Fredlund　SWCC　device　can　apply　matric　suctions　from　zero　up　to　1　500　kPa.　After　measuring　the　water　contents　of　the　corresponding　suction　and　fitting　the　data　with　MATLAB,　the　soil-water　characteristic　curve　(SWCC)　is　obtained.　Applying　the　SWCC　in　numerical　simulation　software,　the　settlement　curve　of　ground　surface　is　obtained　considering　groundwater.　When　groundwater　is　not　considered,　another　settlement　curve　of　ground　surface　is　obtioned　by　numerical　simulation.　Contrasting　the　two　curves　with　the　settlement　curve　of　Peck　formula　for　reference,　the　settlement　curve　of　ground　surface　considering　groundwater　is　closer　to　the　measured　curve.　Therefore,　the　reliability　and　applicability　of　this　method　are　verified.