ABSTRACT

To gain an understanding of the bearing capacity and deformation characteristics of a skirted foundation that is subjected to vertical and eccentric-inclined loads, a centrifugal loading apparatus was used to conduct vertical loading and eccentric-inclined loading tests on a model cohesive soil ground. The results of these experiments provided the basis for the following conclusions: 1) Vertical bearing capacity increased as embedment depth increased, a phenomenon which can be explained by Tergahzi’s bearing capacity formula. 2) Horizontal bearing capacity increased as the depth-width ratio increased. In addition, at a same depth-width ratio, both horizontal bearing capacity and the failure mode depended on the weight of the foundation. 3) The distribution of subgrade reaction at the foundation bottom was trapezoidal. We can evaluate this by considering the combined effect of vertical and horizontal pressures that act on the foundation, and the earth pressure that occurs on the sides of the foundation.