A Simple Limit Equilibrium Approach for Calculation of Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations on Two-Layered Granular Soils

Abstract

The bearing capacity of shallow foundations in a non-homogeneous soil profile has been a challenging task in geotechnical engineering. In this paper, a limit equilibrium method is used for calculating bearing capacity factors of shallow foundations constructed on a two-layered granular soil profile. The main objective has been to determine the ultimate bearing capacity computed from equivalent bearing capacity factors N q and N c and comparing that with numerical analysis using finite element methods. It will be shown that the data obtained form the developed method are well comparable with those obtained from FE approach, specially when the difference between shear strength parameters of layers is low which is a practical case for sedimentary soil profiles and also for artificially compacted soils. A computer program has been developed to investigate the influence of various parameters on bearing capacity factors.

Bearing Capacity of Strip Footing on Reinforced Layered Granular Soils

“…They checked the results obtained by using the Coulomb approach with the results obtained from Finite Element analyses. Ghazavi and Eghbali (2008) concluded that the results obtained from the Finite Element analysis matched very well with the results obtained from the Coulomb formulation. Michalowski (1998) stated that as failure occurs, the direction of a flexible reinforcement will change and try to align itself with the failure plane.…”

“…They adapted this modified Coulomb method to calculate the seismic bearing capacities of footings. Ghazavi and Eghbali (2008) also took the simple Coulomb method proposed by Lambe and Whitman (1969) and adapted it to a two layered soil. They checked the results obtained by using the Coulomb approach with the results obtained from Finite Element analyses.…”

“…In this study, a simple method for determining the bearing capacity of a geosynthetic reinforced soil was developed. In order to determine the effect of the reinforcement in the foundation soil, a simple analysis technique developed by Ghazavi and Eghbali (2008) to calculate the bearing capacity of a two layered foundation soil was adapted. To validate the newly proposed limit equilibrium method, several cases were analyzed using a Finite Element Model and the results were compared.…”

Bearing Capacity Evaluation of Footing on a Layered‐Soil using ABAQUS

“…[9] and Potts [6]. It should be noted that in both cases same displacement value has been applied on top of soil.…”

“…Methods of solving bearing capacity of footing are classified in four major approaches: limit equilibrium, limit analysis approach, semi empirical approach and finite element method. In recent years, Finite Element Method (FEM) have been widely using in geotechnical studies to investigate soil behaviour [3][4][5][6]. In practice, for bearing capacity analysis engineers are seeking less complicated solutions to simplify computations as experimental analysis is time consuming and commonly used solutions such as limit equilibrium are no longer applicable.…”