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 EXPERIM EN TAL STUDY O F BEARIN G CA PA CITY IN LAYERED CLAYS
U N E ETU D E EX P ER I M EN T A LE D E LA FO R CE P O RT A N T E D ES C O U C H ES D ' A R G I LE

J.D . BRO W N , Ph.D., N A T O P o st d o c t o r a t e Fe l l o w

N o r w e g i a n G e o f e c h n i c a l I n st i t u t e , O sl o , N o r w a y

G . G . M EY ER H O F, Ph . D . ,D . Sc. , D e a n o f En g i n e e r i n g
N o v a Sco t i o T e ch n i ca l Co l l e g e , H a l i f a x , C a n a d a
S Y N O P S IS T he u ltim a te b e a r in g c a p a c ity o f fo u n d a tio n s r e s tin g on c la y s u b s o ils h as been in v e s tig a te d fo r
th e ca se o f a s tiff la y e r o v e r ly in g a s o ft la y e r , and th e ca se of a s o ft la y e r o v e r ly in g a s tiff la y e r . The
s tu d ie s h ave been b a sed on m o d e l te sts u s in g c ir c u la r and s tr ip fo o tin g s , and u s in g a ran ge o f la y e r th ic k ­
n e sse s and c la y stren g th s. T h e a n a ly s e s h ave been c a r r ie d o u t in te rm s o f-to ta l s tre s s e s .

F o r s tiff la y e r s o v e r ly in g s o ft la y e r s , fa ilu r e o ccu rs by th e fo o tin g p u n c h in g th ro u g h th e top la y e r , and

w ith f u ll d e v e lo p m e n t o f th e b e a r in g c a p a c ity o f th e lo w e r la y e r . F o r th e secon d ca se , fa ilu r e o ccu rs m a in ly
by s q u e e z in g o f th e s o ft la y e r b etw e e n th e fo o tin g and th e s tiffe r lo w e r la y e r , w ith som e in te r a c tio n b etw een
th e la y e r s as th e stre n g th r a tio a p p roa ch es u n ity . E q u a tio n s and ch a rts g iv in g th e a p p r o p r ia t e m o d ifie d b e a r in g
c a p a c ity fa c to rs a re p re se n te d , d e r iv e d fro m th e e m p ir ic a l r e la t io n s h ip s o b ta in e d in th e e x p e r im e n ta l s tu d ie s .

IN T R O D U C T IO N

A fa ir ly com m on p r o b le m in fo u n d a tio n e n g in e e r in g 1. A ll s tu d ie s w ere c a r r ie d o u t in te rm s o f th e

is th a t o f a s s e s s in g th e u ltim a te b e a r in g c a p a c ity o f u n d r a in e d sh ea r stre n g th of th e c la y , u s in g
s u b s o ils c o n s is tin g o f tw o o r m o re la y e r s of c la y tota l stre s s o r ” 0 * O " a n a ly s e s .
h a v in g s ig n ific a n tly d iffe r e n t stren g th and d e fo rm a ­
tio n c h a r a c te r is tic s . W h ere th ere a re o n ly tw o su ch 2. S tu d ie s w ere c o n fin e d to s u r fa c e lo a d in g s ,
la y e r s , each o f w h ic h p o sse a se s fa ir ly u n ifo r m u s in g r ig id s tr ip and c ir c u la r fo o tin g s w ith
p r o p e r tie s , th e p r o b le m m a y be r e s o lv e d in to a rou gh b a se s.
c o n s id e r a tio n o f tw o ca s e s , a r e la tiv e ly th in s tiff
la y e r o v e r ly in g a th ic k s o ft la y e r , and a th in s o ft 3. O n ly one ty p e of c la y w as u sed . T h e re fo re ,
la y e r o v e r ly in g a th ic k s tiff la y e r . A n e x a m p le a lth o u g h th e stre n g th o f th e c la y w as v a r ie d ,
o f th e fir s t ty p e ca n be fo u n d w h ere a s tiff cru st th e d e fo r m a tio n p r o p e r tie s r e m a in e d
in th e u pper p o r tio n o f a s o fte r d e p o s it h as been e s s e n tia lly con sta n t. T h is is a c c e p ta b le in
fo rm e d by su ch a g e n ts as d e s ic c a tio n and w ea th er­ so fa r as th e b e h a v io u r o f th e c la y under lo a d ,
in g . A n e x a m p le o f th e secon d ty p e m a y be fo u n d p a r tic u la r ly at fa ilu r e , can be c h a r a c te r iz e d
w h ere s o ft p o s t -g la c ia l c la y s o v e r lie o ld e r , s tiffe r by th e u n d r a in e d sh ea r stren g th a lo n e . H ow ever
g la c ia l till d e p o s its . th e ex ten t to w h ich th e fa ilu r e lo a d is govern ed
by th e a ctu a l s tr e s s -d e fo r m a tio n b e h a v io u r of
The b e a r in g c a p a c ity o f h om ogen eou s s o ils h as th e s o il m ay im p o s e a lim ita t io n on th e a p p lic a ­
been th e s u b je c t o f e x t e n s iv e s tu d ie s . T h ese have b ility o f th e re s u lts .
y ie ld e d re s u lts w h ic h e ith e r a re c o r r e c t fo r th e
sta ted a s s u m p tio n s , su ch as th e P ra n d tl s o lu tio n P R O P E R T IE S O F TH E C L A Y
fo r a p e r fe c tly p la s tic fo u n d a tio n m a te r ia l, o r
c o n ta in a p p r o x im a tio n s w h ic h h ave b een fo u n d by T h e c la y u sed in th e fo o tin g te sts w as an in o r g a n ic
fie ld e x p e r ie n c e o r m od el s tu d ie s to be s u ffic ie n tly c la y o f m e d iu m p la s tic ity , c o n ta in in g abou t 35 p er
a ccu ra te to p e r m it th e ir u se w ith c o n fid e n c e . T h is c e n t m in u s 2 m ic r o n s iz e , p r e d o m in a n tly illite .
s itu a tio n d oes n o t o b ta in to th e sa m e d e g re e in th e F a ilu r e s tr a in s o f th is m a te r ia l in th e r e m o u ld e d
ca se o f n o n -h o m o g e n e o u s s u b s o ils . The s o lu tio n s sta te w ere to o h ig h to p e r m it a s a tis fa c to r y
w h ic h have b een a d van ced ( e . g . B u tto n , 1953 and e v a lu a tio n o f th e te sts. A c c o r d in g ly , s la k e d lim e
T ch en g, 1956) a re , fo r th e m ost p a rt, e it h e r w as added to th e c la y in th e p r o p o r t io n o f 2 p er cen t
a d m itte d ly v e r y a p p r o x im a te , or u n v e r ifie d by tests o f th e d ry w e ig h t o f th e s o il, in o rd e r to m ake it
or a n a ly s e s o f fu ll-s c a le fo u n d a tio n s , o r e ls e c o n ta in m o re b r ittle .
a s s u m p tio n s w h ic h d o n ot a p p ea r to be e n tir e ly
ju s tifia b le . It is g e n e r a lly a p p r e c ia te d th a t th e u n d r a in e d
stren g th as m ea su red in tr ia x ia l tests d oes not
The p u rp ose o f th is p a p er is to p resen t th e r e s u lts of n e c e s s a r ily p r e d ic t th e u n d r a in e d stre n g th w h ich
a s e r ie s o f m o d e l fo o tin g tests c a r r ie d out on tw o - m ay be m o b iliz e d in fie ld s ta b ility p r o b le m s . S om e
la y e r c la y fo u n d a tio n s . T h e p r o b le m c o n ta in s m an y o f th e re a so n s fo r d is a g r e e m e n t a r e in s itu an ­
v a r ia b le s , and th e lim ita t io n s o f th e stu d y m ay be is o tr o p y and r o ta tio n o f p r in c ip a l p la n e s d u r in g
seen fro m th e fo llo w in g p o in ts , w h ic h s e t fo rth th e sh ea r, p la n e s tr a in e ffe c ts , r e la tio n b e tw e e n peak
scop e o f th e e x p e r im e n ta l w o r k . and p o s t-p e a k stre n g th s (th e p r o g r e s s iv e fa ilu r e

45
 B R O W N and MEYERHOF
p ro b le m ) , tim e dep en d en cy of u n d ra in ed stren gth , S a m p le C
u ef _ !í_
and la b o ra to ry sa m p le size and d eg ree of d is ­ In clin a tio n
C
tu rban ce. d e g re e s
u ( vert) % * ( v ert)

T h ese fa cto rs a ls o a ffe ct m od el tests, a lt h o u g h 0 1 .0 1. 60 1 .0

to a le s s e r d e g re e , and re q u ire d 6 p e cia l tests and 45 1. 08 0. 94 0 . 59
ca re fu l e v a lu a tio n in th e a n a ly sis o f th e fo o tin g 60 1. 10 0 . 50 0 . 31
tests rep orted h e re in . In F ig . 1 and T a b le 1 a re 90 1. 20 0. 75 0. 47
s u m m a riz e d som e of th e stren gth b e h a v io u r p r o ­
p e rtie s o f th e test cla y . A ll co m p re s s io n test T a b le 1. R e su lts of U n d ra in e d T r ia x ia l A n iso tro p y
s p e cim e n s w ere trim m e d fro m b lo ck s of cla y T e sts - A v era g e V a lu e s
com p a cted in th e sa m e w ay a6 the fo o tin g test
cla y s. The e ffe ct of th e a p p l i c a t i o n o f co n fin in g th is w ay a d e g re e of sa tu ra tio n of about 95 p er cent
p re ssu re s to the u n d ra in e d stren gth m a y be n oted. w as o b ta in e d . T he cla y w as p la ce d in lifts h a v in g a
A ls o , u n co n fin e d ( U) sa m p le s fa ile d b y v e rtica l com p a cted th ick n e ss of 0. 5 to 0. 75 in c h e s ( ca. 1 to
s p littin g or a lo n g a s in g le sh ear p la n e ; u n d ra in ed 2 cm ) , w ith th e in te rfa ce betw een th e lifts b e in g
tria x ia l (U U )te st s a m p le s fa ile d on on e, o r m ad e d e lib e ra te ly uneven, to red u ce b e d d in g e ffe cts.
perh aps tw o, w e ll d e fin e d sh ear p la n e s. P la n e T he in te rfa ce b etw een the u pper and lo w e r la y e rs
s tra in tests show ed no s ig n ifica n t d iffe r e n c e in w as le v e lle d , th en ” rou g h en ed ” w ith a s e r ie s of
u n d ra in ed stren gth or fa ilu re s tra in . T im e e ffe cts g ro o v e s so th a t th e cla y la y e rs "in te r lo c k e d ” and
w e re n e g lig ib le w ith in th e ran ge o f te stin g tim e s slip p in g at th e bou n dary w as p reven ted. T h e in te r­
w h ich w ere u sed. S a m p le siz e e ffe cts and d is ­ fa ce w as se a le d as w e ll as p o s s ib le a g a in st m o is tu r e
tu rban ce due to trim m in g of sp e cim e n s w ere m ig ra tio n by a co a tin g of liq u id ru b ber la te x .
ju d g e d to be m in im a l. T he cla y w as cu red fo r 7 days p r io r to te stin g .

T he test b o x fo r strip fo o tin g tests w as a b o u t 27

A P P A R A T U S AN D T E S T P R O C E D U R E in ch e s lo n g by 6 in ch e s w id e by 12 in ch e s deep , and
is illu s tra te d in F ig . 2. It w a s con stru cted w ith
T h e raw cla y w as b le n d e d w ith the re q u ire d 0. 5 in ch th ick (1 .3 1 cm ) pla te g la s s s id e s , w h ich
am ou n ts of w ater and h ydrated lim e in a M u lle r co rre s p o n d to the in te rm e d ia te p rin cip a l p la n e s in
m ix e r, w h ich e m p lo y s a p a ir of h eavy ro llin g a strip fo o tin g test. The p la te g la s s w as ch osen fo r
w h e e ls to knead th e cla y , and w as fou n d to be it s rig id ity and fo r m in im u m frictio n w hen g re a se d .
s a tis fa cto rily th orou gh in m ix in g . T h e cla y w as T e st b ox es fo r th e c irc u la r tests w e re sq u a re w ith
then packed in to th e fo o tin g test b o x e s, d e scrib e d d im e n s io n s a p p ro x im a te ly 21 x 21 x 10 in ch e s .
b e lo w , by hand, u sin g a k n e a d in g a ction , and in F o o tin g s w e re m ad e o f m ild ste e l, 3 in ch e s w id e by

° o °o r> • } n
£ C5 0^Í)OO O o d “ 3o
- -------- * !

UU T E ST S

3 U
(0r 0 3)f
2 Cu

A X I A L S T R A IN e*A>

F ig . 1. U n d ra in e d sh ear stren gth b eh a v iou r of the lim e sta b iliz e d test cla y .

46
 BEA RIN G CA PA CITY

p re ssu re , p r o g r e s s iv e fa ilu r e , e tc.

In a d d itio n , th e g e n e r a l lo a d -s e ttle m e n t b e h a v io u r
a n d fa ilu r e zon es o f th e h om ogen eou s fo u n d a tio n s
w ere ob serv ed . T y p ic a l lo a d -s e ttle m e n t cu rv e s a re
show n in F ig . 3 ( a ). F o r s tr ip fo o tin g s th e in d i­
ca te d fa ilu r e zon es c o n s is te d o f a ba se w edge w ith
s id e s in c lin e d at an a v era g e a n g le of 48 d e g re e s to
th e h o r iz o n ta l, zon es o f r a d ia l sh ea r e x t e n d in g to
a d ep th of 0 .8 5 B , w h ere B w as th e fo o tin g w id th ,
a t a d is ta n c e o f 0 .8 B fro m th e v e r tic a l p la n e of
sy m m e try , and fin a lly , zon es o f h o r iz o n ta l
s p lit tin g in th e ’’ p a s s i v e R a n k in e z o n e s ” w h ic h
ex ten d ed to th e fre e s u r fa c e s . T h is ru p tu re fig u r e
d oes not a g ree w ith th a t fo u n d fo r a p e r fe c tly
p la s tic m a te r ia l 0 . O . T h is d is a g r e e m e n t is to
be e x p ected , s in c e th e c la y , a lth o u g h c o n s id e r e d in
th e o ry to be a p e r fe c tly p la s tic m a t e r ia l w ith 0 s O ,
in fa c t p o s s e s s e s in te r n a l fr ic t io n , w h ich g ov ern s
th e shape o f th e ru p tu re fig u r e ( S k em p ton 1 9 4 8 ).
F ig . 2. T y p ic a l a rra n gem en t fo r s tr ip
A t th e sa m e tim e , h ow ev er, n e ith e r d oes th e
fo o tin g te sts.
o b se rv e d ru p tu re s u rfa ce a g ree w ith th a t p o s t u la t e d
fo r a w e ig h tle s s c o h e s iv e -fr ic tio n a l s o il, w h ich is
g ov ern ed by th e H v o r s le v e ffe c tiv e a n g le o f in te r n a l
6 in c h e s lo n g ( 7. 6 x 15. 2 cm ) fo r th e s trip , and fr ic tio n , fo r th is c la y b etw een 20 and 25 d e g re e s.
3 in c h e s d ia m e te r (7 . 6 cm ) fo r th e c ir c u la r fo o t­ T he shape o f th e o b se rv e d s u r fa c e su g g e sts a
in g s . T he b a ses w ere m ade rou gh by g lu e in g a m o b iliz e d fr ic tio n a n g le of about 10 d e g r e e s , w h ich
la y e r o f m e d iu m q u a rtz san d on th e m . is in g e n e r a l a g r e e m e n t w ith th e a rg u m e n ts put
fo rth by B je r r u m and K en n ey ( 1967) th a t in b r ittle
F o r th e te sts, th e fo o tin g s w ere th re a d e d o n to a s o ils fa ilu r e is due to a stru ctu ra l brea k d ow n w h ic h
lo a d in g ra m w h ich op era ted th rou g h a lu b r ic a te d o ccu rs b e fo r e th e fr ic tio n is fu lly m o b iliz e d . The
b a ll b e a r in g g u id e , to en su re th a t th e y d id not zon e o f h o r iz o n ta l s p littin g , a d ja c e n t to th e fre e
rota te, and th e d ir e c tio n o f lo a d r e m a in e d v e r tic a l. s u rfa ce s on e ith e r s id e o f th e fo o tin g , is in tu rn in
L oad s w ere g e n e r a lly m ea su red th rou g h a p r o v in g a g r e e m e n t w ith th e o b se rv e d s p littin g ty p e of
r in g ; th e a m o u n t o f g u id e fr ic tio n w as ch eck ed , fa ilu r e o f th e h o r iz o n ta lly tr im m e d u n c o n fin e d te st
h ow ev er, u s in g a lo a d c e ll ju s t a b o v e th e fo o tin g s p e c im e n s .
in som e o f th e te sts, and it w a s fo u n d to be n e g li -
B E A R IN G P R E S S U R E - p s i
g ib le .
20 30 40 SO 60 70 80 90
I I
T ests w e re ru n at a ra te o f 0 . 15 in c h e s (0 .4 cm ) HOMOGENEOUS
p e n e tr a tio n p er m in u te ; th is r e la tiv e ly fa s t speed 1 (C IRC LE)
w as ch osen to m in im iz e m o is tu r e m ig r a tio n d u r in g
lo a d in g . T he m od e o f fa ilu r e and s lip p la n e s w ere
ob serv ed b o th d u r in g th e test and a fte r w a r d s , w hen 5 10
th e c la y w as b e in g rem ov ed fro m th e box. z
O
$ 16
Û
F O O T IN G S O N H O M O G E N E O U S C L A Y z
O 20
A n u m ber o f s tr ip and c ir c u la r fo o tin g te sts w ere
lL.
c a r r ie d out on h om ogen eou s b ed s of c la y . T h e ir
c h ie f p u r p o s e w as to d e te r m in e th e a v era g e un­
d r a in e d sh ea r stre n g th , C , m o b iliz e d in th e c la y , B E A R IN G P R E S S U R E - p s i
so th a t th e in te r -r e la tio n s h ip o f th e fa c to r s 20 30 40 50 60 70
m e n tio n e d e a r lie r c o u ld be a s se s s e d . It w a s
a ssu m ed th a t th e c la s s ic a l P ra n d tl s o lu tio n fo r th e
u ltim a te b e a r in g c a p a c ity , q^, o f s tr ip fo o tin g s
on a r ig id -p la s tic m a te r ia l, w h ic h g iv e s a b e a r in g
c a p a c ity fa c to r , N c , of 5 . 14 in th e w e ll k n o w n
e x p r e s s io n

qf = C N c (1 )

s h o u ld be o b ta in e d in th e se te sts. T he c o r r e s p o n d in g
v a lu e o f N c fo r rou gh c ir c u la r fo o tin g s w as ta k e n
as 6. 05, a fte r th e a n a ly s is of E a son a n d S h ie ld
( 1 9 6 0 ). T he c a lc u la te d c o r r e c tio n fa c to r s to be
a p p lie d to th e u n c o n fin e d sh ea r stre n g th w ere th e n 25
fo u n d to be 1. 10 a n d 1 .2 1 fo r th e s tr ip and c ir c u la r F ig . 3. T y p ic a l lo a d -s e ttle m e n t cu rv es of s tr ip ( B )
fo o tin g s , r e s p e c tiv e ly . T h ese v a lu e s w ere co n ­ and c ir c u la r ( 2R ) fo o tin g s , fo r d iffe r e n t
s is t e n t w ith e s tim a te s m ade o f th e sum o f th e top la y e r th ic k n e s s e s , H .
in d iv id u a l c o r r e c t io n s fo r a n is o tr o p y , c o n fin in g

47
 B R O W N and MEYERHOF
F ro m th e se o b s e r v a tio n s it m a y be seen th a t th e fro m th e h om ogen eou s test r e s u lts , w as a p p lie d
p a tte rn o f fa ilu r e b en ea th a fo o tin g is a fu n c tio n of to th e u n c o n fin e d sh ea r stre n g th o f each la y e r .
th e p h y s ic a l m od e of ru p tu re o f th e c la y . T h is A d e p th fa c to r w as a ls o u sed , to a llo w fo r th e
m od e of ru p tu re, in b r ittle c la y s a t le a s t, is stron g ­ e ffe c t of p e n e tr a tio n , s, on th e b e a r in g c a p a c ity .
ly depen den t on th e stru ctu re o f th e c la y , th e T h is fa c to r v a r ie d fro m 1. 0 f o r pu re p u n c h in g , as
fa ilu r e m e c h a n is m o f w h ich is n o t a d e q u a te ly d is c u s s e d b e lo w , to ( 1 + 0. 4 s) fo r fu lly d e v e lo p e d
d e fin e d by c o n v e n tio n a l M o h r -C o u lo m b con cep ts fa ilu r e zon es in th e u pper la y e r . T he b e a r in g
of co h e s io n and fr ic tio n . c a p a c ity fa cto r, N , d e fin e d w ith re sp e ct to th e
u n c o n fin e d sh ea r stren g th o f th e to p la y e r , C t,
is th u s g iv e n by
F O O T IN G S O N S T IF F C L A Y O V E R L Y IN G S O F T
C L A Y
qf ' j C t N m i 1 + kB> (V
T h is c o n fig u r a tio n c o n s is te d o f tw o c la y la y e r s , w h ere is th e b e a r in g p re ssu re at fa ilu r e , and
each o f con sta n t stre n g th . The r a tio o f to p la y e r b o th j and k a re v a r ia b le . I f th e c la y w ere an
th ic k n e s s to w id th o r d ia m e te r o f fo o tin g , H /B o r id e a l r ig id p la s tic m a te r ia l, j C f w o u ld be con sta n t
H /2 R . v a r ie d fro m 0 . 5 to 3. 0. and th e stre n g th of and s w o u ld be z e ro , g iv in g th e fo llo w in g
th e to p la y e r w as u p to 4 tim e s th e stren g th o f th e e q u a tio n s , a n a lo g o u s to e q u a tio n ( 1)
b ottom la y e r . T h ese lim its w ere ta k en to
s tr ip q , = C. N (3 )
en com p a ss th e p r o b a b le ran ge o f v a lu e s e n co u n te re d r ^f t m s v '
in p r a c tic e . T y p ic a l lo a d -s e ttle m e n t cu rv es fo r
s tr ip and c ir c u la r fo o tin g s a re show n in F ig . 3 ( a ) . c ir c u la r q , . C N (4 )
^f t m e ' '
The p o in t o f fa ilu r e s is c le a r ly in d ic a te d ; fo r th e
w h o le test s e r ie s , fa ilu r e o ccu rre d at an a v era g e V a lu e s of N m fo r b o th s tr ip and c ir c u la r fo o tin g
p e n e tr a tio n o f 16 p er cen t o f th e fo o tin g w id th in tests a re sh ow n in F ig . 4 . T he n u m bers a ccom p a n y
th e s tr ip fo o tin g tests and 7 p er c e n t in th e c ir c u la r in g each d a ta p o in t a r e th e th ic k n e s s -w id t h r a tio s
fo o tin g te sts. at fa ilu r e . It m a y be n o te d th a t d if f e r e n t v a lu e s of
j w e re u sed in p r e lim in a r y a n a ly s e s , and a lth o u g h
T he b e h a v io u r o f b o th ty p e s o f fo o tin g s w as q u a lita ­ th ese ch an ged th e c a lc u la te d v a lu e s o f N m and
tiv e ly s im ila r , and h en ce b o th w ere a n a ly z e d in th e C b /C t , th e y d id n ot ch an ge th e g en era l p a tte rn
sam e w ay. A v a r ia b le c o r r e c tio n fa c to r , j, d e r iv e d o f th e re s u lts to any a p p r e c ia b le d e g re e ; th u s th e

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0.2 0.4 0. 6 0,8 1.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0. 8 1.0

LO W ER LA YER SH EA R STREN GTH _ C b / LO W ER LA YER SH EA R STREN GTH _ C b /
U PPER LA YER SH EA R STREN G TH / ct U PPER LA YER SH EA R STREN GTH / ct

F ig . 4 . E x p e r im e n ta l v a lu e s o f m o d ifie d b e a r in g c a p a c ity fa c to r s fo r s tiff c la y o v e r ly in g s o ft c la y .

48
 BEARIN G CA PA CITY

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L O W E R LA Y ER S H E A R S T R E N G T H Vc.

F ig . 5. E x p e r im e n ta l v a lu e s o f m o d ifie d b e a r in g c a p a c ity fa c to rs fo r s o ft c la y o v e r ly in g s t iff c la y .

e q u a t io n s g iv e n b e lo w a re not s e n s itiv e to m o d e r a te F o r s im p le sh ea r p u n c h in g , th e fir s t te rm s in

ch a n g es in th e c o r r e c tio n fa cto r, w h ic h w as e q u a t io n s ( 5) and ( 6) s h o u ld be 2 H /B and 4 H /2 R ,
a d m itte d ly n ot r ig o u r o u s ly e v a lu a te d . r e s p e c tiv e ly ; th e r e fo r e th e fu ll v a lu e o f p u n c h in g
sh ea r d oes not seem to be d e v e lo p e d .
F or b o th se ts of tests, th e s im p le s t cu rv e s w h ic h
m ay be fitte d to th e d a ta a re a s e r ie s o f s tr a ig h t F O O T IN G S ON S O F T C L A Y O V E R L Y IN G
lin e s , w h ich y ie ld th e fo llo w in g e q u a tio n s : S T IF F C L A Y

S tr ip fo o tin g s , N m g = 1 .5 ^ + 5 . 14 ^ i 5 .1 4 ( 5)
T h e te s t c o n fig u r a tio n s w ere s im ila r to th o se u sed
in th e p r e c e d in g s e c tio n . The r a tio o f th e stre n g th s
C ir c u la r fo o tin g s , N = 3 . 0 ^ + 6 .0 5 * 6 .0 5 (6 ) o f th e la y e r s v a r ie d a ll th e w ay fro m u n ity , th e
m c ¿K U j
h om ogen eou s ca se , to in fin ity , w h ere th e lo w e r
la y e r is an u n y ie ld in g , rou gh and r ig id b a se.
The u se of th e se e q u a t io n s w ill le a d to an o v e r ­ T y p ic a l lo a d -s e ttle m e n t cu rv es fo r th e s tr ip and
e s tim a te o f abou t 10 p e r c e n t in v a lu e s o f N m in c ir c u la r fo o tin g s a re show n in F ig . 3 (b ) . A g a in ,
th e ran ge Cl /C j * 0 .7 ; th e m o re c o r r e c t v a lu e s th e p o in t o f fa ilu r e is c le a r ly in d ic a t e d ; a v era g e
are in d ic a te d by th e n o n -lin e a r it y o f th e cu rv es in fa ilu r e p e n e tr a tio n s fo r th e c o m p le t e s e r ie s o f s tr ip
th e se r e g io n s in F ig . 6. If th e se e q u a tio n s a re and c ir c u la r fo o tin g te sts w ere 6 and 3 p er cen t of
in te r p r e te d in te rm s o f p h y s ic a l b e h a v io u r , it i s th e fo o tin g w id th , r e s p e c tiv e ly . In a lm o s t a ll ca se s,
seen th a t th e fir s t te rm is r e p r e s e n ta tiv e o f som e fa ilu r e app ea red to be c o n fin e d to th e s o ft u p p e r
ty p e o f p u n c h in g sh ear th rou g h th e s tiff to p la y e r , la y e r o n ly , and th e o b se rv e d ru p tu re zon es in d ic a te d
w ith th e secon d te rm s u g g e s tin g fu ll m o b iliz a tio n s q u e e z in g o f th e s o ft c la y la te r a lly , u n der th e fo o t­
o f th e b e a r in g c a p a c ity o f th e lo w e r la y e r . T h is in g , and a s p lit tin g ty p e o f fa ilu r e o f th e c la y b e lo w
in tr e p r e ta tio n is su p p orted by o b s e r v a tio n s m ade th e f r e e s u rfa ce s on e it h e r s id e o f th e fo o tin g . A
o f th e fa ilu r e z o n e s d e v e lo p e d in th e teste. n u m ber o f te sts on th in c y lin d e r s and b lo c k s w ere

49
 B R O W N and MEYERHOF

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U PPER LA YER SH EA R STREN GTH

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LO W ER LA YER SH EAR STREN GTH

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F ig . 6, R e la tio n b etw een m o d ifie d b e a rin g ca p a city fa cto rs and sh ear stren gth ra tio, C, /C ,
fo r strip and circu la r fo o tin g s . 1

a ls o ca rrie d out to a ssist in th e e v a lu a tio n o f the p r o g re s siv e fa ilu re w ere v a ria b le , d e p e n d in g on the
fo o tin g tests. co n fig u ra tio n o f th e p ro b le m , and a p r e c is e e v a lu a ­
tio n o f in d iv id u a l ca se s w as not p o s s ib le . C on sid éra ^
The a n a ly sis o f th e re su lts depen ded a g a in on an tio n o f a ll fa cto rs le d to an a vera ge co rre c tio n fa ctor
a sse ssm e n t of the sh ear stren gth o f th e cla y . The of th e sa m e m a g n itu d e as that fo u n d in the h o m o ­
effe cts of a n iso tro p y , co n fin in g p r e ss u re and gen eou s fo o tin g tests. The e r r o r in the e stim a te d

50
 BEARI N G CA PA CI T Y
stre n g th a s s o c ia te d w ith th is p roced u re w as e s ti­ u nder c ir c u la r fo o tin g s . T hen it can be show n th a t
m a ted to be le s s th a n - 5 p er cen t. th e b e a r in g c a p a c ity fa cto r fo r r e c ta n g u la r fo o tin g s ,
N , is g iv e n by
The m o d ifie d b e a r in g c a p a c ity fa c to r N w as fo u n d
fr o m e q u a t io n ( 2) fo r b o th ty p e s o f fo o tin g , and th e N m r = N m c B /L + N m s ( 1 - B /L )
r e s u lts a re show n in F ig . 5. T he dash ed lin e s
rep resen t th e g r a p h ic a l b e s t fit. The s o lid lin e s
N _ and N _ a re o b ta in e d fro m F ie . 6 fo r th e
have been d e r iv e d by u s in g an in te r a c t io n fo r m u la m e m s °
of th e R a n k in e ty p e , w h ic h is of th e fo r m a p p r o p r ia te v a lu e s o f C b /C t , a n d H /B . F o r h o m o ­
gen eou s fo u n d a tio n s , e q u a tio n ( 12) red u ces to th a t
N 1 N 2 g iv e n by S k em p ton ( 1951) ,
N = ( ?)
N l + N 2 I = 5 ( 1 + 0. 2 B /L )

In t h is e q u a tio n and a re th e e q u a tio n s of tw o

sep a ra te ph en om en a, w h ich in te r a c t in su ch a w ay C O N C L U S IO N S
th a t th e e q u a t io n w h ic h r e la te s b o th ph en om en a is
g iv e n by N . T h is ty p e of e m p ir ic a l e q u a tio n has T he re s u lts o f th e in v e s tig a t io n a re s u m m a r iz e d in
fo u n d s u cc e s s fu l a p p lic a tio n in th e in te r a c t io n th e ch a rts g iv e n in F ig . 6, w h ich m ay be u sed in
b e tw e e n a x ia l c o m p r e s s io n and b u c k lin g in stru ctu r­ e v a lu a tin g th e b e a r in g c a p a c ity o f la y e r e d c la y
a l c o lu m n s . In th e p r e s e n t a p p lic a tio n , N j, r e ­ fo u n d a tio n s . The r e s u lts a re e s s e n tia lly e x p e r im e n ­
p re se n ts th e e q u a tio n fo r N m o b ta in e d fro m te sts ta l, and th e r e fo r e a re ra th er s tr o n g ly a ffe c te d by
w h ere th e lo w e r la y e r is a rou gh , r ig id ba se, th e c h a r a c te r is tic s o f th e te st c la y . H ow ev er, it i s
(e q u a tio n s (8 ) and ( 9) , b e lo w ), and N^ re p re se n ts b e lie v e d th a t a c o n s e r v a tiv e in te r p r e ta t io n h as been
th e e q u a t io n fo r N m w h ere a P ra n d tl ru p tu re fa ilu r e put upon th e fin d in g s , w h ic h s h o u ld p e r m it th e ir u se
in v o lv e s b o th th e upper and th e lo w e r la y e r . The in th e ran ge o i m o a e r a te iy b r ic u e , s lig h tly s e n s itiv e
m a x im u m v a r ia tio n b etw een N m v a lu e s g iv e n by th e c la y s .
b e s t fit a n d th e R a n k in e fo r m u la cu rv es is about
10 p e r ce n t. A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S

The re s u lts o f th e te sts h a v in g a rou gh , r ig id base The re se a rch d e s c r ib e d h e r e in w as c a r r ie d o u t w ith

fo r th e lo w e r la y e r gave th e fo llo w in g v a lu e s fo rN : th e a id o f a N a tio n a l R e s e a r c h C o u n c il of C anada
S tu d e n ts h ip and re se a rch g ra n t.
S tr ip F o o tin g s ,

N
m s
= 4 .1 4 + 1 .1 B /H
'
( 8) R E F E R E N C E S

C ir c u la r F o o t in g s , 2 R /H ^ 1 .5 B je r r u m , L . and T . C . K en n ey, 1967

"E ffe c t of stru ctu re on th e sh ea r b e h a v io u r of
N m c = 5 .0 5 + 0 .6 6 ( 2 R /H ) (9 )
n o r m a lly c o n s o lid a te d q u ic k c l a y s '’ .
P r o c . G e o te c h n ic a l C o n f. O s lo , 2 : 19.
T h ese e q u a tio n s y ie ld v a lu e s of N c o n s id e r a b ly
h ig h e r th a n th e c o r r e s p o n d in g th e o r e tic a l r e la tio n ­
B u tto n , S. J. , 1953
s h ip s fo r a p e r fe c tly p la s tic m a te r ia l (M e y e r h o f and
” The b e a r in g c a p a c ity o f fo o tin g s on a tw o la y e r
C h a p lin , 1 9 5 3 ), w h ich a re
c o h e s iv e s u b s o il. ”
N = 4 .1 4 + 0 .5 B /H ( 10) P r o c . 3 rd In t. C o n f. S o il M e c h . 1 : 356
m s ' ' '

N m (, = 5 .0 5 + 0 .3 3 ( 2 R /H ) ( 11) E a son , G . and R . T . S h ie ld , I960

" The p la s tic in d e n ta tio n o f a s e m i-in fin ite s o lid
The s u b s titu tio n of e p ic y c lo id a l s lip s u rfa ce s fo r th e hy a p e r fe c tly rou gh c ir c u la r pu n ch . ”
c y c lo id a l s u r fa c e s u sed in th e t h e o r e t ic a l d e r iv a tio n Z A M P ( B a s e l) 11 : 1 : 33
in c r e a s e s th e secon d te rm in e q u a tio n s (1 0 ) and (1 1 )
by abou t 30 p er cen t, w h ich d oes not p rod u ce a g re e ­ M e y e r h o f, G . G . , 1951
m e n t w ith th e e x p e r im e n ta l e q u a tio n s . It m a y th ere­ ” The u ltim a te b e a r in g c a p a c ity o f fo u n d a tio n s . ”
fo r e be c o n c lu d e d th a t in th e in te n s e ly stre sse d G e o te c h n iq u e , 2 : 301
upper la y e r b en ea th th e fo o tin g s , th e u n d r a in e d
shear stren g th is not an a ccu ra te m ea su re o f th e M e y e rh o f, G . G . and T . K . C h a p lin , 1953
s h e a r in g r e s is ta n c e . H en ce, it is c o n s id e r e d th a t, " The c o m p r e s s io n and b e a r in g c a p a c ity of
fo r p u rp oses o f d e s ig n , th e th e o r e tic a l e q u a t i o n s ( 10) co h e s iv e la y e r s . ”
and (1 1 ) w h ich a re in fa c t lo w e r lim its , s h o u ld be B r it . J. A p p lie d P h y s ic s , 4 : 20
u sed in th e in te r a c t io n fo r m u la , e q u a tio n (7 ). The
S k em p ton , A . W . , 1948
s o lu tio n o f th e se e q u a tio n s g iv e s th e v a lu e s fo r N
” The 0 » 0 a n a ly s is o f s ta b ility and its th e o r e tic a l
and N in F ig . 6. mC
m s 6 b a s is . ”
P r o c . 2 n d In t. C o n f. S o il M e c h , , 1 : 72
R E C T A N G U L A R F O O T IN G S
S k em p ton , A . W . , 1951
The s im ila r itie s o f th e m od es o f fa ilu r e ob serv ed in ” The b e a r in g c a p a c ity o f c la y s . "
s tr ip and c ir c u la r fo o tin g te sts a llo w s th e u se o f th e P r o c . B u ild in g R e se a rch C o n g re ss, L on don
r e s u lts to d e v e lo p e q u a tio n s fo r r e c ta n g u la r fo o tin g s .
T ch en g, Y . , 1956
F o llo w in g M e y e r h o f, ( 1951) , it is a ssu m ed th a t ” P o u v o ir p o r ta n t d* un s o lid e co m p o sé de deu x
b e lo w th e ce n tra l p a r t o f th e r e c ta n g le th e b e a r in g
cou ch es p la s tiq u e s d iffé r e n t e s . "
s tre s s e s a re th e sa m e as b e lo w a s tr ip , and th a t a t
T h e s is . U n iv e r s ity o f P a r is .
th e en ds th e b e a r in g s tr e s s e s a re e s s e n tia lly th o se

51