Experimental model tests were carried out to study the response of skirted foundation resting on dry sand.  The experiments were performed in a large soil container (1000  1000 mm in cross section and 800 mm in height).  Skirts with three different lengths (L) varied from 0.5D to 1.5D was attached to the edge of shallow circular foundations having three different diameters (D=60, 90 and 120 mm). Different parameters have been studied; these parameters involve skirt length, foundation size and skirt conditions. Skirts with open end and closed end were used. The relative density was kept constant and equals to 60%. The case of foundation without skirt (L=0) was initially tested and set as a reference for comparison purpose. From the results of experimental tests, it was found that the skirt modifies the load-settlement behaviour, increasing the load carrying capacity and reducing the foundation settlement. The results also indicate that load carrying capacity of skirted foundation increases with increase skirt length as well as foundation size. The results show that using skirt with closed end brought a considerable increase in load carrying capacity than that of open end.

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The bearing capacity of layered soil studies was carried out with various approaches such as experimental, theoretical, numerical, and combination of them. This work is focused on the settlement and bearing capacity of shallow foundations subjected to the vertical load placed on the surface of layered soils. The experimental part was performed by manufacturing soil cubic container (570 mm x 570 mm x 570 mm).  A model square footing of width 60 mm was placed at the surface of the soil bed. The relative density of sand was constant at 60%, and the clay was prepared with a density of 19.2 (kN/m3) and water content of 14.6%. PLAXIS 3D FEM was used to simulate the experimental tests and performing a parametric study. The results showed that there was a good agreement between experimental work and corresponding numerical results. The value of the bearing capacity was obtained from load-settlement curve. The bearing capacity of layered soil showed higher value for footing resting on clay over sand soil. It was found that an increase in the ultimate bearing capacity regarding the clay over sand with increasing in first layer thickness ratio; while, a decrease has been indicated for the sand over clay. The critical depth was found at H = (2-3m), and the failure pattern was not unique for layered soil.

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The study focuses on the causes of minaret tilting as well as possible solutions. The major aims of this study are to improve knowledge of historical tall structure stability and rehabilitation operations using the finite element approach to model the soil and minaret (PLAXIS 3D 2020), a platform for computational soil investigation and modeling. The numerical analysis aims to identify stresses, settlement, and deformation of the soil and minaret in various scenarios like Earthquakes, explosions, and winds. The simulation of the problem by the PLAXIS 3D revealed that the greatest lateral displacement computed at the Top Minaret is 5.5 cm, and the greatest vertical movement is calculated to be 3 cm. Seismic settlement is the effect of earthquake shaking, causing densification of soil with lower relative density.