Seismic Bearing Capacity Factors for Strip Footings on an Embankment by Using Lower-Bound Limit Analysis

By using the lower-bound finite-element limit-analysis technique, the bearing capacity of a strip footing placed over an embankment was determined with the incorporation of pseudostatic horizontal seismic body forces. The variation of the bearing capacity factors $N_c$, $N_q$, and $N_{\gamma }$ were calculated as the function of the friction angle of soil $\varphi$, slope angle $\beta$, horizontal seismic acceleration coefficient $k_h$, and setback distance $S$. On the basis of the magnitude of $\varphi$, the $S$ values were varied from 0B to 15B. From the results, it can be understood that the bearing capacity factors decrease with the increase in $\beta$ and $k_h$. With the increase in $\varphi$ and $S$, the bearing capacity factors were found to increase. After a particular setback distance, the effect of the embankment slopes was found to be negligible. Failure patterns were also studied.