Prediction of low level vibration induced settlement

Abstract

A prediction model of vibration induced settlement was developed for small to intermediate vibration levels (0.25-1.78 cm/s). Seven factors affecting vibration induced settlement such as vibration amplitude, deviatoric stress, confining pressure, soil gradation, duration of vibration, relative density, and moisture content were considered. A special vibratory frame was designed to shake a soil sample within a triaxial cell. An experimental program was devised using a multi-factorial experimental design method, which allowed the investigation of many factors influencing settlement using a relatively small number of experiments. The settlements from the case histories matched the settlements calculated from the model. This demonstrated the potential usefulness of a mathematical model for the evaluation and prediction of the vibration induced, in-situ settlement of sands.