What is the significance of the consolidation settlement in foundation design?
Practice Questions
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Q1
What is the significance of the consolidation settlement in foundation design?
It indicates the soil's ability to support loads
It measures the soil's shear strength
It predicts the long-term settlement of structures
It assesses the soil's permeability
Consolidation settlement is significant in foundation design as it predicts the long-term settlement of structures due to the expulsion of water from soil voids.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
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Q
Q: What is the significance of the consolidation settlement in foundation design?
Solution: Consolidation settlement is significant in foundation design as it predicts the long-term settlement of structures due to the expulsion of water from soil voids.
Steps: 5
Step 1: Understand what consolidation settlement means. It is the process where soil compresses over time as water is pushed out from the spaces between soil particles.
Step 2: Recognize that when a building is built, the weight of the structure can cause the soil underneath to settle.
Step 3: Realize that this settling can lead to problems like cracks in walls or uneven floors if not properly accounted for.
Step 4: Learn that engineers need to predict how much the soil will settle over time to design a strong and stable foundation.
Step 5: Conclude that understanding consolidation settlement helps ensure the safety and longevity of the building.
