Volex Labs / Calculations / Schmertmann settlement of footings on sand.

Schmertmann settlement of footings on sand.

Enter the footing size, net pressure and the CPT/SPT stiffness profile, and Volex Anvil estimates the settlement of a footing on sand by Schmertmann's method: the net applied pressure, the depth (C1) and creep (C2) correction factors, and the integration of the strain-influence factor Iz over the stiffness profile.

Schmertmann's strain-influence method is the standard approach for footings on granular soils; the correction factors and settlement follow Schmertmann (1978).

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What Volex Anvil checks

Validated against the published example

Footing on sand — net pressure and depth correction Schmertmann (1978) — Δq = q − γ·Df
QuantityPublishedVolex AnvilError
Net applied pressure Δq182 kPa182 kPa0.00%
Depth correction factor C10.9510.9510.00%
This case is one of 359 published checks the platform passes — the full table, with every source and every error, is public at volexlabs.com/verification.

Frequently asked

CPT or SPT input?
Both — the soil stiffness E can come from CPT cone resistance or from SPT N via the usual correlations, layer by layer.
Does it include creep?
Yes — the C2 factor accounts for the time-dependent (creep) settlement of sands over the design period.
Is it validated?
The net pressure and correction factor are checked against Schmertmann (1978) — within 0.00%.
Free tier?
Yes — 10 calculations a month free; Pro (£29/month) adds unlimited runs and PDF calc sheets.

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