Contact pressure distribution under circular shallow foundation subjected to vertical and rocking vibration modes

Abstract

In this paper, a rigid circular foundation with diameter of 150 mm is subjected to two modes of vibration each mode applies with two frequencies. The foundation was placed at three different depths within dry sand with two relative densities in a test model with dimensions of (800 × 800 × 1000) mm. A total of 18 models have been tested to study the effect of initial conditions on contact pressure distribution and vertical settlement. It was concluded that a circular footing subjected to rocking vibration mode tends to have escalated stress distribution in the direction of the rocking vibration to reach a peak at the center followed by a gentle drop. Edge points stresses for circular foundation showed an increase from one side to another (the increase in the direction of the rocking mode) by 150-100%, while most test models subjected to vertical vibration mode had a depression under the center of the foundation making peak stress levels just around the center of footing. The study revealed that increase of foundation depth results to increase the total settlement for all test models subjected to both vibration modes.