Foundation heave is the movement of expansive soil due to changes in its moisture content. The foundation heave occurs in various patterns like doming, edge, cyclic, and lateral movement. Differential movement of expansive soil is more damaging than a uniform ...
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What are the Causes of Foundation Heave?
Foundation heave is an upward movement of the foundation due to soaked expansive soil. The factors that lead to the saturation of soil beneath a foundation are seasonal changes in moisture, underground aquifer, or leakage in underground pipes. It is ...
How to Avoid the Effects of Expansive Soil on Buildings?
Several measures like construction of deep piers, soil replacement, keeping moisture at a constant level, chemical soil stabilization, use of void forms can be adopted to avoid detrimental effects of expansive soil on structures and their foundations. One or a ...
How to Use Preloading to Improve Soil Bearing Capacity?
Preloading is an economical and effective soil improvement method that can reduce settlement and increase the bearing capacity of soft soil. In other words, preloading accelerates settlement of the soil before the construction of the structure. Commonly, the combination of ...
How to Select Soil Improvement Method Based on Soil Types?
The selection of soil improvement method is governed by several factors like soil type, equipment availability, cost, construction period, skills, and past experiences. Soil type is one of the critical factors that can influence the selection of one soil improvement ...
How to Improve Soil Properties by Vacuum Preloading Method?
The vacuum preloading method uses atmospheric pressure as a temporary surcharge to accelerate soil settlement and improve its characteristics. The process involves the application of vacuum pressure into a separated soil mass to decrease atmospheric pressure and pore water pressure, ...
What to Do if Estimated Settlement of a Building Exceeds Allowable Limits?
If the estimated settlement of a building exceeds the allowable settlement, then the designer can choose the following methods to cope with the excessive settlement:i. Alter the structureii. Provide deep foundationiii. Change the foundationiv. Improve the characteristics of the soil ...
How to Evaluate Liquefaction Potential of Soils in the Field?
The evaluation of the liquefaction potential of soils in seismic-prone region is essential for site selection, planning, and construction of structures. One can assess liquefaction potential through standard blasting tests, ground response analysis, laboratory tests, and expertise. The use of ...