Application of Random Finite Element Method to Bearing Capacity Design of Strip Footing

Abstract

According to the reliability-based design approach suggested by Eurocode 7, the random finite element method has been employed for calculating the reliability index for the bearing capacity design of strip foundation. Such study has been carried out on a well-defined soil from a stochastic point of view, that is the grey-blue clay from Taranto area. The RFEM formulation used has been implemented by Griffiths and Fenton but here the authors have focused on a description of the anisotropic random field for c and φ design variables. Results clearly show that the introduction of anisotropy in random fields makes RFEM predictions effective for design purpose because it is less conservative and more realistic than the isotropy assumption.