ALLOWABLE SETTLEMENT OF STRUCTURES:Exceptional Case of Settlement

The Valley of Mexico, the site of Mexico City, in some ways is a large-scale laboratory for demonstrating principles of soil mechanics. Pumping from deep-seated aquifers over many years caused several feet of subsidence in the Valley, and stresses from the foundations of major structures caused additional settlement due to the compressible nature of the soils. Zeevaert (1972) presents a profile to a depth of 80 m of the highly stratified subsurface soils in the Valley, with many meters having water contents averaging 200% and some strata with water contents as high as 400%. Settlement due to soil consoli- dation can be significant.

Settlement in Mexico City is illustrated by the view of a government building (Figure 6.1). The building remained in use even though the settlement was much more than what might be tolerated at a site
with less extreme soil conditions.
Figure 6.1 Photograph showing settlement of a government building in Mexico City.

Cummings (1941) noted that ‘‘There is no question but that Mexico City is one of the most interesting places in the world for field studies in the settlement of structures. Whereas it is often necessary to search carefully for structural settlements with precise leveling and other accurate methods, the observation of structural settlements in Mexico City can be done by the eye without the use of measuring instruments of any kind.’’

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Settlement in Mexico City is illustrated by the view of a government building (Figure 6.1). The building remained in use even though the settlement was much more than what might be tolerated at a site settlement quotes

March 14, 2013 at 3:00 AM

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