GGU-SETTLE: Characteristic point

The stiffness of foundations cannot be considered using the above mentioned relationships. The foundation loading will be assumed to be a flexible load bundle, whatever the case. It is usual to calculate the settlements at what is called the characteristic point. At this point of the foundation, for a uniform load, the settlements for a flexible load bundle correspond to the settlement of a rigid foundation. The position of the characteristic point is defined as follows:

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Figure 2 Characteristic point