Numerical Investigation on Bearing Capacity of Rigid Footing on Sandy Soils Under Eccentrically Inclined Load

Abstract

AbstractThe objective of this study was to evaluate the bearing capacity of a rigid footing on uniform sandy soil under eccentrically inclined load, using the rigid plastic finite element method (RPFEM). The footing was considered to be rigid and rough at the contact plane, as it most often is in reality. The study thoroughly considered the effect of the soil properties on the load inclination factor iγ to investigate the validity of the current design methods. In particular, the effect of the horizontal load in two opposite directions on the ultimate bearing capacity and the limit load space in the V-H-M space were clarified. Through a series of numerical analyses, new equations were proposed for the load inclination factor iγ, and the limit load space in the V-H-M space, by taking into account the direction of the horizontal load.KeywordsLimit load spaceRigid footingEccentric-inclined load