• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.81 no.3
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• pp.379-394
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• 2022

Shallow footings usually belonged to the category of thick plate structures. For accurate analysis of thick plates, the contribution of out-of-plane components of the stress tensor should be considered in the formulation. Most of the available shallow footing models are based on the classical plate theories, which usually neglect the effects of the out-of-plane stresses. In this study, a mixed-field plate finite element model (FEM) is developed for the analysis of shallow footings rested on soil foundations. In addition to displacement field variables, the out-of-plane components of the stress tensor are also assumed as a priori unknown variables. For modeling the interaction effect of the soil under and outside of the shallow footings, the modified Vlasov theory is used. The tensionless nature of the supporting soil foundation is taken into account by adopting an incremental, iterative procedure. The equality requirement of displacements at the interface between the shallow footing and soil is fulfilled using the penalty approach. For validation of the present mixed FEM, the obtained results are compared with the results of 3D FEM and previous results published in the literature. The comparisons show the present mixed FEM is an efficient and accurate tool for solving the problems of shallow footings rested on subsoil.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.469-485
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• 2014

A series of bearing capacity tests was conducted with eccentrically loaded model surface and shallow strip footings resting close to a slope to investigate behavior of such footings (ultimate loads, failure surfaces, load-displacement curves, rotation of footing, etc.). Ultimate loads of footing close to slope decreased with increasing eccentricity for both surface and shallow footings. Failure surfaces were not symmetrical, primary failure surfaces occurred on the eccentricity side (the slope side) and secondary failure surfaces occurred on the other side. Lengths of failure surfaces decreased with increasing eccentricity. Footings always rotated towards eccentricity side a few degrees. For eccentrically loaded footing, decrease in ultimate load with increasing eccentricity is roughly in agreement with Customary Analysis.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.343-362
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• 2013

Simple relationships are proposed in this paper by modifying the Schmertmann's equation for settlement estimations of footings (i.e., $B/L{\approx}1$) carrying vertical loads in saturated and unsaturated sandy soils. The modified method is developed using model plate load tests (PLTs) and cone penetration tests (CPTs) results conducted in saturated and unsaturated sand in a controlled laboratory environment. Seven in-situ large-scale footings tested under both saturated and unsaturated conditions in sands were used to validate the proposed technique. The results of the study are encouraging as they provide reliable estimates of the settlement of shallow footings in both saturated and unsaturated sands using the conventional CPT results.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2018

The foundations are classified into shallow and deep, which have important differences: in terms of geometry, the behavior of the soil, its structural functionality, and its constructive systems. The shallow foundations may be of various types according to their function; isolated footings, combined footings, strip footings, and slabs foundation. The isolated footings are of the type rectangular, square and circular. The combined footing may be rectangular, trapezoidal or T-shaped in plan. This paper presents a new model for T-shaped combined footings to obtain the most economical contact surface on the soil (optimal dimensioning) to support an axial load and moment in two directions to each column. The new model considers the soil real pressure, i.e., the pressure varies linearly. The classical model uses the technique of test and error, i.e., a dimension is proposed, and subsequently, the equation of the biaxial bending is used to obtain the stresses acting on each vertex of the T-shaped combined footing, which must meet the conditions following: The minimum stress should be equal or greater than zero, and maximum stress must be equal or less than the allowable capacity that can withstand the soil. To illustrate the validity of the new model, numerical examples are presented to obtain the minimum area of the contact surface on the soil for T-shaped combined footings subjected to an axial load and moments in two directions applied to each column.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.153-167
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• 2011

Traditional design methods of bearing capacity of shallow foundations are deterministic in the sense that they do not explicitly consider the inherent uncertainty associated with the factors affecting bearing capacity. To account for such uncertainty, available deterministic methods rather employ a fixed global factor of safety that may lead to inappropriate bearing capacity predictions. An alternative stochastic approach is essential to provide a more rational estimation of bearing capacity. In this paper, the likely distribution of predicted bearing capacity of strip footings subjected to vertical loads is obtained using a stochastic approach based on the Monte Carlo simulation. The approach accounts for the uncertainty associated with the soil shear strength parameters: cohesion, c, and friction angle, ${\phi}$, and the cross correlation between c and ${\phi}$. A set of stochastic design charts that assure target reliability levels of 90% and 95%, are developed for routine use by practitioners. The charts negate the need for a factor of safety and provide a more reliable indication of what the actual bearing capacity might be.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.193-207
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• 2023

In general, the numerous classical approaches available in the literature can anticipate the settlement of shallow foundations. As long as the footings are not in close proximity to other subsurface buildings, the findings achieved using these methods are legitimate and acceptable. However, due to increased urbanisation and land scarcity, footings are frequently built close together. As a result, these footings' settlement behaviour differs from those of isolated footings. A simpler approach for assessing the settlement behaviour of two square or rectangular footings placed in close proximity is presented in this work. A Parametric study has been carried out to examine the interference effect on the settlement of these footings placed in close vicinity on the surface of a homogeneous, isotropic and elastic soil medium. The interaction factors are examined by varying the different aspect ratios (L/B), clear spacing ratio (S/B) and intensity of loading on the right footing with respect to the left footing. Further, variation of the settlement ratio (δ/B) with respect to embedment depth ratio D_f/B is examined. For square and rectangular footings, the interference settlement profile is also investigated by varying the clear spacing ratio (S/B) and the degree of loading. The results were compared to 3D finite element analysis and experimental data that were available.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.223-235
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• 2022

Bearing capacity of shallow foundations is often determined for either dry or saturated soils. In some occasions, foundations may be subjected to external loading which is inclined and/or eccentric. In this study, the ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations resting on partially saturated coarse-grained cohesionless and fine-grained cohesive soils subjected to a wide range of combined vertical (V) - horizontal (H) - moment (M) loadings is rigorously evaluated using the well-established limit equilibrium method. The unified effective stress approach as well as the suction stress concept is effectively adopted so as to simulate the behaviour of the underlying unsaturated soil medium. In order to obtain the bearing capacity, four equilibrium equations are solved by adopting Coulomb failure mechanism and Bishop effective stress concept and also considering a linear variation of the induced matric suction beneath the foundation. The general failure loci of the shallow foundations resting on unsaturated soils at different hydraulic conditions are presented in V - H - M spaces. The results indicate that the matric suction has a marked influence on the bearing capacity of shallow foundations. In addition, the effect of induced suction on the ultimate bearing capacity of obliquely-loaded foundations is more pronounced than that of the eccentrically-loaded footings.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2009

The results of FLAC3D-based numerical evaluation of the bearing capacity shape factor $s_{\gamma}$ are presented for square and rectangular footings on granular soils. The results confirm a peculiar effect found earlier by Zhu and Michalowski (2005), where for large values of internal friction angle, $s_{\gamma}$ exhibits a peak at some aspect ratio of the footing, and then decreases towards unity at large aspect ratios. The Zhu and Michalowski's results were derived using the finite element program ABAQUS, and the results presented in this note corroborate their earlier findings.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.1045-1075
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• 2016

Shallow footings are one of the most common types of foundations used to support mid-rise buildings in high risk seismic zones. Recent findings have revealed that the dynamic interaction between the soil, foundation, and the superstructure can influence the seismic response of the building during earthquakes. Accordingly, the properties of a foundation can alter the dynamic characteristics (natural frequency and damping) of the soil-foundation-structure system. In this paper the influence that shallow foundations have on the seismic response of a mid-rise moment resisting building is investigated. For this purpose, a fifteen storey moment resisting frame sitting on shallow footings with different sizes was simulated numerically using ABAQUS software. By adopting a direct calculation method, the numerical model can perform a fully nonlinear time history dynamic analysis to realistically simulate the dynamic behaviour of soil, foundation, and structure under seismic excitations. This three-dimensional numerical model accounts for the nonlinear behaviour of the soil medium and structural elements. Infinite boundary conditions were assigned to the numerical model to simulate free field boundaries, and appropriate contact elements capable of modelling sliding and separation between the foundation and soil elements are also considered. The influence of foundation size on the natural frequency of the system and structural response spectrum was also studied. The numerical results for cases of soil-foundation-structure systems with different sized foundations and fixed base conditions (excluding soil-foundation-structure interaction) in terms of lateral deformations, inter-storey drifts, rocking, and shear force distribution of the structure were then compared. Due to natural period lengthening, there was a significant reduction in the base shears when the size of the foundation was reduced. It was concluded that the size of a shallow foundation influences the dynamic characteristics and the seismic response of the building due to interaction between the soil, foundation, and structure, and therefore design engineer should carefully consider these parameters in order to ensure a safe and cost effective seismic design.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.245-252
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• 2000

Model tests on free standing pile groups and piled footings with varying a pile spacing in two layered soils are carried out. The influence of pile cap on the behaviors of end bearing pile groups is analyzed by comparing the bearing behavior in piled footings with those in a single pile, a shallow footing(cap alone) and free standing pile groups. From the test results, it is found that the bearing characteristics of cap-soil-pile system are related with load levels and pile spacings. Before yield, the bearing resistance by cap is not fully mobilized, however, as the applied load increases, the bearing resistance of cap approaches to that of cap alone and settlement hardening occurs after yield due to the compaction caused by the contact pressure between cap and soil. By the cap-soil-pile interaction, shaft friction and point resistance of piles considerably increase with dependency of pile spacings. In two layered soil, the increasing effect of dilatancy in dense sandy soil adjacent to pile tips, increases the point resistance of pile.