Performance of heavy structures founded upon loess at varying moisture conditions

Saye, S.R., Nass, K.H. and Easton, C.N., 1988. Performance of heavy structures founded upon loess at varying moisture conditions. Eng. Geol., 25: 325–339.

The site preparation for foundations and records of performance of three storage structures founded on loess are presented to illustrate the engineering problems and the range in compressibility of loess associated with different moisture conditions. The sites are located in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. The structures are a 7500 m³ capacity steel water storage reservoir founded on dry collapsible loess along the bluff line of the Missouri River; a 7200 m³ capacity concrete grain elevator supported by a rigid mat founded on saturated and partially saturated loess; and a 10 m high soil preload for a 54 m diameter ammonia storage tank underlain by saturated and partially saturated loess.

The foundation design, the site preparation and the observed settlements are presented for each structure. The settlement behavior varies markedly with the individual moisture conditions and the apparent preconsolidation of the loess. The apparent preconsolidation is attributed to desiccation and appears to vary systematically.