Stresses and pore water pressure induced by machine foundation on saturated sand

Abstract

In this study, the response and behavior of machine foundations resting on dry and saturated sand was investigated experimentally. In order to investigate the response of soil and footing to steady state dynamic loading, a physical model was manufactured. The manufactured physical model could be used to simulate steady state harmonic load at different operating frequencies. Total of (84) physical models were performed. The parameters that were taken into considerations include loading frequency, size of footing and different soil conditions. The footing parameters were related to the size of the rectangular footing and depth of embedment. Two sizes of rectangular steel model footing were used (100 × 200 × 12.5 mm) and (200 × 400 × 5.0 mm). The footing was tested in all parameters at the surface and at 50 mm depth below model surface. Meanwhile the investigated parameters of the soil condition included dry and saturated sand for two relative densities 30% and 80%. The response of the soil to dynamic loading includes measuring the stresses inside the soil using piezoelectric sensors as well as measuring the excess pore water pressure by using pore water pressure transducers.It was found that the rate of increase in excess pore water pressure ratio decreased remarkably at a depth of 0.5 B–1.5 B (B is the footing width) for medium and loose dense sand, respectively. Moreover, excess pore water pressure ratio increases with increasing the eccentricity of dynamic load. The generated pore water pressure is always greater under the point of load application. Its value reduces with a certain percentages at any point away from the point of load application. In addition, the rate of variation of pore water pressure with eccentricity for loose sand is less than that for medium dense sand. The dynamic stress increments resulting from the dynamic load on the foundation reduce with depth. In addition, the dynamic stresses under the corner are slightly greater than the stresses at the center by a percentage of about 10.0%. The excess pore water pressure increases with increasing the relative density of the sand, the amplitude of dynamic loading and the operating frequency. In contrast, the rate of dissipation of the excess pore water pressure during dynamic loading is more in the case of loose sand.