Change in groundwater conditions as a cause of structural failure – selected case studies

Abstract

The paper presents the summary of five case studies related to structural failures that were caused by the change in groundwater conditions during the existence of the buildings. The failures resulted from excessive differential settlements that were caused either by reactivation of consolidation process, due to change in effective stresses, or a change in water content in the case of expansive soils.

Causes of groundwater level and chemistry changes in an urban area; a case study of Warsaw, Poland

“…A similar example showing the influence of a construction investment requiring drainage on the periodical decrease of the groundwater table is documented by measurements performed in the Wola district by Godlewski et al (2019). Some objects requiring drainage during the construction stage change the hydrodynamic system only for a short time, but the construction of highrise objects with deep foundations permanently alters the structure of the groundwater stream (Opęchowski and Krogulec 2019).…”

Cracks Monitoring and Resistivity Test for a Double-Storey House due to Cavity in the Soil

“…A case study on structural damages on the walls and floors of semi-detached resident houses was due to soil settlement rather than the initial assumption that caused the cracking was due to piling work at nearby construction works [9]. The change in groundwater conditions, moisture contents and soil differential settlement can cause the structural failures of the buildings [10]. The groundwater level is influenced by rainfall intensity and pore water pressure which cause the slope stability and resulting cracks of building within the vicinity [11].…”