Load–Settlement Response and Bearing Capacity of a Surface Footing Located Over a Conduit Buried Within a Soil Slope

Abstract

Engineers often face challenges when designing foundations that are located over buried structures. This paper presents a laboratory model test investigation of the load–settlement response and the bearing capacity of a surface footing located over a conduit, buried within a soil slope. An attempt is made to explain the effect of the crest distance of the footing, burial depth, and diameter of the conduit on the load-carrying ability of the footing based on its failure mechanism. The test results show that the burial depth of the conduit is the most important parameter that affects the settlement and bearing capacity of the surface footing. To avoid any detrimental effect on the load-carrying ability of the footing, the depth of the crown of the buried conduit needs to be at least three times the width of the footing. The graphical illustrations and the developed correlations, presented in this paper, can be used by practicing engineers to ensure the stability of the footing.