Technical Papers
Feb 7, 2017

Model Uncertainty for Predicting the Bearing Capacity of Sand Overlying Clay

Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 17, Issue 7

Abstract

In this paper, 62 centrifuge tests are collected from the literature and used to perform a statistical evaluation of the model factor for conventional methods to calculate the bearing capacity of dense sand overlying clay. The model factor is defined as a ratio of measured capacity to calculated capacity. The variations of the model factor with input parameters are established as regression equations based on the results of finite-element limit analysis (FELA). Conventional methods that multiply by regression equations are shown to be more accurate on average for all data sets. Further verification exercise from 27 additional centrifuge tests indicates the modified method could also be applicable for medium dense sand overlying clay. The mean and coefficient of variation of the model factor for the modified methods are finally characterized as a lognormal random variable with a mean of 1.06 and coefficient of variation of 0.17.

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Go to International Journal of Geomechanics
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 17Issue 7July 2017

History

Received: May 26, 2016
Accepted: Dec 8, 2016
Published online: Feb 7, 2017
Published in print: Jul 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Jul 7, 2017

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Authors

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Research Fellow, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National Univ. of Singapore, Block E1A, #07-03, 1 Engineering Dr. 2, Singapore 117576 (corresponding author). E-mail: [email protected]
Kok-Kwang Phoon, F.ASCE
Professor, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National Univ. of Singapore, Block E1A, #07-03, 1 Engineering Dr. 2, Singapore 117576.
Lei Zhang
Graduate Student, State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science, Key Laboratory of Rock Mechanics in Hydraulic Structural Engineering (Ministry of Education), Wuhan Univ., Wuhan 430072, People’s Republic of China.
Dian-Qing Li
Professor, State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science, Key Laboratory of Rock Mechanics in Hydraulic Structural Engineering (Ministry of Education), Wuhan Univ., Wuhan 430072, People’s Republic of China.

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