Bearing capacity, comparison of results from Plaxis 2D and empirical model

Abstract

Shallow foundations are commonly used to support structures of all in sizes in order to safely transmit the structural load to the ground without exceeding the bearing capacity of the ground and causing excessive settlement. They are typically embedded up to a few meters into the soil profile. While designing shallow foundations, two requirements need to be satisfied, which the first one is complete failure of the foundation must be avoided with adequate margin of bearing capacity and settlement should be within the designed limits that can be tolerated by superstructure. The bearing capacity of foundation is typically analysed using Terzaghi model, Meyerhof model, Hansen model or Vesic model. In this paper, a comparison of empirical analysis is presented by using Terzaghi model, Meyerhof model, Hansen model and Vesic model. The result of these models is compared by using numerical analysis by using Plaxis 2D. The paper includes a discussion of the differential between each model. The soil profiles and parameters used in the analysis were based on either in situ tests or laboratory tests. The case study was based on soil from a site from Klang Valley. Three cases with different of friction angle of the soil were used to analyse the bearing capacity of the strip footing. Meanwhile for the settlement analysis, three different depth of the footing were used. This is because the settlement of the footing will majorly affect by the depth of the footing. The results of the bearing capacity and settlement were further verify by the result from PLAXIS 2D.