Bearing capacity factors of single- and double-strip footings placed over an embankment

Abstract

The rigid pavements and rigid base supporting rails can be considered as a strip footing resting over an embankment. In addition, there can also be single or double-strip footings resting over an embankment. These strip footings are influenced by the properties of the soil, slope angle of an embankment, setback distance, and spacing between the footings and the height of embankment. In this study, the bearing capacity factors for the single- and double-strip footings resting over an embankment are evaluated using the finite element method (FEM). The bearing capacity factors [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are evaluated for different soil friction angles [Formula: see text], slope angles of embankment [Formula: see text], setback distances [Formula: see text], embankment heights [Formula: see text] and spacing between the footings [Formula: see text]. Considering the practical aspect, i.e., the surcharge is not present for footing on an embankment, the [Formula: see text] is not evaluated in the study. Based on the analysis, it is observed that the bearing capacity factors [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] increase with increase in friction angle of the soil and setback distance and reduce with increase in the slope angle of the embankment. The effect of depth of embankment on the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is negligible for smaller friction angles [Formula: see text], whereas it increases marginally for higher friction angles [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are influenced by the spacing between the footings. This study’s results are compared with the results available in the literature. This study’s results are presented as design charts, and these could be adopted in the practice in routine designs of shallow foundations.