Behaviour of Eccentrically Loaded Circular Footing on Granular Soil

Abstract

In the past several works have been carried out for eccentric loaded condition over sand for finding the ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundation. These investigations are limited to strip, square and rectangular footings, it has been found out that less attention is paid to determine the ultimate bearing capacity of eccentrically loaded circular foundation with different depth of embedment Df. Hence the present investigations are based on the load settlement behaviour of eccentrically loaded circular footing. Bearing capacity is different for centric and eccentric vertical loaded condition which is subjected to the foundation, the case of vertical load applied centrally to the foundation studied in most of the cases. Settlement and bearing capacity study of shallow footings is needed for design of a foundation. The investigation is undertaken to study the behaviour of bearing capacity and settlement of circular footing over sand bed. The test have been conducted for both surface and embedded foundations under eccentric and centric loads resting over sand bed. The investigation shows that ultimate bearing capacity of foundation depends on the different type of loading (Centric, eccentric) and the depth of embedment (Df/B). Tests were carried out at depth of embedment (Df/B) varies from zero to one and the eccentricity ratio (e/B) varies from zero to 0.15 with sand of relative density (Dr) equal to 69%. The present experiment is also analyzed and compared with the results of the previous investigations. In order to predict load-settlement behaviour and compare with experimental observation, equally analytical and numerical analysis (PLAXIS 3D) have also been conducted.