The integration of strain over the depth is settlement. The method of producing the settlement is non-recoverable when the intensity of stress is removed. Hence, a permanent reduction in void ratio has resulted in the soil media.

Strain in all coarse grained and partially saturated fine grained soils occurs very soon after the application of the stress. Application of stress to saturated fine-grained soils produces strains that are time dependent. The resulting settlements are also time-dependent and are called Consolidation Settlements.

The time needed for consolidation settlements to take place depends on the dissipation rak of excess pore pressure due to external loading.?he tilt in the Leaning Tower of Pisa is at least partly due to differential consolidation settlements that have been ongoing over the last 700 years.