Optimization of high-precision Bekker test plate structure for rarefied soils–example of deep-sea subsoils.

AbstractThe Bekker apparatus is an important tool for measuring soil bearing capacity; however, it is not entirely suitable for deep-sea sediments, and the size of the loading plate can affect the accuracy of the Bekker bearing parameters. This paper employs the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) method to explore how different conditions impact Bekker bearing parameters. As the size of the loading plate gradually increases, the soil compression mechanism and load path reach a relatively stable state, leading to the stabilization of Bekker bearing parameters. The study proposes a range of plate sizes for deep-sea soils with varying strengths, noting that the physical mechanisms of low-strength soils are relatively simple, making them more consistent with the ideal conditions described by Bekker’s theory. Furthermore, an analysis of the relationship between Bekker bearing parameters and penetration depth reveals that the parameters corresponding to different strength soils vary almost parallel with depth. This is attributed to the same settlement path, where the distribution of loads and the geometrical shapes of the supporting structures remain unchanged, resulting in a similar trend in the variation of Bekker parameters. The research findings provide a theoretical basis for analyzing the bearing capacity characteristics of soft deep-sea soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]