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Settlement in the soil is basically a phenomenon that involves the downward movement of bulk soil particles as a result of stress acting on it.
This stress may be a result of the load imposed on the soil by virtue of the structures that are built on it or in some cases, its own weight.
Settlement can be greatly affected by the following factors:
- Permeability
- Void ratio
- Porosity
- soil type
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Permeability refers to the rate at which a particular soil allows water to move through it over a particular period of time.
Void ratio is given by the relation; the volume of voids/volume of solids. If the void ratio is high it means that settlement will occur in other to expel excess air and water from the ground.
Porosity refers to the number of void spaces found in a particular soil sample. If the voids are much it probably means that the soil is porous.
Soil type refers to the properties a particular soil sample possesses, physical or chemical. The type of soil plays a huge role in deciding the structures that are constructed. The most important factor in soil type is the water holding capacity of the soil