Foundations bearing capacity subjected to seepage by the kinematic approach of the limit analysis

Abstract

An estimate of the ultimate load on foundations on soil layers subject to groundwater flow has been presented. The kinematic approach of the limit analysis was employed to find the upper-bound limit of the bearing capacity. Both smooth and rough base strip foundations were considered associated with different collapse patterns. Presence of the groundwater flow leads to a non-symmetric collapse pattern, i.e., a weak side and a strong side in two-sided collapse patterns, depending on the direction of the flow. It was found that the bearing capacity has a decreasing trend with increase in the groundwater flow gradient and hence, a reduction factor has been introduced to the third term in the bearing capacity equation as a function of the flow gradient.