Analysis of Nonlinear Soil Behavior under Vertically Loaded Steel Plate Considering Local Shear Failure of Soil

Abstract

In previous studies, an analytical method has been developed for design of spread foundations. A hybrid analysis model with nonlinear discrete springs was proposed (2002) and predictions were made of load-settlement behavior of circular plates in loading tests. The analysis results were in good agreement with test results for small settlement but departed gradually from the test results as the settlements increased, because soil shear failure was neglected. Then, a method was developed for taking into account local soil shear failure. A model was built up and applied in loading tests on square plates for clay and sandy soils (2003). The purpose of current study is to expand the use of this hybrid model considering local shear failure for analysis of circular and square plates for both clayey and sandy soils. Vertical loads are predicted for given settlements. Comparisons are made between test results and analyses with and without consideration of local shear failure. And the results are shown to be greatly improved after consideration of local shear failure. It shows that the proposed method can be very validly used for nonlinear behavior analysis of steel plate even considering local shear failure.