Bearing capacity of perforated surface foundations on sand

Abstract

ABSTRACT Perforated foundations find widespread use in supporting offshore structures. However, there is a limited exploration of the bearing capacity of both single and multiple perforated foundations under combined loading. The finite element method is used to calculate the effect of perforations on the bearing capacity of strip surface foundations on sand subjected to combined loading in this study. The normalized bearing capacity ratio and yield surface are used to present the variation of bearing capacity, and the variation is explained by the relevant failure mechanism. The outcome indicates that the critical perforation ratio is around 0.07, and the value depends on the perforation number and loading conditions. When the perforation ratio is less than the critical perforation ratio, the combined bearing capacity of the perforated foundation will not be reduced. The bearing capacity decreases with the perforation ratio, where the number and ratio of perforation determine the decline rate and the shapes of the yield surface.