Preloading Organic Soils to Limit Future Settlements

by K. Peter Yu, (M.ASCE), Yu and Associates, Inc, Elmwood Park, United States,
Rudolph P. Frizzi, (M.ASCE), Yu and Associates, Inc, Elmwood Park, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Vertical and Horizontal Deformations of Foundations and Embankments

Abstract:

This paper presents the authors' experience in preloading organic soils in south Florida to allow the construction of roadways, utilities, and low-rise residential structures on shallow foundations without organic soil removal (demucking) or pile foundations. The engineering characteristics of the organic soils are presented in terms of in-situ Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Cone Penetrometer Test (CPT) results, and in terms of compressibility data obtained from laboratory index property and special consolidation tests and full-scale instrumented field load tests. The investigations provide technical data to calculate anticipated settlements which are compared to the results of field measurements. Correlations between amount of preload and reduction in rate of secondary compression are made to develop estimates of long-term settlement after preloading. Long-term observations of the reduced rate of secondary compression after precompression are also made to investigate the long-term effectiveness of preloading. The investigation and analysis methods, and the practical application of the preload technique used by the authors at four project sites underlain by organic soil deposits are discussed.

Subject Headings: Penetration tests | Field tests | Soil settlement | Soil compression | Load tests | Preloading | Consolidated soils | Florida | United States

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