Techniques for limiting settlement

Apart from the technique of a surcharge with accelerated consolidation (PVDs) as discussed above, various other methods are available to reduce the settlement. Normally a distinction is made between techniques to reduce the settlement of the existing subsoil and techniques to limit the settlement of the fill material. Besides limiting the settlements, most techniques will also improve the stability. 

Typical techniques to improve a soft compressible subsoil are  

In special situations another option may be to use lightweight fill material or to design structural elements transferring the loads to deeper more competent layers (e.g. relieve platforms). 

Techniques to improve granular fill material are all based on compaction by means of the introduction of vibrations or heavy impacts (surface and deep compaction). 

Reference is made to Chapter 7, Ground improvement, for details about these techniques. 

---

Introduction Stiffness Deformations Techniques for limiting settlement... 

---