<p><p><strong>References:<br></strong><em>Chu and Yan (2005a, b, c)<br>Chu et al. (2006)<br>Schaefer et al. (2016)<br>ISSGME (2008)<br>Yan and Chu (2003b)</em></p><p><strong>Method Summary</strong></p><p>Settlement plates should be placed at the bottom of the drainage blanket, the bottom of the compressible layer, and intermediate depths prior to PVD installation and vacuum preload. Settlement plates should be read at established time intervals in order to monitor the site’s settlement progression.</p><p><strong>Accuracy and Precision</strong></p><p>Settlement plates provide a reliable measurement of the total amount of settlement.</p><p><strong>Adequacy of Coverage</strong></p><p>The adequacy of coverage depends on the number of settlement plates used in relation to the size of the site.</p><p><strong>Implementation Requirements </strong></p><p>Once installed, the settlement plates/platforms are easy to take readings from.</p><p><strong>General Comments </strong></p><p>Settlement plates/platforms are a good indicator of the progress and final product of vacuum preloading. By recording the amount of settlement after vacuum preloading, the progress of settlement can be determined, comparisons can be made with predicted settlements, and the time of termination of vacuum preload removal can be verified. The reliability of this technique is highly contingent on the accuracy of the predicted design settlement. Schaefer et al. (2016) states that “Settlement measuring devices, whether platforms, deep settlement points, or horizontal deflection devices, are used to measure only the rate and total amount of consolidation.”</p></p>