Abstract
Calculation of the bearing capacity of shallow foundations on rock masses is usually addressed either using empirical equations, analytical solutions, or numerical models. While the empirical laws are limited to the particular conditions and local geology of the data and the application of analytical solutions is complex and limited by its simplified assumptions, numerical models offer a reliable solution for the task but require more computational effort. This research presents an artificial neural network (ANN) solution to predict the bearing capacity due to general shear failure more simply and straightforwardly, obtained from FLAC numerical calculations based on the Hoek and Brown criterion, reproducing more realistic configurations than those offered by empirical or analytical solutions. The inputs included in the proposed ANN are rock type, uniaxial compressive strength, geological strength index, foundation width, dilatancy, bidimensional or axisymmetric problem, the roughness of the foundation-rock contact, and consideration or not of the self-weight of the rock mass. The predictions from the ANN model are in very good agreement with the numerical results, proving that it can be successfully employed to provide a very accurate assessment of the bearing capacity in a simpler and more accessible way than the existing methods.
Highlights
Shallow foundations are the type of foundation more commonly used to transmit the applied loads to the underlying soil or rock from civil engineering or building structures
The local conditions are more representative of cases (b), (c), and (d), which acquire a great dependence on the spacing and the width of the foundation so that their adequate bearing capacity can be deduced from simplified mathematical models, field trials, and reduced models, where such local conditions can more be presented
These approaches should relate the bearing capacity of shallow foundations on rock masses with an extended set of parameters, including those related to the rock itself and those related to the problem geometry and characteristics
Summary
Shallow foundations are the type of foundation more commonly used to transmit the applied loads to the underlying soil or rock from civil engineering or building structures. According to the properties of the rock mass and the layer beneath, the failure of rocks under applied loads may occur through several mechanisms (Sowers 1979; Paikowsky et al 2010; Canadian Geotechnical Society 2006) Empirical experiences are more unpredictable due to their local condition and it is necessary to resort to analytical and/or numerical techniques
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