Technical Factors Influencing Decisions to Select Underpinning on Shrinkable Clay

Abstract

While the tendency for clay to shrink in dry weather and to damage buildings has been known for more than a century, the post‐war work of the Building Research Establishment and recent availability of insurance funds to pay for rectification of subsidence damage have led to a focus on this aspect of building failure, where millions of pounds are spent annually. At some point in each case a decision is made as to whether underpinning is required or not. Reports results of a survey of the technical factors which engineers consider when making a decision of whether to recommend underpinning. Analysis of the data indicated that only one factor, the quantity of damage, significantly influenced the under‐pinning decision.

Citation

Wilkin, D. and Baggott, R. (1994), "Technical Factors Influencing Decisions to Select Underpinning on Shrinkable Clay", Structural Survey, Vol. 12 No. 2, pp. 10-14. https://doi.org/10.1108/02630809410049121