Geotechnics Fundamentals and Applications in Construction – Mangushev et al.

(Eds)
© 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-0-367-17983-0

Surcharge preloading as a method for engineering reservoir

foundations in silty soils

A.A. Ananyev
Saint-Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

ABSTRACT: When a construction site is, geologically, composed of thick layers of soft, water-satu-
rated, clayey soil, piled foundations are economically unviable and surcharge preloading is used as soil
consolidation method. With general intention to introduce surcharge preloading into the practice of con-
struction engineering, in this study the author aims to determine the dimensions of the surcharge fill;
and the time needed for the silty soils that comprise the foundation of the reservoir to be consolidated, to
reach the required degree of consolidation. The results of the geological engineering survey are presented
in the article. Description is given of the water reservoir design. Rationale is provided of the foundation
deformation design diagram. The fill settlement monitoring results are presented, as well as calculation of
the silt consolidation coefficient. Calculations were carried out of strength, deformation, and consolida-
tion of the foundation, based on soil engineering theories and building regulations. It was found expedient
in the soil conditions under analysis to apply the surcharge load to the foundation for it to yield to the
maximum allowed level. The dimensions of the surcharge fill were calculated, as well as the time needed
for the settlement to reach the target level. This article is recommended for use by design engineers as ref-
erence materials for foundation calculation or road bed design, as well as by students as a study aid.

1 INTRODUCTION parameters of fill and reservoir foundation; and

surcharge fill design development.
The mechanical and physical properties of silts
include high porosity and water saturation, low
strength, high plasticity, low permeability, lengthy 2 GEOTECHNICAL SURVEY RESULTS
consolidation, and thixotropy (Neizvestnov et  al.
2004). In general practice, the foundations com- Geologically, the site for the projected water sup-
posed of or including silts may not be used as ply line is represented, within the drilling depth of
natural foundations of buildings or structures, as 19–20  m, by superimposed layers of quaternary
their estimated deformation appears to be higher deposits. A total of three engineering geological
than the ultimate one or their bearing capacity is elements (EGE) have been identified. The surface
too low. Where silty soils are thick, the use of piled
foundations for structures that convey only minor
downward forces into foundations – low-rise build-
ings, airfield or road paving, etc. – appears techni-
cally and economically unviable. In this case, more
expedient is fill surcharge preloading (Ilyichev
et al. 2016, Stroganov 1985).
In this regard, the author aims to provide a
rationale for the use of surcharge preloading as
a method of preconstruction consolidation of
a water reservoir foundation. The analysis aims
to determine the height and dimensions of the
surcharge fill, and the time needed for the silty
foundation to consolidate and reach the required
settlement. The methods of the analysis included Figure 1. Lithological column and reservoir foundation
surveying of building regulations and reference design diagram: 1 − water-saturated, medium-density
literature; geotechnical survey; monitoring of sandy silt (EGE 1); 2 − mineral loamy silt (EGE 2); 3 −
the foundation settlement; calculations of the fine, water-saturated, medium-density sands (EGE 3).

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GFAC219_Book 1.indb 10 4/8/2019 10:53:01 AM

 Table 1. Mechanical and physical properties of soil.
Soil parameter Sand
γ − specific weight, kN/m3 16.4
e − porosity factor, unit fraction 0.76
ϕ − internal friction angle, degree 22
c − specific cohesion, kPa 2 11
E − modulus of deformation, MPa 10
ν − Poisson’s ratio, unit fraction 0.23
k − filtration coefficient, m/day 3.5
layer is water-saturated, medium-density sandy silt
(EGE 1). This layer has a thickness of 7 ÷ 8.5 m.
The sandy silt is underlain by 7.5 ÷ 9.5  m thick
layer of mineral loamy silt (EGE 2), which, in turn,
is underlain by fine, water-saturated, medium-den-
sity sands (EGE 3). Their penetrated thickness is
3 m. Groundwater occurs in the sandy silt (EGE 1)
at the depth of 0.4 ÷ 1.5 m from the surface of the
natural terrain (Fig. 1).
The mechanical and physical properties of the
soil under analysis (EGE 1, EGE 2) are shown in
Table 1 (Ivanov et al. 2015).
3 RESERVOIR DESIGN
The 10.000 m3 water storage reservoir is designed
to form part of a potable water supply system. It is
a rectangular, composite, ferro-concrete tank with
dimensions l × b × h = 60 × 36 × 4.8 m to be embed-
ded in soil to depth d = 1.7 m (Fig. 1) and designed
for a 2 m groundwater dam.
4 RATIONALE FOR THE FOUNDATION
SOIL SETTLEMENT CALCULATION
The building codes for large-scale construction
projects prescribe that the settlement of founda-
tions be calculated with the use of linearly elastic
half-space design model with conventional height of
compressible strata Hc (Code 22.13330.2016 “Con-
struction Norms and Regulations 2.02.01–83* Foun-
dations of Buildings and Structures”). This model
is commonly used in engineering practice as it is
simple, allows the use of mathematical tools of elas-
ticity theory, is standardized and therefore requires
no additional verification. The validity limit of this
model is defined as the limitation of superload,
within the compressible strata, by estimated soil
resistance R. With regard to estimating settlements
of road embankments, the pressure must not exceed
safe load psec (Kazarnovsky et al. 2004).
The current methods for predicting consolida-
tion of clayey soils in conditions of very slow-rate
GFAC219_Book 1.indb 11
water filtration, rely on the theory of filtration
consolidation, first proposed by K. Terzaghi in
Silt 1924 and improved by Russian scientists N.M.
Gersevanov and V.A. Florin, among others. In its
14.1
simplest version, the theory describes deformation
2.5
of a completely water-saturated soil, i.e. soil mass.
6
In many cases, variation of stressed-deformed
state in time can be analyzed within the framework
0.6
of one-dimensional problem of filtration consoli-
0.4
dation in soil layer.
0.01 The compressible strata of the foundation of
the reservoir comprises two engineering-geological
elements. The bearing layer is water-saturated,
medium-density sandy silt (EGE 1). Under the cen-
tral part of the footing of the reservoir, its layer has
height h1 = 6.3 m. EGE 1 is underlain by silt with
layer height h2 = 8.5 m (EGE 2). Let us not take into
account the compressibility of sand (EGE 3) with
layer height h3 = 3 m, because the sand has a modu-
lus of deformation which is 10 times higher than
that of silt. The lower boundary of the compressible
strata of the foundation is set at Hc = 14.8 m (Fig. 1).
Since the footing of the reservoir has breadth
b = 36 > 10 m and the ratio Hc/b = 14,8/36 = 0,41 < 1,
the variation of stressed-deformed state of soil dur-
ing filtration consolidation can be analyzed within
the framework of one-dimensional problem.
Let us determine other mechanical and physical
properties of the soil required for further calcula-
tions. In the compressible strata, all pores are filled
with water. The specific weight of sand γ1sb and silt
γsb2 is calculated with account of the suspension
action of water as follows:
γ s γ w 26 − 10
γ sb1 = = = 9,1 kN / m 3 (1)
1+ e1 1+ 0, 76
γ s γ w 24 − 10
γ sb 2 = = = 4, kN / m 3 (2)
1+ e2 1+ 2, 5
where γs1 = 26  kN/m3 is specific weight of sandy
soil particles p.2.180 (Sorochan et  al. 1986); γs2 =
24 kN/m3 is specific weight of loamy silt particles
(Ananyev et  al. 2014); γw = 10  kN/m3 is specific
weight of water. Coefficients β1 and β2 which takes
into account the absence of transverse extension
under compression, will be calculated as follows:
2ν12 2 0, 232
β1 = 1 − = 1− = 0, 863 ; (3)
1 − ν1 1 0, 23
2ν 2 2 2 0, 4 2
β2 = 1 − = 1− = 0, 467, (4)
1 − ν2 1 0, 4
where ν1 = 0.23 and ν2 = 0.4 are transverse defor-
mation coefficients of sand and silt, respectively,
found based on the survey data.
11
4/8/2019 10:53:01 AM
 5 CALCULATION OF FINAL
SETTLEMENT OF RESERVOIR
FOUNDATION
5.1 Monitoring of foundation footing dimensions
The calculation orients to the underlaying layer of
silt, as the bearing layer of sand has higher strength.
The formula and coefficients used in the calcula-
tion are from Building Code 22.13330.2016.
The mean pressure across the footing of the res-
ervoir of breadth b = 36  m during the operating
period is p = σzp0 = 69  kPa (Fig. 1). The vertical
intensity σzp1 in soil at depth z1 = 6.3  m from the
footing of the reservoir, which presses on the sur-
face of the silt layer, equals:
σ zp1 α 1 p = 0, 9775 ⋅ 69 = 67 kPa
where α1 = 0,9775 is coefficient from Table  5.8
dependent on relative depth ζ = 2z1/b = 2⋅6,3/36 =
0.35 and height-to-width ratio η = l/b = 60/36 =
1.67. Vertical dead stresses of soil σzg0 and σzg1
equal: at foundation footing d = 1.7 m
σ zg 0 γ ′ d = 11, 3⋅ 1, 7 = 19 kPa
at depth z1 = 6.3 m from the footing of the reservoir
σ zg1 = σ zgg 0 + γ 1sb h1 = 19 + 9,1⋅ 6, 3 = 76 kPa
where γ ′ = (γ1 ⋅ 0.5 + γ1sb ⋅ 1.2)/d = (16.4 ⋅ 0.5 + 9.1
⋅ 1.2)/1.7 = 11.3 kN/m3 is mean specific weight of
the sand (dry and water-saturated) above the foot-
ing of the reservoir; and γ1sb = 9.1 kN/m3 is specific
weight of sand calculated with account of suspen-
sion action of water. The design dimensions of the
reservoir are lk × bk = 62 × 38 m. Let us calculate the
dead stress of the soil excavated from the reservoir
at z1 = 6.3 m using the formula:
σ zγ ασ γ0 = 0, 9783⋅ 19 = 18 kPa
where α1 = 0.9783 is the coefficient from Table 5.8
depending on relative depth ζ = 2z1/bk = 2⋅6.3/38 =
0.33 and height-to-width ratio η = lk/bk = 62/38 =
1.63.
The design strength Rz of silt will be calculated
for conventional foundation with breadth b =36 m
at depth dz = d + z1 = 1,7 + 6,3 = 8 m (Fig. 1) using
formula (5.7)
γ c γ c2
Rz =
k
(M k b z z sb
Mqdz ′ M cc
( 0,1⋅ 0, 42 ⋅ 36, 5 ⋅ 4 + 1, 39 8 9 6 3 71⋅ 11) = 154 kPa
GFAC219_Book 1.indb 12
where γc1 = γc2 = 1 are operating conditions coef-
ficients from Table 5.4 for liquidity index IL > 0.5
and flexible structure design; k = 1 is coefficient
used because the strength characteristics of soil are
survey-based; kz = z0/b + 0.2 = 8/36.5+ 0.2 = 0.42 is
coefficient used because b > 10 m; γ2sb = 4 kN/m3 is
specific weight of silt with account of suspension
action of water; γ ′ = (γ1⋅0.5 + γ1sb⋅7.5)/dz = (16.4⋅0.5 +
9.1⋅7.5)/8 = 9.6  kN/m3 is mean specific weight of
the sand above the footing of the conventional
reservoir; Mγ = 0.1; Mq = 1.39; Mc = 3.71 are the
coefficients from Table 5.5 depending on internal
friction angle of silt ϕ2 = 6°; c2 = 11 kPa is specific
cohesion of silt (Table 1).
Let us compare the actual load σz on the surface
layer of silt with Rz
(5)
( )
σ z σ zp1 − σ zγ 1 + σ zg1 = ( − ) + 76 = (10)
125 < 154 kPa
which means that the condition is satisfied and
that the footing of the foundation slab has suf-
ficient dimensions. The linearly elastic half-space
design model is suitable for calculating the settle-
(6) ment of the foundation of the reservoir.
5.2 Calculation of final settlement of foundation
(7) Let us calculate the settlement using the layerwise
summation method. Height h1 = 6.3  m and h2 =
8.5  m of the estimated soil layers that comprise
the compressible strata. do not exceed 0.4b =
0.4⋅36 = 14.4  m. Loads σzp2 = 59  kPa. σzg2 =
110 kPa and σzγ2 = 16 kPa at z2 = 14.8 m at com-
pressible strata height Hc (Fig. 1) are calculated
on analogy with 5.1.
Let us calculate the average stabilized settlement
under the center of the reservoir according to for-
mula (5.16).
(8)
s = β⎢
( )
⎡ σ zp1 − σ zγ 1 h1
+
(σ zp
z )
− σ zγ 2 h2 ⎤
⎥ =
⎢⎣ E1 E2 ⎥⎦
⎡( − ) 6,3 + ( − ) 8,5 ⎤ (11)
0, 8 ⎢ ⎥ =
⎣ 1
10000 600 ⎦
0,02 + 0,52 = 0,54 M,
where β = 0.8 is coefficient; σzp1 = 68 and σzp2 =
63  kPa; σzγ1 = 18.5 and σzγ2 = 17  kPa are average
stresses in estimated layers of sand h1 = 6.3 m and
silt h2 = 8.5 m; E1 = 10,000 kPa and E2 = 600 kPa
are survey-based moduli of deformation of sand
) = 11⋅ 1 (EGE 1) and silt (EGE 2), respectively, (Table 1).
According to Table D.1 of Building Code
22.13330.2016, the average ultimate settlement
(9) of buildings and structures prone to differential
12
4/8/2019 10:53:02 AM
 settlement is limited to 10 cm. The calculated set- 64 kPa roughly equaled the operating load of the
tlement of the foundation of the reservoir exceeds reservoir. To monitor the process of compaction
the one prescribed by the Building Code more than of the foundation as it was being preloaded, set-
five times. It is therefore inexpedient to lay the res- tlement points were put on the central part and
ervoir foundation slab without prior improvement the sides of the surcharge fill. The settlement of
of silt layer. The soil is too soft to install a piled foundation was monitored during and after the
foundation in it. In the given soil conditions, it is erection of the fill. The maximum settlement st1
expedient to reduce the settlement of foundation = 25  cm was registered, according to the central
to the maximum allowed level of 10  cm by way point, after t1 = 175 days = 6 months (Fig. 2).
of consolidating the foundation using surcharge The obtained data was used for calculating the
preloading. consolidation coefficient based on the following
principle: the pressure for the final settlement of
the foundation of the fill is pe1 = 64 kPa.
5.3 Prediction of consolidation in silt layer
To predict the time needed for silt to consolidate, ⎛ β1h1 β 2 h2 ⎞
s 1 = pe1 + =
E2 ⎟⎠
one should calculate consolidation coefficient cv,
the core soil parameter. For silt, it will be calcu- ⎝ E1
lated according to formula (6.35) (Dalmatov et al. ⎛ 0, 863⋅ 8 0, 467 ⋅ 8, 5 ⎞
64 ⎜ + ⎟ = (14)
2006): ⎝ 10000 600 ⎠
0, 044 + 0, 422 = 0, 466M
466 = 47 4 cm,
k2 1 10−2
cv 2 = = = 1, 25 2
/ day, (12)
mv 2 ⋅ γ w 8 10 4 10 where h1 = 8 m, h2 = 8,5 m are thicknesses of sand
and silt, respectively; β1 and β2 are the same as in
where mv2 = β2/E2 = 0,467/600 = 8⋅10−4 kPa−1 is rela- (3) and (4); E1 and E2 − are the same as in (11).
tive soil compressibility coefficient; k2 = 0.01 m/day The degree of consolidation will be calculated
and E2 = 600 kPa are survey-based filtration coef- as follows:
ficient and modulus of deformation of silt, respec-
tively; β2 = 0/467 is coefficient of absence of lateral st1 25
U 0= = = 0, 532. (15)
expansion of soil, found in Section 4. s∞1 47
Assuming that water will be squeezed out from
silt upwards and downwards (double-sided filtra- Limiting the calculation to one term of the dif-
tion) into sand, the consolidation time is found ferential equation of one-dimensional problem of
using formula (6.36): soil consolidation

h22 N 8, 52 ⋅ 2, 8 θ0 1 8 π 2 ⋅e−N , (16)

t= = = 16, 4 days, (13)
π 2 ⋅ cv 2 3,14 2 ⋅ 1, 25
let us determine N parameter using formula:
where N = 2.8 is coefficient from Table  6.14 for
cases of single-axis consolidation by continuous
e−N =
( − U )π 2
=
( − ) 3,142 = 0, 577, (17)
load (case 0) at the degree of soil consolidation of 8 8
U0 = 0.95.
Practice shows that the silt occurring in reser- then N = 0.550.
voir foundations takes years to consolidate (Ave- Given that the boundary surfaces of the silt
lev 1983). For this reason, the decision was taken layer are draining, let us use the following formula:
to preload the foundation with surcharge and to
determine the consolidation coefficient by way of
monitoring the consolidation process in time.

6 DETERMINATION OF SILT
CONSOLIDATION COEFFICIENT

The surcharge fill of he1 = 4  m was being laid in

layers of local sand during two months until it
reached compaction coefficient kcom = 0.95. With Figure  2. Increase in the settlement of the preloaded
the specific weight of soil γe = 16 kN/m3, the pres- foundation with time: 1 – fill height he1 = 4 m (pe1 = 64 kPa;
sure under the footing of the fill pe1 = γehe1 = 16⋅4 = γe =16 kN/m3); 2 – fill height he2 = 6 m (pe2 = 94 kPa).

13

GFAC219_Book 1.indb 13 4/8/2019 10:53:04 AM

 π 2cvt
N= , (18)
h22

to determine the consolidation coefficient:

h2 2 N 8, 52 ⋅ 0, 550
cv = = = 0, 023 2
/ day, (19)
π2⋅t 3,14 2 ⋅ 175

Comparing the consolidation coefficient calcu-

lated using formula (12) and (19), it is evident that
one exceeds the other by two orders of magnitude.

7 DETERMINATION OF SURCHARGE
FILL DIMENSIONS AND FOUNDATION
CONSOLIDATION TIME Figure 4. Calculation diagram: Final settlement of the
foundation of the 6 m high fill.
As a result of the benchmarking of the consolida-
tions achieved by foundations of 4 m, 5 m and 6 m Let us analyze the soft underlying layer for strength
high fills, the fill with he2 = 6 was selected as the using the formulas and coefficients given in (Kazar-
most optimal to ensure adequate surcharge. novsky et al. 2004).
In accordance with sec.17.2.2 (Building Code Safe load will be calculated as follows:
45.13330.2012 “Construction Norms and Regula-
tions 3.02.01–87 Earthwork Structures and Foun- ⎡( + ⋅ ⋅ )⎤ =
psec = ⎢ sb
b
⎥
dations”), the top width of the fill had to 2 m wider ⎣ β ⎦ min
than the dimensions of the reservoir le × be = 64 ×
⎡( + ⋅ ⋅ °)⎤
40 m; slope angle 1:2,5; steepness of slope a = 6⋅2,5 = ⎢ ⎥ = (20)
15 m. Then, the bottom dimensions of the fill are ⎣ 0,195 ⎦ min
let × bet = 94 × 70 m. A 0.5 m thick drainage layer ⎡( + ⋅ ⋅ ) ⎤ = 96 kPa
needs to be laid under the fill. ⎢ ⎥
⎣ 0,195 ⎦ min
Figure 3 shows the layout and longitudinal pro-
file of the surcharge fill. The design load on the
foundation is pe2 = γehe2 = 16⋅6 = 96  kPa (Fig. 4). where c2 = 11  kPa and ϕ2 = 6° are strength para-
termers of silt; γ1sb = 9.1 kN/m3 is specific weight
of silt with account of suspension action of water;
z1 = 8 m is the depth of the silt payer from the earth
surface; and β = 0.195 is safe load coefficient deter-
mined based on the graphs in Appendix 4, repre-
sented as a function of parameters β = ƒ(ϕ2 = 6°;
a/b = 15/40 = 0.375; 2z1/be = 2⋅8/70 = 0.23), using
linear interpolation method.
Let us calculate the stability coefficient of the
silt layer as follows:

psec 96
kst = = = 1, (21)
pe 2 96

which means that the condition of stability is

Figure 3. Surcharge fill dimensions diagram: a – fill lay-
out; b – longitudinal profile.
satisfied. It is clear from the comparison of Rz =
154 kPa and psec + γ1sb h1 = 96 + 9,1⋅8 = 169 kPa that
their values are close.
Let us calculate the final settlement of the foun-
dation at load pe2 = 96 kPa using formula (14). It
equals s2∞ = 70 cm.
The prediction of the compaction of the foun-
dation under the fill uses consolidation coeffi-
cient cv = 0.023 m2/day. Points of time ti and their

14

GFAC219_Book 1.indb 14 4/8/2019 10:53:05 AM

 correspondent settlements sti will be calculated as
follows:
h22 Ni 8, 52 ⋅ Ni
ti = = = 319 ⋅Ni . (22)
π ⋅ cv 3,14 2 ⋅ 0, 023
2
sti U 0 i s∞ 2 , (23)
where Ni = 0,02; 0,08; 0,17; 0,31; 0,49; 0,71; 1,0;
1,4; 2,09; 2,8 are coefficients from Table  6.14
(Dalmatov et al. 2006) at soil consolidation degree
U0i = 0,1; 0,2; 0,3; 0,4; 0,5; 0,6; 0,7; 0,8; 0,9; 0,95,
respectively.
In Figure  2, the results are shown in graphical
form. Considering the estimated settlement s =
54 cm and the ultimate settlement su = 10  cm of
the foundation, it is necessary that the surcharge
preloading to be performed prior to the construc-
tion of the reservoir, targets the settlement of
44 cm. As follows from Diagram 1, the settlement
achieved by the trial fill over a 6-months’ time was
st1 = 25 cm. As can be seen from Diagram 2, for
the foundation to achieve the remaining 19 cm, it
needs to be preloaded with 6 m high fill and be left
to compact for another 6  months. The total con-
solidation time will in this case will be 1 year. Once
completed, the filled-up ground could be used as a
material for site area planning.
8 CONCLUSION
The geological structure of the foundation of the
reservoir contains a layer of silt which accounts for
more than a half of the compressible strata. The
calculated settlement of the reservoir foundation
exceeds the allowed average ultimate settlement,
prescribed by the building codes, more than five
times. In the given soil conditions, it is expedient
to improve the layer of silt by way of fill surcharge
15
GFAC219_Book 1.indb 15
preloading. Our prediction of the compaction of
the foundation in time relied on the theory of fil-
tration consolidation of soils. The consolidation
coefficient was determined for silt based on the
field monitoring of the settlement of surcharge
fill. Based on the calculation results and the work
method, the dimensions of the surcharge fill
(Fig. 3) were determined, as well as the time needed
for the foundation to reach the target settlement,
which totaled one year.
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