Bearing Capacity of Footing Resting on Sand for Eccentric Vertical Load

Abstract

This study estimated the bearing capacity of footing against eccentric vertical load on sandy soils by using two-dimensional rigid plastic finite element method (RPFEM). The study newly introduces an interface element into the footing-soil system to properly evaluate the interaction between the footing and the soil, which greatly affects the failure mechanism of the footing-soil system. Two friction conditions of the footing surface were considered, namely, a perfectly rough and smooth conditions. The effect of the eccentric vertical load on the contact stress distribution at the footing base and the failure envelope in V-M plane is thoroughly investigated. According to the obtained results, it can be seen that changes in the contact stress distribution reflecting to both the eccentricity length and the friction condition were observed. Finally, the new equation is proposed for the failure envelope through the comparison with those found in the literature.