Bearing capacity behaviour of a strip footing on model slopes made up of fly ash and furnace slag

Abstract

The paper presents the results of laboratory model tests on bearing capacity behaviour of a strip footing resting on the top of the fly ash slope and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) slope. A series of the model footing tests were conducted by varying the parameters such as different slope angles and location of the footing relative to the slope crest. However, for GGBFS slope, the investigation was carried out only for different edge distances. The experimental results obtained from the series of model tests are presented and discussed. The values of the bearing capacity obtained experimentally are compared with those obtained theoretically by resorting to the approaches suggested by earlier researchers and a good agreement in either result is observed. Further, the results obtained experimentally in the present investigation with respect to fly ash slope are compared with those reported in the literature and a fair agreement in the results is observed. The results, further, indicate the edge distance of the footing with respect to the crest of the slope has an important effect on the pressure–settlement behaviour and ultimate bearing capacity of the footings resting on the top of the fly ash as well as GGBFS slope. Similarly, the slope angle is also found to have significant effect on the bearing capacity in case of fly ash slope. The study confirms the effective utilisation of the Pozzolanic waste material such as fly ash and GGBFS as a fill material in an embankment.