What is an effect of excessive settling in compacted soil?

Excessive settling in compacted soil can lead to structural failure, which occurs when the soil beneath a structure can no longer support the load above it due to significant changes in volume or density. Settling can result from a variety of factors, including the weight of structures exceeding the soil's bearing capacity, moisture fluctuations, or the collapse of voids created during compaction. When the soil settles too much, it can cause uneven support beneath structures, leading to cracks in foundations, walls, and other structural elements, and ultimately compromising the integrity of the structure itself.

In contrast, increased waterproofing would likely occur due to proper compaction which reduces permeability, and enhanced drainage relates to how water moves through soil, often improving with adequate compaction as well. Improved load handling ability is typically a result of effective soil compaction, which aims to increase the soil's density and bearing strength, not excessive settling. Thus, structural failure is the most direct and critical consequence of excessive settling in compacted soil.