Effects of Random Field Heterogeneity of Spatial Soil Properties on the Bearing Capacity of Neighbouring Footing

ABSTRACT

The study presents a comprehensive study on the assessment of the bearing capacity of closely spaced strip footings on c‐ø soil, considering spatial variability in soil properties. A linear elastic model is employed for footings and elastic–perfect plastic soil behaviour via the Mohr–Coulomb yield criterion. Soil properties obtained from extensive field investigations of Taranto Blue Clay (TBC) in Italy are modelled as stationary random fields (RFs) generated using the Fourier series method. The cohesion and friction angle RFs are integrated with the Z‐soil FE code. The final results are obtained according to the random finite element method (RFEM). The study investigates the influence of spacing distances between footings and spatial correlation lengths of soil parameters on the bearing capacity. Results show how spacing distance affects bearing capacity. Moreover, it indicates that neighbouring footing bearing capacity is strongly correlated with investigated parameters. In the case of small spatial correlation lengths, the patterns were obtained as non‐symmetrical, transitioning to more symmetrical patterns at larger lengths. The manuscript concludes by presenting reliability‐based design considerations for the ultimate bearing capacity, considering the horizontal spatial scale of fluctuation (SOF). The findings emphasize the importance of evaluating allowable design bearing capacity for proximity structures using RFEM and provide valuable insights into the interplay between spacing distances and spatial variability in soil properties. To this end, the study underscores the critical interplay between spacing distance, spatial correlation lengths, and random soil properties in assessing neighbouring footing‐bearing capacities.