An Extension to Observational Methods of Settlement Prediction

Preloading is a popular technique in ground improvement works on soft compressible soils. Observational methods such as Asaoka or hyperbolic method are widely used in practical applications to assess final settlement and the degree of consolidation during preloading. In this paper the author will discuss that the major cause for the miscalculation of final settlement by Asaoka method for short assessment periods is neglecting the effects of creep. This mistreatment may also be the cause of lack of agreement between observational methods and piezometer method at higher consolidation degrees. A method of enhancing settlement prediction by Asaoka method even at early stages of preloading is proposed in this paper, which may also be applied to hyperbolic method.

Keywords:

Preloading , Asaoka method , Secondary consolidation , Consolidation degree