Finite layer analysis of surface foundation

Abstract

The behaviour of surface foundations on three-dimensional soil stratum is studied using the finite layer method. The responses resulting from various sources of actions and excitations are considered. Suitable displacement functions are chosen such that the near field compatibility conditions are satisfied and the resulting governing equations are uncoupled termwise. A three-dimensional domain can thus be treated effectively as an equivalent one-dimensional finite element problem making the method suitable for any personal computer. The finite layer solutions are shown to be in good agreement with available theoretical results.