Numerical Implementation of a Stress-Anisotropy Model for Bearing Capacity Analysis of Circular Footings in Clays Prone to Destructuration
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 147, Issue 5
Abstract
Research indicates the presence of in situ structure of soil skeleton in several natural deposits of clay. However, the effect of such in situ structure and its evolution during loading are rarely accounted for in solution of boundary value problems in geomechanics. This paper explores the effects of inherent soil structure and its degradation on bearing capacity of circular footings in structured clays. An advanced constitutive model that accounts for stress-induced anisotropy, soil structure, and their evolutions with loading is implemented within a finite element analysis (FEA) framework. FEA results demonstrate a significant increase in the bearing capacity of structured clay as compared to that in reconstituted clay. Nonetheless, such an enhancement in limit bearing capacity is subdued by destructuration of soil below the footing. A bearing capacity factor accounting for soil destructuration is proposed for inclusion in the limit bearing capacity calculation of circular footings on structured clay. Successful numerical predictions of results from an instrumented field load test on a footing resting on structured clay further substantiates the importance of considering soil destructuration in bearing capacity analysis.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all of the data and models generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author through reasonable request.
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Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 147 • Issue 5 • May 2021
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© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Dec 3, 2019
Accepted: Nov 5, 2020
Published online: Feb 27, 2021
Published in print: May 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Jul 27, 2021
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