Seismic Settlement of Shallow Footings on Sands

by Awad Al-Karni, (A.M.ASCE), King Saud Univ, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
Muniram Budhu, (M.ASCE), King Saud Univ, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Vertical and Horizontal Deformations of Foundations and Embankments

Abstract:

In this contribution, the progressive seismic settlement of shallow footings on cohesionless soils is calculated using a sliding block model. Beyond a critical horizontal acceleration, shear displacements occur freely along two defined slip planes resulting in seismic settlement of shallow footings. A series of shake box tests on shallow footings was conducted using a box (427 cm long ?92 cm wide ?92 cm high) with two rotating ends. A sand mass supporting the footings was deformed in a manner compatible with simple shear. Square and rectangular footings, constructed from lead to give factors of safety of 1 and 3 against static bearing capacity failure, were configured and tested as surface and embedded shallow footings in the shake box. The results of tests using these footings are in accord with the theoretical predictions.

Subject Headings: Soil settlement | Footings | Cohesionless soils | Soil deformation | Foundation settlement | Load bearing capacity | Structural safety

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