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A numerical and an empirical method for calculating nonlinear load-settlement curves for shallow foundations on sand are examined and used in a new methodology. Both methods have merits and drawbacks. The drawbacks are overcome by the methodology proposed and verified in the paper. This methodology combines the merits of each method. For this purpose, a modification of the empirical method is proposed that accounts for the finite initial soil stiffness at very small strains. Computer programs with sophisticated nonlinear stress-strain relationships, such as Hardening Soil Small in Plaxis 2D, which are versatile in solving complex foundation problems, can cover strains from very small to large. When the foundation soil is layered, it is proposed to fit such a numerical load-settlement curve against the modified empirical relationship for each sand layer separately. This requires cone penetration tests, measurements of the shear wave velocity, and basic laboratory tests. The methodology is described and applied at two locations where load tests on footings were carried out. At one location there was a top layer of clay, which was also taken into account. The results of the application of the proposed methodology are very good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to show the influence of the subgrade reaction coefficient modelling on the simple 3D frame subjected to horizontal symmetrical static load. Since the work represents a continuation of the research on this topic, it was decided that the construction, in this case too, was built on the square foundations on granular soil. Different values of subgrade reaction coefficient obtained for the square foundation are the consequence of using different expressions defined by individual authors. Thus, one diagram shows each author's relation between the width of the foundations and the value of the subgrade reaction coefficient. The response of the characteristic structural framework additionally loaded with horizontal static force is then described further in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonlinear methods for calculation of shallow foundation settlements in sand are addressed in the paper. One of them relies on the Hardening Soil Small constitutive relationship incorporated in the computer program Plaxis 2D. It has a significant drawback in the need to model the unknown strain history of the foundation soil prior to simulating the load test on a shallow foundation. This can be overcome by preloading the soil with a pressure which gives good matching between calculated and measured settlements. However, predictions of soil settlements cannot be made in such a way, because the soil strain history is not a priori known. It is shown in the paper how predictions of soil settlements can be made by Plaxis 2D by calibrating calculations against a simple direct method. A new direct method is developed along the lines of this simple method, on the basis of results of 16 load tests performed at 4 locations. The important advantage of the new method is that it properly takes into account the soil behavior at very small strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the paper, calculation of stability and protection of slopes on a section of the WF Mesihovina access road was performed. The calculation was carried out in the software Geostudio (Geo-Slope International Ltd. Calgary, Canada) with adoption of the Spencer method. After the calculation, the type of protection that is used for protection of slopes from local effects was adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]