Bearing capacity in sand under eccentric and inclined loading using a bounding surface plasticity model

Abstract

The bearing capacity of strip footings on sand under inclined or eccentric loading is investigated using finite element analysis. The sand behavior is simulated using a bounding surface plasticity constitutive model based on critical state theory that accounts for strain softening, pre-failure non-linearity and material anisotropy. The parametric study focuses on the rate of decrease of the bearing capacity with increasing load inclination or load eccentricity for various values of sand relative density. The numerical predictions are compared with experimental data from centrifuge tests, as well as predictions from existing design equations. © Springer International Publishing AG 2017.