DIFFERENTIAL SETTLEMENTS OF HOUSES ON SOFT GROUND

This paper deals with the differetial settlements of houses on soft ground. Through the measurements of differetial settlements of more than two hundred houses on the soft ground around Suwa Lake, the effects of N-value of ground and type of foundation on the settlements are investigated. The main conclusions are summarized as follows : 1) If the N-value of ground is not less than three, the differential settlement hardly exceed 60mm, irrespective of type of foundation. 2) If the N-value is less than three, the settlement is influenced by the type of foundation. In the case where the foundation is the continuous footing, which is not reinforced concrete, the rate of houses, of which differential settlement is more than 60mm, is 37 %. On the other hand, the rate is 12 % in the case of pine pile foundation. 3) The inhabitants are hardly conscious of the diffrential settlement of houses as long as the settlement does not exceed 60mm.