As VAD points out, air temps and ground temps dictate whether compaction is feasible. As well, soil type and moisture content will influence feasibility of compaction, as well as spring time settlement. If the fill is very thick and winter is long and cold where you're at, it could take months...
No matter what you decide to do - beam on ground, or beam on mini-piles, you will need to place a void-form material between the underside of the beam and the ground surface. This is a compressible foam material that deforms when the ground heaves upward. The uplift force on the beam is...
Geotechgal posted a threat, "Modulus of Subgrade Reaction" on 16 March 2005. JAE, among others posted replies. JAE provided a link to a subgrade reaction correlation chart. It appears to be similar (and maybe derived from the same references) to a chart published by the Portland Cement...
