Shape effect of shallow footings on seismic bearing capacity for foundations located near slopes

Abstract

In this study, the factors that are effective on the collapsing behaviour such as the soil strength which is forceful on calculating the bearing capacity under dynamic loads, the slope height and angle, the foundation geometry and the distance of the foundation to the slope were taken into consideration and studied from variety of recent studies. As a result of these studies, relations and design charts have been presented in order to calculate the seismic bearing capacity. The main aspect of all existing studies is that the problem has been investigated for the plane deformation conditions. In consequence of the adoption of the plane deformation, the presented and created charts are valid only for the continuous footings. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the shape effect of foundation which has not been studied in previous studies on the seismic bearing capacity of the shallow foundations constructed on or near the slopes The approach used in this study will consider the undrained behavior during the earthquake by staying on the safe side. In accordance with the purpose of this thesis, finite elements methods will be created to determine seismic bearing capacity and parametric study will be done. The factors which will be investigated in the parametric study are the shape and size of foundation, the distance to the slope, undrained strength of soil, slope height, slope angle and earthquake acceleration. The effect of the earthquake on seismic bearing capacity will be described by using the pseudo-static method The inertia effect of soil and the structural loads will be defined in the models. Design tables will be prepared by using the obtained results, and various failure systems such as the foundation sliding, bearing capacity failure, base failure and foundation failure will be discussed.