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This example illustrates the use of a more complicated load sequence involving both areal loads and "footing" loads.

The soil profile is a simple clay sequence with uniform properties. Layers and sub-layers are set up as shown on the following screen.

The example has 6 load increments as shown on the following screen.

At t=0, groundwater is lowered from elevation 95 ft to 92 ft and is left unchanged for 1 year before the next load increment begins.

At t=1 years, a large area of fill is placed over the site to elevation 105 ft. It is assumed the fill placement process is instantaneous. The fill is left in place for 0.5 years.

At t=1.5 years, vertical drains are installed at location 1.

At t=1.6 years, additional fill is placed instantaneously to 100 ft and is left in place for 5.5 years.

At t=7 years, fill is graded down to elevation 103 ft, and is left for 0.5 years.

At t=7.5 years, footing loads are applied instantaneously. Some of the footings are placed at elevation 103 ft (the ground surface) and these are modelled by point loads.

Further footings are placed at elevation 100 ft, and these are modelled by embedded point loads.

A map view of load positions is given on the following screen. The map view is a useful tool for adding load increments and changing the geometry and position of load shapes.

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