Abstract: In high stress zone of subsoil, nonlinear deformation is caused by structural damage during loading, and the increase in stress level leads to the reduction of soil rigidity. The applicable conditions of compression modulus, tangent modulus, correctional tangent modulus, deformation modulus and correctional deformation modulus are discussed in this paper, namely compression module is only suitable for the unidimensional consolidation settlement analysis of foundation in which subsoil rigidity increases while stress level increases, and the correctional tangent module is more reliable than tangent module for the consideration of correction has been given to the additional stress. In the same way, the correctional modulus of deformation is more reliable than modulus of deformation for settlement prediction of the linear elastic foundation bearing permissible load.

Key words: foundation, parameters of deformation, settlement prediction, modulus of compression；correctional tangent modulus, correctional deformation modulus