Settling of large buildings and structures erected on clay loess grounds

Conclusions

1. Some 60% of foundation settling in clay grounds of the type considerered here takes place during the construction period. The settling continues for 10 years, and then for an additional 20–25 yr at a very low rate.

2. The II-B.5–67 scheme of pile foundation, proposed by the SNiP from the analysis of deformations, is substantiated by the actual settlings.

3. Settlings calculated by different methods differ but little among themselves and are in fair agreement with the actual settlings. The single instance of great discrepancy between the theoretical and actual data evidently is due to changes in ground facies and the rate of compactions.

4. The published data [1, 2] on a marked discrepancy between the theoretical and actual data on settleling for the large structures should be regarded as anomalies associated with foundations in sandy grounds and acted upon either only by the static loads (minor settlings) or by the combined static and dynamic ones (large subsidences).

5. Observations of settling should start with the construction, at loads not exceeding the operational, with accurate records kept on loads transmitted to the foundation.