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Engineering Geology

Engineering Geology - geomuseu

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E n g i n e e r i n g G e o l o g y<br />

Figure 9.28<br />

Foundation failure.<br />

the greater the width, the larger the bearing capacity, whereas it is of little effect in saturated<br />

clays. With uniform soil conditions, the ultimate bearing capacity increases with depth of<br />

installation of the foundation structure. This increase is associated with the confining effects<br />

of the soil, the decreased overburden pressure at foundation level and with the shear forces<br />

that can be mobilized between the sides of the foundation structure and the ground.<br />

There are usually three stages in the development of a foundation failure. Firstly, the soil<br />

beneath the foundation is forced downwards in a wedge-shaped zone (Fig. 9.28).<br />

Consequently, the soil beneath the wedge is forced downwards and outwards, elastic bulging<br />

and distortion taking place within the soil mass. Secondly, the soil around the foundation perimeter<br />

pulls away from the foundation, and the shear forces propagate outward from the apex of the<br />

wedge. This is the zone of radial shear in which plastic failure by shear occurs. Thirdly, if the soil<br />

is very compressible or can endure large strains without plastic flow, then the failure is confined<br />

to fan-shaped zones of local shear. The foundation displaces downwards with little load increase.<br />

On the other hand, if the soil is more rigid, the shear zone propagates outward until a continuous<br />

surface of failure extends to ground surface and the surface heaves.<br />

The weight of the material in the passive zone resists the lifting force and provides the reaction<br />

through the other two zones that counteract the downward motion of the foundation<br />

structure (Fig. 9.28). Hence, the bearing capacity is a function of the resistance to the uplift<br />

of the passive zone. This, in turn, varies with the size of the zone (which is a function of the internal<br />

angle of friction), with the unit weight of the soil and with the sliding resistance along the<br />

lower surface of the zone (which is a function of the cohesion, internal angle of friction and<br />

unit weight of the soil). A surcharge placed on the passive zone or an increase in the depth<br />

of the foundation therefore increases the bearing capacity.<br />

The stress distribution due to a structure declines rapidly with depth within the soil. It should<br />

be determined in order to calculate the bearing capacity and settlement at given depths.<br />

542

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