Question

Answer the following either true (T) or false (F) (5 pts)

A geotechnical engineer made a preliminary settlement analysis for a foundation of an office building that is to be constructed at a location where the soil strata contain a compressible clay layer. She calculated 50 mm of primary consolidation settlement. The building will impose an average vertical stress of 150 kPa in the clay layer. As often happens in design practice, design changes are required. In this case, the actual thickness of the clay is 30% more than the original soil profile indicated. The estimated new primary consolidation settlement will also be 30% more and equal to 65 mm.
A foundation with an inclined load will tend to have a smaller bearing capacity than the same foundation with a vertical load.
Secondary settlement of a foundation is caused by a constant applied stress.
Consolidation can be defined as the reduction in soil volume due to the expulsion of water following loading.
Dense sand and undrained clay soils tend to experience punching shear failure.

Answer 1

1. True

2. True

3. False

Step-by-step explanation:

The office location is where the soil layer is not uniform. The thickness of the soil varies which could lead to doors being jammed. The engineer needs to estimate the differential in clay soil.

The inclined surface can hold less weight than a vertical surface. The capacity to hold the weight is due to the gravitational force which is exerted to the load.