Abstract
Numerical modeling is important for exploring the fundamental processes occurring in rock and for evaluating the real performance of structures built on and in rock mass system, and thus for supporting the design of rock engineering problems. Estimating the stability of rock mass foundation systems entirely based on a theoretical approach is a complicated task if there exists overlapping of their potential collapse modes. This paper applies finite element limit analysis to evaluate the bearing capacity of equally spaced multiple strip footings resting on rock mass obeying the modified non-linear Hoek–Brown failure criterion. Numerical solutions are expressed in terms of the efficiency factor that is dependent on the spacing between footings, as well as the rock mass properties. In addition, the effects of surface surcharge and footing roughness are quantified. The maximum spacing at which the interfering effect of adjacent footings becomes disappeared is evaluated and an algebraic expression for approximating the maximum spacing is proposed. Failure mechanisms for a few cases of rock mass under multiple strip footings are examined.
Highlights
Rock differs from most other engineering materials in that it contains fractures of one type or another which render its structure discontinuous
Numerical stress analysis consists of discontinuous method for sub-representative elementary volume (REV) scale and continuum method for large volume of rock mass
The numerical analysis consists of discontinuous method for sub-REV scale and
Summary
Rock differs from most other engineering materials in that it contains fractures of one type or another which render its structure discontinuous. Numerical stress analysis consists of discontinuous method for sub-REV scale and continuum method for large volume of rock mass. Estimated the bearing capacity of two closely spaced strip were footings mass, limited studies on the interfering effect of rock footings reusing the distinct element method. The vertical bearing capacity of a group of multiple strip footings, idenfor intact rock or heavily jointed rock mass. The obtained results are compared with the tically spaced and loaded to failure simultaneously, is computed with the finite existing solutions and the bearing capacity calculations are presented as a function of element limit analysis. The numerical analysis consists of discontinuous method for sub-REV scale and the original Hoek–Brown (HB) failure criterion was proposed in 1980 and has been subsecontinuum method forlast large volume of rock quently updated.
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