Unified Approach toward Evaluating Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations near Slopes

Abstract

For conventional assessment of the bearing capacity of shallow foundations on level ground, dimensionless bearing capacity factors are used to establish the contribution of footing size, footing embedment, and soil shear strength. This study presents the derivation of an analytical approach toward evaluating the bearing capacity of shallow foundations influenced by the presence of a slope. The results are presented as dimensionless bearing capacity factors (Ncs, Nγs, and Nqs) enabling consideration of the contribution of cohesion, soil weight, and embedment in the calculation of bearing capacity near slopes. The analytical nature of the work provides insight into the influence of the critical kinematically-admissible failure mechanism—either a slope stability or bearing capacity mechanism categorized as a face failure, toe failure, base failure, or crest failure. A set of design charts are provided for ease of application within the conventional bearing capacity formulation.