Bearing capacity factors of circular foundations for a general c–ϕ soil using lower bound finite elements limit analysis

By using the lower bound limit analysis in conjunction with finite elements and linear programming, the bearing capacity factors due to cohesion, surcharge and unit weight, respectively, have been computed for a circular footing with different values of phi. The recent axisymmetric formulation proposed by the authors under phi = 0 condition, which is based on the concept that the magnitude of the hoop stress (sigma(theta)) remains closer to the least compressive normal stress (sigma(3)), is extended for a general c-phi soil. The computational results are found to compare quite well with the available numerical results from literature. It is expected that the study will be useful for solving various axisymmetric geotechnical stability problems. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

[1]  Guy T. Houlsby,et al.  Vertical bearing capacity factors for conical footings on sand , 2002 .

[2]  Scott W. Sloan,et al.  Numerical limit analysis solutions for the bearing capacity factor Nγ , 2005 .

[3]  Rodrigo Salgado,et al.  Two- and three-dimensional bearing capacity of foundations in clay , 2004 .

[4]  A. D. Cox.  Axially-symmetric plastic deformation in soils—II. Indentation of ponderable soils , 1962 .

[5]  Scott W. Sloan,et al.  Lower bound limit analysis using non‐linear programming , 2002 .

[6]  Jyant Kumar,et al.  Vertical uplift resistance of circular plate anchors in clays under undrained condition , 2009 .

[7]  Kristian Krabbenhoft,et al.  A general non‐linear optimization algorithm for lower bound limit analysis , 2003 .

[8]  Jyant Kumar,et al.  Effect of Footing Roughness on Lower Bound Nγ Values , 2008 .

[9]  J. Pastor,et al.  Finite element method and limit analysis theory for soil mechanics problems , 1980 .

[10]  Hans L. Erickson,et al.  Bearing Capacity of Circular Footings , 2002 .

[11]  Andrew J. Whittle,et al.  Calculations of Bearing Capacity Factor Nγ Using Numerical Limit Analyses , 2003 .

[12]  Scott W. Sloan,et al.  Lower bound limit analysis using finite elements and linear programming , 1988 .

[13]  S. Sloan,et al.  Upper bound limit analysis using discontinuous velocity fields , 1995 .

[14]  Jyant Kumar,et al.  Bearing capacity factor N-c under phi=0 condition for piles in clays , 2009 .

[15]  Scott W. Sloan,et al.  Upper bound limit analysis using finite elements and linear programming , 1989 .

[16]  Rodrigo Salgado,et al.  Two- and three-dimensional bearing capacity of footings in sand , 2007 .

[17]  L. A. Larkin,et al.  Theoretical Bearing Capacity of Very Shallow Footings , 1968 .

[18]  S. Sloan,et al.  Formulation and solution of some plasticity problems as conic programs , 2007 .

[19]  Jyant Kumar,et al.  Effect of Footing Roughness on Bearing Capacity Factor Nγ , 2007 .

[20]  J. Pastor,et al.  Limit analysis in axisymmetrical problems: Numerical determination of complete statical solutions , 1982 .