Numerical Analysis of Skirted Strip Footing Behavior Nearby Unsupported Slope

Abstract

The soil around foundation plays a very critical role during its behavior. The skirts form an enclosure in which soil is confined and works as a unit with the overlie foundation to transfer superstructure load to soil essentially at the level of skirt tip resulting increase in the bearing capacity and lowering in the settlement of the structure. The present research focused on the analysis of skirted strip footing adjacent to unreinforced slope using a finite element software PLAXIS 2D. The variables which are considered in the current study are depth of embedment of the footing (De) in terms of height of slope (H), the ratio of distance of strip footing from crest to the width of the footing (b/B), and the ratio of depth of skirt to width of the footing (ds/B). The skirt configuration is provided on one side vertical skirt, both sides equal vertical skirt and unequal vertical skirt. The numerical study shows that the using of structural skirts with adequate depth in the conjunction of strip footing to slope crest has a substantial increase in the ultimate load bearing capacity of strip footing. The enhancement in ultimate load bearing capacity of skirted strip footing increases with increasing skirt depth, embedment depth of footing and crest distance of unsupported slope. The two sides equal vertical skirted strip foundation shows significant increase in ultimate load bearing capacity and decrease in settlement.