Bearing capacity of strip footings by incorporating a non-associated flow rule in lower bound limit analysis

Abstract

A plane strain lower bound limit analysis technique in combination with the finite elements and nonlinear programming has been used to investigate the effect of considering a non-associated flow rule on the bearing capacity of a rigid strip footing. The results are derived in terms of bearing capacity factors N_c, N_q, and N_γ on account of the components of soil cohesion (c), surcharge pressure (q), and unit weight (γ), respectively. The results clearly indicate the increase in the magnitude of bearing capacity factors with an increase in the magnitudes of dilative coefficient (η). It is expected that the charts provided in this note will be quite helpful for the practicing engineers.

Keywords:

• Strip footing
• Bearing capacity
• Plasticity
• Limit analysis
• Non-associated flow rule