A BOUNDARY-INTEGRAL EQUATION APPROACH FOR FOUNDATIONS RESTING ON A DEFORMABLE HALF-SPACE WITH LIMIT CONTACT PRESSURE

Abstract

A spatial contact model for an elastic base which takes into account the limit contact pressure in soil is proposed. Approximate equations permitting the use of the contact model for the description of non-linear ‘load-settlement’ dependence are presented. The application of the proposed model for calculating contact pressures, settlements and slopes of rigid punches of an arbitrary shape in a plan with the use of boundary-integral equation method leads to systems of non-linear algebraic equations of a special form. Iterative methods of solutions and convergence behaviour of iterations are considered. The approach developed is illustrated by the numerical solution of the contact problem for a circular punch on a non-linearly deformable half-space and a layer of finite thickness. Graphs of contact pressures and the dependence of punch settlement on a vertical load for various values of model parameters are given. Conclusion concerning identification of model parameters for various soil bases are drawn on the basis of punch tests.