Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Rigid Footing on Two-Layered Soils of Sand–Clay
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 21, Issue 7
Abstract
This study widely investigates the ultimate bearing capacity of a rigid footing on the free surface of sand overlying clay using the rigid-plastic finite-element method (RPFEM). Interface elements were introduced with the new constitutive equations developed by the authors to properly evaluate the interaction between the footing and the soil because these elements greatly affect the failure mechanism of the footing–soil system. Two friction conditions were employed for the footing surface, namely, the perfectly rough condition and the perfectly smooth condition. The RPFEM was extended to calculate the distribution of contact normal stress along the footing base corresponding to changes in the thickness of the sand layer. Several design charts were developed to directly determine the ultimate bearing capacity by increasing the internal friction angle, the thickness of the sand layer, and the shear strength of the clay layer. Two cases were considered for the clay layer below the sand layer, namely, a weak layer and a stiff layer. The failure mode of two-layered soils was found to change from the general shear mode to the punching shear mode for both friction conditions by a reduction in the shear strength of the clay layer. The sheared area of the ground was limited to the sand layer in the general shear mode, while the sheared area was distributed throughout the two layers in the punching shear mode. New bearing capacity formulas during the punching shear mode were proposed for the two friction conditions in a wide range of strength and geometric parameters, which were in close agreement with the experimental studies and are efficient enough to be used in practice.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by The University of Danang, University of Science and Technology (Project No. T2021-02-04).
References
Asaoka, A., and S. Ohtsuka. 1986. “The analysis of failure of a normally consolidated clay foundation under embankment loading.” Soils Found. 26 (2): 47–59. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf1972.26.2_47.
Asaoka, A., and S. Ohtsuka. 1987. “Bearing capacity analysis of a normally consolidated clay foundation.” Soils Found. 27 (3): 58–70. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf1972.27.3_58.
Asaoka, A., S. Ohtsuka, and M. Matsuo. 1990. “Coupling analyses of limiting equilibrium state for normally consolidated and lightly overconsolidated soils.” Soils Found. 30 (3): 109–123. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf1972.30.3_109.
Brown, J. D., and W. G. Paterson. 1964. “Failure of an oil storage tank founded on a sensitive marine clay.” Can. Geotech. J. 1 (4): 205–214. https://doi.org/10.1139/t64-016.
Burd, H. J., and S. Frydman. 1997. “Bearing capacity of plane-strain footings on layered soils.” Can. Geotech. J. 34 (2): 241–253. https://doi.org/10.1139/t96-106.
Craig, W. H., and K. Chua. 1990. “Deep penetration of spud-can foundations on sand and clay.” Géotechnique 40 (4): 541–556. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1990.40.4.541.
Das, B. M., and K. F. Dallo. 1984. “Bearing capacity of shallow foundations on a strong sand layer underlain by soft clay.” Civ. Eng. Pract. Des. Eng. 3: 417–438.
Hanna, A. M. 1981. “Foundations on strong sand overlying weak sand.” J. Geotech. Eng. 107 (7): 915–927. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(81)90664-1.
Hanna, A. M., and G. G. Meyerhof. 1980. “Design charts for ultimate bearing capacity of foundations on sand overlying soft clay.” Can. Geotech. J. 17 (2): 300–303. https://doi.org/10.1139/t80-030.
Hoshina, T., S. Ohtsuka, and K. Isobe. 2011. “Rigid plastic stability analysis for slope including thin weak layer.” [In Japanese.] Geotech. J. 6: 191–200. https://doi.org/10.3208/jgs.6.191.
Hossain, M. S., Y. Hu, and D. Ekaputra. 2014. “Skirted foundation to mitigate spudcan punch-through on sand-over-clay.” Géotechnique 64 (4): 333–340. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.13.T.027.
Huang, M., and H. L. Qin. 2009. “Upper-bound multi-rigid-block solutions for bearing capacity of two-layered soils.” Comput. Geotech. 36 (3): 525–529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2008.10.001.
Kenny, M. J., and K. Z. Andrawes. 1997. “The bearing capacity of footings on a sand layer overlying soft clay.” Géotechnique 47 (2): 339–345. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1997.47.2.339.
Khatri, V. N., and J. Kumar. 2019. “Finite-element limit analysis of strip and circular skirted footings on sand.” Int. J. Geomech. 19 (3): 06019001. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001370.
Kumar, J., and V. N. Khatri. 2008. “Effect of footing roughness on lower bound Nγ values.” Int. J Geomech. 8 (3): 176–187. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1532-3641(2008)8:3(176).
Kumar, J., and K. M. Kouzer. 2007. “Effect of footing roughness on bearing capacity factor Nγ.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 133 (5): 502–511. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2007)133:5(502).
Kumar, P., and M. Chakraborty. 2020. “Seismic bearing capacity of rough strip footing placed over geogrid-reinforced two-layer sands.” Int. J Geomech. 20 (10): 06020029. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001824.
Loukidis, D., T. Chakraborty, and R. Salgado. 2008. “Bearing capacity of strip footings on purely frictional soil under eccentric and inclined loads.” Can. Geotech. J. 45(6): 768–787. https://doi.org/10.1139/T08-015.
Manoharan, N., and S. P. Dasgupta. 1995. “Bearing capacity of surface footings by finite elements.” Comput. Struct. 54 (4): 563–586. https://doi.org/10.1016/0045-7949(94)00381-C.
Meyerhof, G. G. 1951. “The ultimate bearing capacity of foundations.” Geotechnique 2 (4): 301–332. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1951.2.4.301.
Meyerhof, G. G. 1963. “Some recent research on the bearing capacity of foundations.” Can. Geotech. J. 1 (1): 16–26. https://doi.org/10.1139/t63-003.
Meyerhof, G. G. 1974. “Ultimate bearing capacity of footings on sand layer overlying clay.” Can. Geotech. J. 11 (2): 223–229. https://doi.org/10.1139/t74-018.
Michalowski, R. L., and L. Shi. 1995. “Bearing capacity of footings over two-layer foundation soils.” J. Geotech. Eng. 121 (5): 421–428. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1995)121:5(421).
Nguyen, D. L., S. Ohtsuka, T. Hoshina, and K. Isobe. 2016. “Discussion on size effect of footing in ultimate bearing capacity of sandy soil using rigid plastic finite element method.” Soils Found. 56 (1): 93–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2016.01.007.
Okamura, M., J. Takemura, and T. Kimura. 1997. “Centrifuge model tests on bearing capacity and deformation of sand layer overlying clay.” Soils Found. 37 (1): 73–88. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf.37.73.
Okamura, M., J. Takemura, and T. Kimura. 1998. “Bearing capacity predictions of sand overlying clay based on limit equilibrium methods.” Soils Found. 38 (1): 181–194. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf.38.181.
Pham, Q. N., S. Ohtsuka, K. Isobe, and Y. Fukumoto. 2019a. “Group effect on ultimate lateral resistance of piles against uniform ground movement.” Soils Found. 59 (1): 27–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2018.08.013.
Pham, Q. N., S. Ohtsuka, K. Isobe, and Y. Fukumoto. 2020. “Limit load space of rigid footing under eccentrically inclined load.” Soils Found. 60 (4): 811–824. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2020.05.004.
Pham, Q. N., S. Ohtsuka, K. Isobe, Y. Fukumoto, and T. Hoshina. 2019b. “Ultimate bearing capacity of rigid footing under eccentric vertical load.” Soils Found. 59 (6): 1980–1991. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2019.09.004.
Qiu, G., and J. Grabe. 2012. “Numerical investigation of bearing capacity due to spudcan penetration in sand overlying clay.” Can. Geotech. J. 49 (12): 1393–1407. https://doi.org/10.1139/t2012-085.
Rajaei, A., A. Keshavarz, and A. Ghahramani. 2019. “Static and seismic bearing capacity of strip footings on sand overlying clay soils.” Iran J Sci Technol Trans Civ Eng. 43 (1): 69–80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40996-018-0127-y.
Salimi Eshkevari, S., A. J. Abbo, and G. Kouretzis. 2019. “Bearing capacity of strip footings on sand over clay.” Can. Geotech. J. 56 (5): 699–709. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2017-0489.
Shiau, J. S., A. V. Lyamin, and S. W. Sloan. 2003. “Bearing capacity of a sand layer on clay by finite element limit analysis.” Can. Geotech. J. 40 (5): 900–915. https://doi.org/10.1139/t03-042.
Tamura, T., S. Kobayashi, and T. Sumi. 1984. “Limit analysis of soil structure by rigid plastic finite element method.” Soils Found. 24 (1): 34–42. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf1972.24.34.
Tamura, T., S. Kobayashi, and T. Sumi. 1987. “Rigid-plastic finite element method for frictional materials.” Soils Found. 27 (3): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf1972.27.3_1.
Tamura, T. 1990. “Rigid plastic finite element method in geotechnical engineering computational.” Curr. Jpn. Mater. Res. 7: 135–164.
Tang, C., and K. K. Phoon. 2017. “Model uncertainty of Eurocode 7 approach for bearing capacity of circular footings on dense sand.” Int. J. Geomech. 17 (3): 04016069. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000737.
Tang, C., K. K. Phoon, L. Zhang, and D. Q. Li. 2017. “Model uncertainty for predicting the bearing capacity of sand overlying clay.” Int. J. Geomech. 17 (7): 04017015. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000898.
Teh, K. L., C. F. Leung, Y. K. Chow, and M. J. Cassidy. 2010. “Centrifuge model study of spudcan penetration in sand overlying clay.” Géotechnique 60 (11): 825–842. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.8.P.077.
Terzaghi, K. 1943. Theoretical soil mechanics. New York: Wiley.
Terzaghi, K., and R. B. Peck. 1948. Soil mechanics in engineering practice. New York: Wiley.
Vesic, A. S. 1973. “Analysis of ultimate loads of shallow foundations.” J. Soil Mech. Found. Div. 99 (118): 1485–1513. https://doi.org/10.1061/AJGEB6.0000078.
Yamamoto, K., and M. Hira. 2005. “Bearing capacity analysis of rigid strip footings on sand overlying clay.” [In Japanese.] J. Appl. Mech. 8: 337–348. https://doi.org/10.2208/journalam.8.337.
Yang, F., X. C. Zheng, L. H. Zhao, and Y. G. Tan. 2016. “Ultimate bearing capacity of a strip footing placed on sand with a rigid basement.” Comput. Geotech. 77: 115–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2016.04.009.
Zheng, G., E. Wang, J. Zhao, H. Zhou, and D. Nie. 2019. “Ultimate bearing capacity of vertically loaded strip footings on sand overlying clay.” Comput. Geotech. 115: 103151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2019.103151.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 24, 2020
Accepted: Mar 7, 2021
Published online: May 6, 2021
Published in print: Jul 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Oct 6, 2021
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.
Cited by
- Quang N. Pham, Satoru Ohtsuka, Koichi Isobe, Yutaka Fukumoto, Limit load space of rigid strip footing on cohesive-frictional soil subjected to eccentrically inclined loads, Computers and Geotechnics, 10.1016/j.compgeo.2022.104956, 151, (104956), (2022).
- Loghman Rahimi, Navid Ganjian, Mikaiel Youssefzadehfard, Mehdi Derakhshandi, Evaluation of the Bearing Capacity of a Strip Footing Located on the Two-Layered Soil, Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions of Civil Engineering, 10.1007/s40996-022-00829-6, 46, 3, (2345-2357), (2022).
- Boon Tiong Chua, Hossam Abuel-Naga, Kali Prasad Nepal, Design Charts for Geogrid-Reinforced Granular Working Platform for Heavy Tracked Plants over Clay Subgrade, Transportation Infrastructure Geotechnology, 10.1007/s40515-022-00243-5, (2022).
- Boon Tiong Chua, Kali Prasad Nepal, A New Approach to Estimate Bearing Capacity of Strip Footings on Geogrid-Stabilised Granular Layer over Clay, Transportation Infrastructure Geotechnology, 10.1007/s40515-022-00233-7, (2022).
- Loghman Rahimi, Navid Ganjian, Mikail Youssefzadehfard, Mehdi Derakhshandi, Proposed Correlation to Evaluate the Bearing Capacity of a Two-Layered Ground, Indian Geotechnical Journal, 10.1007/s40098-022-00635-x, 52, 6, (1325-1336), (2022).
- Maurizio Ziccarelli, Marco Rosone, Influence of a Thin Horizontal Weak Layer on the Mechanical Behaviour of Shallow Foundations Resting on Sand, Geosciences, 10.3390/geosciences11090392, 11, 9, (392), (2021).