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<br />PRECONSOLIDATION <br /> <br />Preconsolidation involves compressing soft soil prior to building a struc- <br />ture. Fill is placed to simulate the load of a future structure. (For a <br />house, this amounts to approximately 3' of fill.) The weight of the fill <br />causes soft soil to compress. After compressi on, the ofi 11 is removed, <br />and the structure is built. <br /> <br />The rate of compression is time dependent, so extra fill can be placed in <br />order to shorten the time span needed. Typically, the time needed ranges <br />from about a month to a year or more. The projected length of time needed <br />should be estimated on an individual project basis. The rate of settlement <br />should be monitored using settlement gauges. <br /> <br />An advantage of the procedure is its comparatively low cost. <br /> <br />Disadvantages of the procedure include: <br /> <br />- The margin of safety with this procedure is not as great as with more <br />di rect means of foundati on preparati on such as excavate/refi 11 or a <br />deep foundation. <br /> <br />The degree of risk can be reduced by combining the preconsolidation <br />procedure wi th other speci a 1 procedures for strengtheni ng a buil di ng <br />against movement (as described on the attached list). <br /> <br />- Depending on the specific site situation, partial excavation and <br />refilling also may be required. <br /> <br />- Before this option is adopted, additional exploration and testing may <br />be needed to more accurately define the subsurface conditions and the <br />engineering properties of the soil. <br /> <br />CHNICA ENGINE ING CORPOR TI N <br />