Soil differential movement patterns from soil moisture changes cause considerable damages to all types of structures and pavements. Such damage may be assessed by modeling foundation movements with wave patterns. Angular distortion, an indicator of the degree of damage, may be readily evaluated from wave patterns of elevation profilesobtained with close spacings between measuring points, such as 1 ft(0.3 M). Preliminary data based on total deformations from elevation profiles taken in four facilities indicate that the performance ofmat foundations for resisting wall cracks may be quantified by simple rating systems. The maximum relative thickness d sub relm derivedas part of this study was found consistent in rating the performance of these four facilities and also indicated the location of the most serious distortion in a given facility. The concept of d sub relmalso has potential as a design aid for foundations. Other potentially useful rating systems include the wave index. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1307, Pavement analysis, design, rehabilitation, and environmental factors 1991.
Abstract