Analysis of Failure Mechanisms in Silica and Carbonate Sands Beneath a Strip Foundation Under Vertical Loading Available to Purchase

This paper reports the deformation behavior of silica and carbonate sands under a strip foundation subjected to uniaxial vertical load. Small-scale physical modelling tests of a strip surface foundation under vertical load were conducted in a geotechnical centrifuge and Particle Image Velocimetry/Digital Image Correlation (PIV/DIC) was used to analyze images of an exposed plane of the model beneath the foundation to visualize the failure mechanisms. The observed mechanisms are interpreted in conjunction with load-settlement response and cone penetrometer resistance profiles. The failure mechanisms are illustrated through normalized vertical and horizontal displacement fields and shear and volumetric strain fields derived from the PIV analysis. Different soil deformation mechanisms and load-settlement responses were observed in the different sands. Soil resistance profiles measured using a miniature cone penetrometer do not correlate with the measured foundation bearing resistance and an interpretation of particle shape effect is introduced to explain the differing behaviors. The results presented improve understanding of the different responses in carbonate sands and silica sand beneath a shallow foundation under vertical load.