Random Field Modeling of Foundation Failure Modes

Abstract

Two different models for reliability analyses of foundation failure problems are presented, one where only average soil‐strength properties are modeled, and one where the soil strength is represented more accurately as a random field. Two example cases are presented, namely static pull‐out of a vertical pile and horizontal sliding of a gravity‐base structure, both installed in clay. Uncertainties in environmental loading as well as in soil‐strength properties are modeled. The spatial fluctuation structure of the soil strength is estimated by means of a kriging technique. Reliability calculations for the two example foundations are performed by first‐order reliability methods. For each example foundation the results of the two different types of reliability analyses are compared, and the effect of representing the soil strength as a random field is assessed.