Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis on the Bearing Capacity of Bucket Foundation with Different Ratios of Diameter to Height

Abstract

The ABAQUS software is used for simulating the vertical bearing capacity of bucket foundation of different ratios of diameter to height and the analysis for the stress and displacement distribution and load-displacement curve. When the bucket foundation is under pressure, the vertical stress of the soil distribution changes from the bottom to the top, and then spreads to most part of the soil in the bucket foundation. The vertical displacement of the soil develops from the top of foundation and spreads inside, then expands to the outside range, the maximum displacement occurs both at the bottom and inside. According to the analysis of the ultimate bearing capacity of the bucket foundation, it could be found that when the height of the bucket foundation remains unchanged, the ultimate bearing capacity increases with the increasing ratio of diameter to height. If the ratio of diameter to height is less than 1.2, the ultimate strength increases significantly. If the ratio of diameter to height is greater than 1.2, the increasing speed of the ultimate bearing capacity changes slowly. When the diameter of the bucket foundation is constant, the ultimate bearing capacity decreases as the ratio of diameter to height gradually increases, and it decreases at a homogeneous speed. So the ratio of diameter to height 1.2 can be used as the optimum point of the ratio of diameter to height of the bucket foundation.