Estimation of bearing capacity of shallow footings on layered sand using finite elements analysis

Purpose: This paper aims to estimate the bearing capacity of a surface strip and circular footings lying on layered sand using numerical limit analysis. Design/methodology/approach: Lower and upper bound limit analysis, as well as finite elements and second-order conic programming (SOCP), are used in this analysis. The yield criterion of Mohr-Coulomb is used to model soil behavior. Using this technique, stringent lower and upper bounds on ultimate bearing capacity can be achieved by assuming an associated flow law. Findings: The obtained results indicate that the exact collapse load is typically being bracketed to within 6% about a mean of both the bounds. The obtained results are compared with the existing literature wherever applicable. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, no study has used lower and upper bound limit analysis, as well as finite elements and SOCP, to estimate the bearing capacity of a surface strip and circular footings lying on layered sand.