Abstract
A reliability-based analysis of a strip foundation subjected to a central vertical load is presented. Both the ultimate and the serviceability limit states are considered. Two deterministic models based on numerical simulations are used. The first one computes the ultimate bearing capacity of the foundation and the second one calculates the footing displacement due to an applied load. The response surface methodology is utilized for the assessment of the Hasofer-Lind reliability indexes. Only the soil shear strength parameters are considered as random variables while studying the ultimate limit state. Also, the randomness of only the soil elastic properties is taken into account in the serviceability limit state. The assumption of uncorrelated variables was found to be conservative in comparison to the one of negatively correlated variables. The failure probability of the ultimate limit state was highly influenced by the variability of the angle of internal friction. However, for the serviceability limit state, the accurate determination of the uncertainties of the Young's modulus was found to be very important in obtaining reliable probabilistic results. Finally, the computation of the system failure probability involving both ultimate and serviceability limit states was presented and discussed.
Highlights
The commonly used approaches in the analysis and design of foundations are deterministic
It should be mentioned that the soil elastic propertiesi.e., K and G or E and ͒ considered as deterministic in the present ultimate limit state have no effect on the value of the ultimate bearing capacity
They become equal to 1 when PS is equal to the load that leads to the maximal prescribed foundation settlement umax for the mean values of the soil elastic properties
Summary
The commonly used approaches in the analysis and design of foundations are deterministic. A reliabilitybased approach for the analysis of foundations is more rational since it enables one to consider the inherent uncertainty of each input parameter. Previous investigations on the reliability analysis of foundations focused on either the ultimate or the serviceability limit stateBauer and Pula 2000; Cherubini 2000; Griffiths and Fenton 2001; Griffiths et al 2002; Low and Phoon 2002; Fenton and Griffiths 2002, 2003, 2005; Popescu et al 2005; Przewlocki 2005; Youssef Abdel Massih et al 2007͒. This paper considers both limit states in the analysis of foundations.
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