Abstract

The bearing capacity of the foundation is a primary concern in the field of foundation engineering. The self weight of the structure and the applied loads are transferred to the soil safely and economically. The load at which the shear failure of the soil occurs is called the ultimate bearing capacity of the foundation. Quite often, structures are built on or near a slope. This is due to land limitation, such as for bridges or for architectural purposes. The ultimate bearing capacity of the foundations for these buildings is significantly affected by the presence of the slope. Design of foundations under these conditions is complex and the information available in the literature is limited. A numerical model was developed to simulate the case of strip foundation near slope, using the finite element technique together with the program "PLAXIS". The parameters believed to govern this behavior were examined individually to determine their effect on the ultimate bearing capacity of a strip footing. The superposition method was used in the analyses to calculate the bearing capacity factors, N c , N q , and N Þ , independently. The results produced by the present numerical model were compared with the available experimental data. An analytical model was also developed for the problem stated to predict the ultimate bearing capacity of a strip footing. Design theory, design procedure and design charts are presented for practical use