The experimental investigation of failure mechanism and bearing capacity of different types of shallow foundations

Abstract

The development in analysis and design of shell type foundations have led to the understanding that there are more advantages of shell type foundations compared to their conventional flat counterpart. The bearing capacities of conical and pyramidal shell foundations on dry sand were determined in the present paper by conducting laboratory model tests. The results were compare with those of circular and square flat foundations, respectively. Four foundation on dry sand were tested in which influence of the shell configuration on the bearing capacity and settlement were investigated. The present experimental study indicated admirable performance of shell type foundations with respect to ultimate and settlement characteristics. Also characteristic of deformations or the failure mechanism of both shell and its flat counterparts were simultaneously investigated by using coloured and non-coloured sand layer by layer in dry sand model.