Stochastic FEM in Settlement Predictions

Stochastic finite element analysis is used to predict uncertainties in total and differential settlement under a large flexible footing. The results are compared with one-dimensional stochastic solutions already in the literature. Differences between the one- and two-dimensional analyses, particularly for differential settlement, are distinct. These differences seem primarily attributable to randomness in the stress field which cannot be included in one-dimensional models, and to mechanistic correlations by common dependence on the realizations of particular random variables. In principle, second-moment techniques can be extended to a broad range of analyses now performed using finite element and finite difference techniques.