Undrained Bearing Capacity of Strip Footings Placed Adjacent to Two-Layered Slopes

Abstract

This study used adaptive finite-element limit analysis (AFELA) to calculate the undrained bearing capacity of strip footings placed adjacent to two-layered slopes. Both the upper bound (UB) and the lower bound (LB) of the dimensionless undrained bearing-capacity factor Ns were obtained, with the relative errors being within 6%. The results are presented in the form of design tables and charts for a wide range of parameters. Meanwhile, the effects of parameters on Ns were also investigated, such as the undrained shear stress ratio cu1/cu2, the dimensionless strength ratio cu1/(γB), the normalized thickness of the top clay layer D/B, the slope height H/B, and the slope angle β. In addition, comparisons with previous studies were also conducted, and the failure mechanisms were determined.