Soil deformations are divided into natural and anthropogenic (man-made) deformations.
Natural deformations arise from internal processes of the Earth and manifest as movements of the Earth’s crust occurring over centuries, as well as from processes driven by external energy (water, heat), which result in changes in soil conditions. Soil freezing, thawing, moisture variations, and similar phenomena are mostly periodic, follow an annual cycle, and are reversible; however, other natural changes (such as karst and suffosion) are irreversible.
Anthropogenic soil deformations are those caused by human activity, including the construction of underground excavations; pumping of groundwater and other substances contained in the soil; vibrations resulting from blasting works or the operation of machinery and equipment; and deformations caused by changes in natural stress conditions, for example during the excavation of trenches or the construction of structures.
Subsoil deformations, in turn, lead to deformations of buildings and structures, i.e., displacements of a structure or its components in the horizontal and vertical planes. This may result in deterioration of functional performance, reduced durability and service life, cracking, risk of failure, or even collapse.
Large uniform settlements may impair technological performance (for example, the formation of adverse gradients in sewer systems, sinking of door thresholds below ground level, etc.), and long-term uniform settlements may become non-uniform over time.
Non-uniform settlements may cause cracking and pose a risk of structural failure.
Therefore, it is necessary to determine the magnitude of settlements, their non-uniformity, and their variation over time. Often, attention is drawn to the problem only when the situation has already become critical. In practice, there are many cases where the question arises as to whether the observed deformations are dangerous—not only to structures but also to people.
Measurement of settlements and horizontal displacements during both the construction and operation phases makes it possible to determine whether the deformations are normal and progressing in accordance with predictions. Otherwise, the causes must be identified and, in the case of significant increases in displacements, measures must be taken to remedy the situation.
The investigation of the above-mentioned deformations, together with the analysis of measurement results in relation to the engineering geological conditions of the site and the interaction of the structure’s components, is referred to as geotechnical monitoring.
Geotechnical monitoring is a construction investigation service that REIB has been providing to its clients for decades.
