EFFECT OF STRENGTH ANISOTROPY ON BEARING CAPACITY OF SHALLOW FOOTING IN A DENSE SAND.

Abstract

Stress components in an anisotropic soil are analyzed on the assumption that it behaves like an anisotropic-rigid-plastic material. Numerical solutions by the stress characteristics indicate that the bearing capacity factor, by self-weight is easily over-estimated about 40%-50% when the effect of the strength anisotropy of sandy soils is neglected. The bearing capacity tests by means of a small testing box also support the possiblity of the over-estimation. The ultimate bearing capacity is maximum when a strip footing is penetrated perpendicular to the bedding plane, while when a strip footing is penetrated parallel to the bedding plane, the bearing capacity becomes minimum.