Analysis of rectangular thick rafts on an elastic half-space

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents the Ritz method for the settlement analysis of rectangular thick rafts resting on a homogeneous, elastic half-space. As the considered raft is thick, the Mindlin plate theory has to be used to model the raft in order to allow for the effect of transverse shear deformation in the raft as it bends under transverse loading. A penalty functional is introduced in the Ritz formulation to satisfy the natural boundary conditions of free edges. The correctness of the Ritz formulation and the software developed was established by the close agreement of bending results of the raft foundation obtained by the present Ritz method and those determined by previous researchers. The effect of transverse shear deformation on the bending results is examined for various raft thicknesses and loading conditions.