In construction practice, the most common method of calculating foundation settlement recommended by SNiP is the layer-by-layer summation method, taking into account only the maximum axial compressive stresses under the condition that lateral expansion of the soil is impossible. The essence of it is that under the center of the loaded site **a vertical prism is mentally allocated** in the ground **with a cross-section of unity** and **a** height from the level of the footing to the depth of the active zone of compression to the bedrock. ...