Load-Settlement Behavior of Footings on saturated Unsaturated Soils

Unsaturated soils generally cover large areas of the ground surface, especially near-surface depths. Pore pressure in unsaturated soil located under tensile stresses. Limited studies sought to understand the effect of surface tension on the bearing capacity and settlement set on fine grain soils. To understand and expand concepts on stress-settlement relations of footing set on saturated-unsaturated fine grained soils, sought through study to discuss the effects of changing moisture condition on the stress-settlement behavior, for example, cases of drying and humidification and saturation that are possible are exposed in the field in order to provide rational relations between bearing capacities, settlement at different suction values, footing dimensions, phreatic levels, for design purpose of shallow foundations. Study was carried out to investigate the stress-settlement characteristics, under axial static loading increments on fine grained soil (ML), using a prototype foundation model (100×100×35mm). Tests were carried out in box (900×900×850) mm designed and manufactured for the purpose of examining soil bearing and settlement with soil suction measurements.