Search

This study employed finite element limit analysis (FELA) to investigate the influence of eccentric loads on the bearing capacity of footings above single and double continuous voids. Upper bound theorem (UB), lower bound theorem (LB), and adaptive meshing techniques were used in a parametric study to investigate the influence of some factors, including the relative distance between double voids, the depth of voids, the geometry of voids, the variation of soil shear strength, and the eccentricity of loadings on the bearing capacity of footings. The results indicated that, for the footings inclined above a single void, the bearing capacity with a void located on the same side of the eccentric load was less than that in an opposite position. In addition, the failure mechanisms were summarized and analyzed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Random adaptive finite element limit analysis (RAFELA) is introduced to investigate the stability of the footing-voids system with random soils. The emphasis of this study is, for the footing-void system, on quantifying the influence of spatial variability on its bearing capacity and the failure probability. Of particular interest is that random field theory is utilized to characterize the spatial variability of soil, and at the same time, failure probability is calculated by imposing Monte-Carlo simulations on independent cases. Strict close bearing capacity could be obtained within the scope embraced by upper bound (UB) results and lower bound (LB) results. By imposing the proposed modelling, comprehensive parametric studies were carried out, especially for the soil spatial correlation parameters and geometry parameters. The results indicated that the failure probability would increase with the farther distance between the void and the footing, the greater coefficient of variation (COV) and the smaller vertical correlation length. Detailed design tables were presented to assess potential failure probability under different conditions. Typical failure patterns are also summarized, revealing a positive correlation between the failure probability and the diffusion degree of failure curves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, finite element limit analysis (FELA) is employed to investigate the undrained seismic bearing capacity of strip footings placed on two-layered slopes. Upper bound theorem (UB), lower bound theorem (LB) and adaptive meshing technique were used in parametric studies to investigate the effects of various factors on seismic bearing capacity N cs and failure mechanism, especially the seismic coefficient k h and the shear strength ratio of top layer and bottom layer c u1 / c u2. The angle of the slope β , the absolute strength of top layer c u /γ B , horizontal offset distance b and the thickness of top layer D are also taken into consideration. Furthermore, the comparisons between present study and previous studies are provided. Detailed design tables are presented to distinguish the failure patterns and estimate the seismic bearing capacity of slopes under different conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finite element limit analysis (FELA) is used to study the undrained bearing capacity of strip footing above voids in two-layered clays. Based on the FELA results, design charts and equations are provided to calculate the undrained bearing capacity factor N s . The impact of parameters on N s also has been investigated, including undrained shear stress ratio of the soil, thickness of the top layer, location, size, width, height and spacing of the voids. The failure mechanisms for a single void maybe classified into three categories: roof failure, combined roof and wall failure, bearing failure without void failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]