into a convenient number of
layers of any thickness, each with constant N over the depth
interval 0 to 2B below the foundation.
Prepare a table using the indicated column headings. Fill in
columns 1, 2, and 3 with the layering assigned above.
List SPT (or CPT) quantities in column 4.
Estimate the influence values from the graph and list in column 5.
Calculate Es values and list in column 6
Compute the incremental settlement, (Iv /Es)/z, and add up!

Strain Influence Factors

Cone Penetrometer Resistance

Example Problem

Case Study

Kansai
International
Airport (KIA)

Source: Rajul Teredesai

Key Features
Located on a biggest man-made island in

Osaka Bay, Japan

Constructed cost over $14 billion
The island of 4 X 1 km, constructed in around
18m of water, entirely from landfill
Project Started in 1986
Opened for flights in 1996
The ASCE named KIA the #2 civil engineering
project of the 20th century, second only to the
Panama Canal

Kansai Airport Aerial View

Seawall After
Completion
Seawall
Construction

Mechanism of Sand
Drains

Advantage of Sand
Drains
The weight of the piled sand forces the

water in the clay to move outward along

the sand piles.

KIA Terminal Building

Architect: Renzo Piano