An Approximation Solution to Estimate the Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Smooth Strip Footings on Ponderable Soil

Abstract

Abstract The procedure for calculating the bearing capacity of smooth footings is employed to calculate the bearing capacity of strip foundations on general c-φ-γ soil by the method of characteristics. The numerical results are in good agreement with other known computations. The surcharge ratio, λ, is found to be another good parameter for evaluation of the bearing capacity without superposition. The approximate formula for estimating the bearing capacity factor Nγ is then proposed considering the influence of λ in addition to φ with an error of no more than ±3 % compared to the numerical results. The error caused by the superposition method is systematically analyzed and the influences of λ and φ on the superposition error are discussed.