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A numerical study on the seismic bearing capacity of shallow foundations

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Abstract

Based on a pseudo-static approach, finite difference (FDM) numerical analyses have been performed aimed at evaluating the seismic effects on the ultimate bearing capacity of shallow strip foundations. In the specialised literature, such seismic effects are usually divided in two components, namely, a structure inertia and a soil inertia, which can be either considered together, or separately addressed and then superposed. Both of these inertia effects are investigated in this work. The results of a comprehensive numerical study are presented in—and critically compared to—the wide framework of available analytical solutions proposed in the literature in the last 30 years. The good agreement found between the numerical and the analytical approaches is pointed out, thus providing further evidence of the reliability of some available and widespread solutions. The possibility of superposition of the two inertia effects is investigated. It is found that in some cases the soil inertia may play a significant role in the seismic capacity of the system, and that simple one-constant equations can be readily used in foundation design to estimate the reduction in bearing capacity (namely, factors e i , e k ) deriving from the two inertia effects.

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Acknowledgments

The Authors wish to thank Prof. Ernesto Cascone, University of Messina (Italy) for his appreciated suggestions. The writers are extremely grateful to the Reviewers who provided many helpful comments which improved the manuscript. The financial support provided by ReLUIS research project (2014-2015) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    Vincenzo Pane

  2. Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Cassino, Italy

    Alessia Vecchietti

  3. Department of Engineering, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti, 93, 06125, Perugia, Italy

    Manuela Cecconi

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  1. Vincenzo Pane
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Correspondence to Manuela Cecconi.

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Pane, V., Vecchietti, A. & Cecconi, M. A numerical study on the seismic bearing capacity of shallow foundations. Bull Earthquake Eng 14, 2931–2958 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-016-9937-0

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