Soil Improvement

Abstract

If during the design of a foundation, the geotechnical engineer finds, for example, that the bearing capacity of the soils at the site are inadequate or if estimates of the total and differential foundation settlements are intolerable, then alternate approaches to the design must be considered (Holtz 1991; Munfakh 1997a). The project may be abandoned as being infeasible or too expensive, or it may be possible to relocate the facility to a more suitable site. For buildings and some bridges, an alternate shallow foundation type such as a mat or raft may be appropriate, or in some cases, a compensated foundation is a feasible alternative (see Chapter 9). Probably the most common alternate foundation to be considered for structures is a deep foundation of one type or another. Pile foundations and drilled shafts are discussed in Chapter 10 and in Kulhawy (1991). The design and construction of embankments on soft soils and peat pose special problems, and these are discussed in Chapter 16.