Settlement Analysis of Layered Soil Systems by Stiffness Method

Abstract

The stiffness method originally proposed by Kausel and Roesset in 1981 for the analysis of wave propagation problems is used here to determine the deformations of horizontally layered systems subjected to static loads under plane‐strain conditions. Comparisons carried out by the writers have proved that this approach provides accurate results and constitutes an effective alternative to the use of other numerical techniques such as finite element or boundary element methods, which are significantly more costly and time‐consuming. In particular, the procedure is employed to investigate how the inclusion of a soft or stiff layer, placed at various depths within a uniform soil deposit, can affect the settlement of a footing.