Finite element analysis of two nearby interfering asymmetric footings embedded in cohesionless foundation medium

ABSTRACT

The present study encompasses the behaviour of two closely spaced rigid, rough asymmetrical strip footings embedded in homogenous, semi-infinite cohesionless foundation soil medium. The geometry of the interfering footings with respect to their width is considered to be asymmetric. The analyses have been carried out using finite element software ABAQUS following the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion obeying non-associated flow rule for foundation medium. The interference effect on the characteristic behaviour of the footing such as load-settlement (p-δ) behaviour, ultimate bearing capacity (UBC) and settlement have been evaluated. The UBC and settlement have been represented in terms of non-dimensional interaction factors defined as the ratio of UBC/settlement of left/right footing in presence of adjacent footing to that of the same considered for an isolated footing under identical condition. The results of the analyses reveal that the interaction factors with respect to UBC (ξ_L/ξ_R) and settlement (ζ_L/ζ_R) are affected significantly by the variation of clear spacing between the footings, embedment depth, soil friction angle and the width of adjacent footings. The interference effect is more prominent in the case of smaller footing having lesser embedment depth on the soil with higher friction angle in comparison with the footing of larger dimension.

KEYWORDS:

• Interference
• embedded footings
• asymmetry
• ultimate bearing capacity
• settlement
• load-settlement behaviour
• finite element method

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.