Bearing Capacity and Settlement of Skirted Shallow Foundations on Sand
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 13, Issue 5
Abstract
The behavior of axially loaded skirted shallow foundations resting on sand was studied using an extensive numerical analysis. Surface, pier, and skirted square foundations resting on sand with different shear strength properties were utilized in the analysis. A physical model testing, although on much smaller scale, was also carried out to support the numerical analysis results. The effects of foundation size, shear strength of sand, and skirt depth on bearing capacity and settlement of skirted foundations were assessed. The results of this study revealed that skirted foundations exhibit bearing capacity and settlement values that are close, but not equal, to those of pier foundations of the same width and depth. The enhancement in bearing capacity of shallow foundation increases with increasing skirt depth and decreasing relative density of sand. Settlement reduction may exceed a value of 70% in the case of having skirt-depth/foundation-width of 2.0. Charts and equations are presented to estimate bearing capacity and settlement of skirted shallow foundations in terms of those of surface foundation and skirt-depth/foundation-width.
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Acknowledgments
The presented work forms part of an applied research project funded by Qatar University and the Qatar Foundation, Grant No. QNRF-UREP-08-118-2-041. This support is gratefully acknowledged. The author also acknowledges Dr. Byron W. Byrne of the University of Oxford and Dr. Yahia E.-A. Mohamedzein of Sultan Qaboos University for providing experimental data of testing scale skirted footings.
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Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 13 • Issue 5 • October 2013
Pages: 645 - 652
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 24, 2011
Accepted: Jul 6, 2012
Published online: Aug 9, 2012
Published in print: Oct 1, 2013
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