A hypoplastic macroelement for shallow foundations subject to six-dimensional loading paths

In this work a model for soil-foundation interaction is presented. The model – known as “macro-element” [1] – can be used for the analysis of the response of particular geotechnical structures, such as for example the foundations of offshore platforms, typically subjected to cyclic loads produced by wind and/or wave actions. To include the possibility of dealing with general loading conditions, the inelastic macro-element for shallow foundations proposed in [2] – developed in the framework of the theory of hypoplasticity – has been modified and extended to 6-dimensional loading states. The predictive capabilities of the macro-element have been evaluated by simulating the observed response in a series of laboratory tests performed at 1g on a small-scale circular foundation, subjected to complex loading paths [3].