• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.29-44
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• 2010

Vertical vibration tests were conducted using model footings of different size and mass resting on the surface of finite sand layer with different height to width ratios which was underlain by either rigid concrete base, under both dry and saturated condition. The effect of saturation on the damping ratio of finite sand stratum underlain by a rigid base has been verified and compared with the results obtained for the case of finite dry sand stratum underlain by the rigid base. Comparison of results of the experimental study showed that the damping in both the cases is less than 10%. The damping ratio obtained for finite saturated sand stratum is marginally lower than that obtained on finite dry sand stratum at H/B ratio of 0.5. The difference between the two cases becomes significant when the H/B ratio increases to 3.0, indicating the significant influence of soil moisture on damping ratio of foundation- soil system with increase in the thickness of the finite sand stratum. Comparison of the predicted damping ratio for a homogeneous sand stratum with the experimental damping ratio obtained corresponding to the height to width ratio of 3.0 of the finite sand stratum underlain by the rigid concrete base indicates a significant reduction in damping ratio of the foundation-soil system for both the cases.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.363-377
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• 2013

Any structure constructed on the earth is supported by the underlying soil. Foundation is an interfacing element between superstructure and the underlying soil that transmits the loads supported by the foundation including its self weight. Foundation design requires evaluation of safe bearing capacity along with both immediate and long term settlements. Weak and compressible soils are subjected to problems related to bearing capacity and settlement. The conventional method of design of footing requires sufficient safety against failure and the settlement must be kept within the allowable limit. These requirements are dependent on the bearing capacity of soil. Thus, the estimation of load carrying capacity of footing is the most important step in the design of foundation. A number of theoretical approaches, in-situ tests and laboratory model tests are available to find out the bearing capacity of footings. The reliability of any theory can be demonstrated by comparing it with the experimental results. Results from laboratory model tests on square footings resting on sand are presented in this paper. The variation of bearing capacity of sand below a model plate footing of square shape with variation in size, depth and the effect of permissible settlement are evaluated. A steel tank of size $900mm{\times}1200mm{\times}1000mm$ is used for conducting model tests. Bearing capacity factor $N_{\gamma}$ is evaluated and is compared with Terzaghi, Meyerhof, Hansen and Vesic's $N_{\gamma}$ values. From the experimental investigations it is found that, as the depth of sand cushion below the footing ($D_{sc}$) increases, ultimate bearing capacity and settlement values show an increasing trend up to a certain depth of sand cushion.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.585-598
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• 2022

The monopile-friction wheel hybrid foundation is an innovative solution for offshore structures which are mainly subjected to large lateral eccentric load induced by winds, waves, and currents during their service life. This paper presents an extensive numerical analysis to investigate the lateral load and moment bearing performances of hybrid foundation, considering various potential influencing factors in sand-overlaying-clay soil deposits, with the complex lateral loads being simplified into a resultant lateral load acting at a certain height above the mudline. Finite element models are generated and validated against experimental data where very good agreements are obtained. The failure mechanisms of hybrid foundations under lateral loading are illustrated to demonstrate the effect of the friction wheel in the hybrid system. Parametric study shows that the load bearing performances of the hybrid foundation is significantly dependent of wheel diameter, pile embedment depth, internal friction angle of sand, loading eccentricity (distance from the load application point to the ground level), and the thickness of upper sandy layer. Simplified empirical formulae is proposed based on the numerical results to predict the corresponding lateral load and moment bearing capacities of the hybrid foundation for design application.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.107-117
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• 2004

A series of model tests were conducted to investigate how the number of reinforcement layers, stiffnesses, types of reinforcement material and buried depth of a flexible pipe can affect bearing capacity-settlement curve at a loose sand foundation. In the test results, whereas the type of failure in unreinforced sand was local shear, the type of failure, for model tests with more than 2 reinforcement layers in loose sand, was general shear: The number of the optimum reinforcement layers was found to be two: Stiffness and type of reinforcement were more important than the maximum tensile strength of reinforcement in improving bearing capacity. When the depth of buried pipe from the sand surface was less than the width of the footing, test results showed that both bearing capacity and ultimate bearing capacity of buried pipe in unreinforced sand significantly decreased, and the type of failure in the reinforced sand changed from general shear to local shear.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.67-73
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• 2006

In this study, basic physical tests and mechanical tests of crushed rock were performed in order to investigate the field application of crushed rock as substitute materials of sand that is commonly being used as foundation and backfill materials of sewer conduit. Particle-size distribution curve of crushed rock is similar to sand and also it is well-graded soil than common sand. Maximum dry unit weight in proctor compaction test for crushed rock is higher than the values of common sand. So we can estimate that the crushed rock has advantages in workability than sand for the backfill compaction after construction of sewer conduit. When we investigate the results of direct shear test and triaxial compression test on the crushed rock, it has a similar value of shear strength parameters to sand at the same stress state and as time goes by, it tends to increase the unconfined compression strength. But, because the strength reaches at the constant value after 6~7 days, we expect that it can absorb the lateral strain of flexible conduit well. All the above experimental results just proves that crushed rock can substitute for sand as backfill materials and foundation of sewer conduit.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.29-39
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• 2015

The vertical load imposed on the bucket foundation is transferred from the soil inside the bucket to the bottom of the foundation, and also to the outer surface of the skirt. For the design of a bucket foundation installed in sand, the vertical load transfer characteristics have to be clearly identified. However, the response of bucket foundations in sand subjected to a vertical load has not been investigated. In this study, we performed two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element analyses and investigated the vertical load transfer mechanism of bucket foundation installed in sand. The end bearing capacity of bucket foundation is shown to be larger than that of the shallow foundation, whereas the frictional resistance is smaller than that for a pile. The end bearing capacity of the bucket foundation is larger than the shallow foundation because the shear stress acting on the skirt pushes down and enlarges the failure surface. The skin friction is smaller than the pile because the settlement induces horizontal movement of the soil below the tip of the foundation and reduces the normal stress acting at the bottom part of the skirt. The calculated bearing capacity of the bucket foundation is larger than the sum of end bearing capacity of shallow foundation and skin friction of pile. This is because the increment of the end bearing capacity is larger than the reduction in the skin friction.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.25-32
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• 2007

The piled-raft foundation, a new design concept, is one of the most effective kinds of foundation for reducing settlement of structures. An alternative piled-raft system with disconnection cap and a sand cushion between the pile and raft was also investigated to compare the influence of ultimate bearing capacity and settlement. Load-settlement relation curves were used to evaluate the ultimate bearing capacity. In the numerical analyses, a plane strain elasto-plastic finite element model (Mohr-Coulomb model) was used to present the response of the piled-raft foundation.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.547-557
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• 2022

Dune sands are poorly graded collapsible soils lacking fines. This experimental study explored the technical feasibility of sustainable invigoration of fine waste materials to improve the geotechnical properties of dune sand. The fine waste considered in this study is fine marble waste. The fine waste powder was mixed with dune sand at different contents (5, 10,15, 20, 25, 50%), where the gradation, void ratio, compaction, and shear strength characteristics were assessed for each fine marble waste -dune sand blend. The geotechnical properties of the dune sand-fine marble waste mix delineated in this study reveal the enhancement in compaction and gradation characteristics of dune sand. According to the results, the binary mixture of dune sand with 20% of fine marble waste gives the highest maximum dry density and results in shear strength improvement. In addition, a numerical study is conducted for the practical application of the binary mix in the field and tested for an isolated shallow foundation. The elemental analysis of the fine marble waste confirms that the material is non-contaminated and can be employed for engineering applications. Furthermore, the numerical study elucidated that the shallow surface replacement of the site with the dune sand mixed with 20% fine marble waste gives optimal performance in terms of stress generation and settlement behavior of an isolated footing. For a sustainable mechanical performance of the fine marble waste mixed sand, an optimum dose of 20% fine marble waste is recommended, and some correlations are proposed. Thus, for improving dune sand's geotechnical characteristics, the addition of fine marble waste to the dune sand is an environment-friendly solution.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.33-41
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• 2015

The vertical bearing capacity of a bucket foundation installed in sand can be calculated as sum of the skin friction and end bearing capacity. However, the current design equations are not considering the non-associated flow characteristics of sand and the reduction in the skin friction and increase in the end bearing capacity when the vertical load is applied. In this study, we perform two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element analyses following non-associated flow rule and calculate the vertical bearing capacity of circular bucket foundation of various sizes installed in sand of different friction angles. After calculating the skin friction and end bearing force at the ultimate state, design equations are derived for each. The skin friction of bucket foundation is shown significantly small compared to the end bearing capacity. Considering the difference with the available design equation for piles, it is recommended that the equation for piles is used for the bucket foundation. A new shape-depth factor ($s_q{\cdot}d_q$) for bucket foundation is recommended which also accounts for the increment of the end bearing capacity due to skin friction. Additionally, the shape and depth factor of embedded foundation proposed from the associated flow rule can overestimate the bearing capacity in sand, so it is more adequate to use the shape-depth factor proposed in this study.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.205-215
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• 1992

Load tests for fourteen small-scale foundation models combined with geotextile, sand mat and rigid mat were conducted to study the effect of geotextile(G/T), sand mat(S/M), and foundation types on deformation of foundation soils. In addition, the experimental results were compared with those obtained from numerical analysis using a software program. The main conclusions were summarized as follows: 1. The restraint effect on G/T is more outstanding on the lateral displacement than on the vertical one. 2. The single use of S/M has better effect on the restraint of vertical displacement than lateral one. 3. The use of both S/M and G/T is required for the restraint of lateral and vertical displacement. 4. Multi-layered foundation with large rigidity shows similar tendency to that of foundation reinforced with S/M and G/T.