In Situ Tests—Predicted vs. Observed Settlements: A Comparative Case Study

Abstract

This paper aims to deal with the comparison of the estimated settlements derived by in situ tests with the observed settlements in site, in order to evaluate the accuracy of settlement prediction by in situ tests, in comparison not only with site observation by topographic means, but also with the values of settlements derived by numerical analysis by means of PLAXIS 2D and 3D. The site where are carried out the tests and periodically are observed the settlements since the beginning of construction process, is located in the Oil Product Terminal, at the industrial park of Porto Romano, Durres, Albania. The main purpose of this project was the ground improvement by using preloading method in order to prevent liquefaction process and settlements. The data used to conduct this study are taken by the site investigation done after inserting into the soil vertical drains made of columns of free—draining gravel (gravel pile drains) until 14 m depth and center-to-center spacing of 2 m, and wick drains (premanufactured) until 25 m depth and center-to-center spacing of 1.8 m. The observed settlements are periodically measured by topographic equipments. This paper will present the conclusions derived by settlement analyzes from in situ tests and site observations. constructions in soft and sensitive soils. One of these case studies is presented in this paper. The aim of this study is to evaluate the settlement by using the data obtained by a series of piezocone tests and seismic dilatometer tests (hereafter mentioned as CPT and DMT), including also the comparison of CPT and DMT—calculated vs. observed settlements, in order to evaluate the accuracy of settlement predictions based on these tests.