Centrifuge Model Tests on Bearing Capacity of Clay

Abstract

A series of centrifugal model tests to investigate the bearing capacity of a strip footing on normally consolidated Kawasaki clay was performed. The proposed prototype is a normally consolidated clay foundation having undrained shear strength increasing with depth. To ensure that the proposed modeling was performed accordingly, pore pressure and settlement behaviors with time were recorded and compared with computed values obtained by solving the consolidation differential equation. As a further check, water content distribution of the model was obtained after loading test. All the observations gave positive evidences showing that correct modeling had been carried out successfully. The bearing capacities of the foundations were determined by plotting the load intensity settlement curve on double logarithm paper. The bearing capacities thus obtained were then compared with Davis‐Booker's plasticity solution and Nakase's slip circle solution. Adjustment was also made for the 90% consolidation. The results reveal that Davis‐Booker's solution (smooth) formed the lower limit of bearing capacity and that solutions for the bearing capacity of clay, having undrained shear strength increasing with depth, is relevant.