Three-Dimensional Large Deformation FE Analysis of Square Footings in Two-Layered Clays
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 137, Issue 1
Abstract
In strong over soft two-layered clays, there is a potential for the footing to experience a punch-through failure, where the footing penetrates a large distance at a short time after the initial peak resistance is reached. Three-dimensional (3D) large deformation finite-element analyses using 3D RITSS method were conducted to simulate the penetration responses of square footings in strong over soft clays. The effects of surface soil heave and soil layer interface deformation during footing penetration were studied in weightless soils. Fitted equations were proposed to express the footing capacity response against the penetration depth. Based on the fitted equations, formulas to calculate footing peak bearing factor and the corresponding penetration depth were developed. The peak footing capacity factor and the corresponding penetration depth increases with the increasing of soil layer strength ratio, relative top soil layer thickness and soil weight factor, thus the potential of punch-through failure was reduced accordingly. It was also found that the soil weight effect can be a simple surcharge based on the formula developed in the weightless soil. Design charts for the peak footing capacity factor and the corresponding penetration depth were developed.
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Acknowledgments
The writers thank Professor D. V. Griffiths and the anonymous reviewers for their insightful suggestions in improving this study. This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. NNSFC50978045 and NNSFC90815024) and the Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Projects Proposals (Grant No. UNSPECIFIEDDP1096764). These supports are gratefully acknowledged.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 137 • Issue 1 • January 2011
Pages: 52 - 58
Copyright
© 2011 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 18, 2009
Accepted: Jun 4, 2010
Published online: Jun 9, 2010
Published in print: Jan 2011
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