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:

Figure 2 Characteristic point