Bearing Capacity for Spread Footings Placed Near c′-ϕ′ Slopes

Abstract

Meyerhof analysis of bearing capacity for shallow foundations placed atop the crest of slopes, as standard in the literature, is applied using a set of modified factors based on footing location, soil strength, and footing size. These factors, however, are restricted to soils that are purely cohesionless or cohesive. Accounting for soils with both c′ and ϕ′ is important when constructing foundations in proximity or adjacent to slopes comprised of native soils. This technical note uses an upper-bound limit state plasticity failure discretization scheme, known as Discontinuity Layout Optimization, to present revised bearing capacity coefficients for foundations adjacent to frictional-cohesive slopes by presenting revised factors for footings not adjacent, but in proximity of slopes. A set of reduction coefficients that can be directly applied to the classical bearing capacity formulation is presented for ease of application.