Effect of size and depth on capacities of strip footings in limiting settlement approach

Abstract

Abstract Structural and geotechnical engineers very often seek different options while deciding foundation sizes for buildings. In this research, the effect of different sizes and depths of strip footings below existing ground are studied based on the load bearing capacity using Geo5 spread footing software. Only vertical loadings were taken into account for this study. Four different strip footing widths (1.0m, 1.5m, 2.0m and 2.5m) were modeled under three different loads, 260kN, 600kN and 1000kN. The ground profile considered in this work was having a 2.0m thick weak layer at 6.0m below the existing ground level. Results showed that as the depth of footing increases, the depth of influence underneath the footing and settlement decreases. Also, it was noticed that as the footing width increases, the influence zone’s depth below the footing that passing the weak layer increases.