Skip to main content
Log in

Influence of nonassociativity on the bearing capacity factors of a circular footing

  • Published:
Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University (Science) Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Numerical computations using the finite difference code FLAC (fast Lagrangian analysis of continua) are presented to evaluate the soil bearing capacity factors N c ,N q and N γ for circular smooth and rough footings. The influence of nonassociative flow rule on the ultimate bearing capacity of a circular footing is investigated. The footing rests on the surface of a homogeneous soil mass and a Mohr-Coulomb yield criterion have been assumed for the soil behavior. The values of ultimate bearing capacity factors N c ,N′ q and N γ are obtained for a wide range of values of the friction angle for five different values of the dilation angle. The values from the numerical simulation are found to decrease significantly with the increase of nonassociativity of the soil. The results are compared with those derived from existing classical solutions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Terzaghi K. Theoretical soil mechanics [M]. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1943: 23–36.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  2. Prandtl L. Uber die Harte plasticher Korper [M]. Nachrichten von der Koniglichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften, Gottingen: Mathematics and physics Klasse, 1920: 74–85.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bolton M D, Lau K. Vertical bearing capacity factors for circular and strip footings on Mohr-Coulomb soil [J]. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 1993, 30(4):1024–1033.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Shield R T. Stress and velocity fields in soil mechanics [J]. Journal of Mathematics and Physics, 1954b, 33(2): 144–156.

    MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  5. Chen W F. Limit analysis and soil plasticity [M]. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1975: 79–93.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Drescher A, Detournay E. Limit load in translational failure mechanisms for associative and nonassociative materials [J]. Geotechnique, 1993, 43(3):443–456.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Griffiths D V. Computation of bearing capacity factors using finite elements [J]. Geotechnique, 1982, 32(3): 195–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Sloan S W, Randolph M F. Numerical prediction of collapse loads using finite elements method [J]. International Journal for Numerical and Analytical of Methods in Geomechanics, 1982, 6(1): 47–76.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  9. Manoharan N, Drasgupta S P. Bearing capacity of surface footings by finite elements [J]. Computers and Structures, 1995, 54(4): 563–586.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  10. Frydman S, Burd H J. Numerical studies of bearing capacity factor Nγ [J]. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 1997, 123(1): 20–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Erickson H L, Drescher A. Bearing capacity of circular footings [J]. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 2002, 128(1): 38–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Yin Jin-hua. Influence of nonassociativity on the bearing capacity of a strip footing [J]. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 2001, 127(11): 985–989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Borst R, Vermeer P A. Possibilities and limitations of finite elements for limit analysis [J]. Geotechnique, 1984, 34(2): 199–210.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Cox A D, Eason G, Hopkins H G. Axially symmetric plastic deformation in soils [C]//Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series A. London: the Royal Society of London, 1961: 1–45.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Zhu F Y, Clark I, Phillips R. Scale effect of strip and circular footings resting on dense sand [J]. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 2001, 127(7): 613–621.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Shield R T. On the plastic flow of metals under conditions of axial symmetry [C]//Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series A. London: the Royal Society of London, 1955: 233–267.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Cox A D. Axially symmetry plastic deformation in soil. II. Indentation of ponderable soils [J]. International Journal of Mechanical, 1962, 4: 371–380.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Kumar J, Ghosh P. Determination of Nγ for rough circular footing using the method of characteristics [J]. Electronic Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2005, 1: 618–627.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Vesic A S. Analysis of ultimate loads of shallow foundations [J]. Journal of Soil Mechanics and Foundations, 1973, 99(1): 45–73.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Davis E H. Theories of plasticity and the failure of soil masses [M]. London: Butterworths, 1968: 341–380.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Michalowski R L, Shi L. Bearing capacity of footings over two-layer foundation soils [J]. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 1995, 21(5): 421–428.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Michalowski R L. An estimate of the influence of soil weight on bearing capacity using limit analysis [J]. Soils and Footings. 1997, 37(4): 57–64.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jian-hua Wang  (王建华).

Additional information

Foundation item: the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 50679041), and the Mountaineering Program of Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (No. 04dzl 2001)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zhao, L., Wang, Jh. Influence of nonassociativity on the bearing capacity factors of a circular footing. J. Shanghai Jiaotong Univ. (Sci.) 14, 429–434 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12204-009-0429-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12204-009-0429-0

Key words

CLC number

Navigation