ABSTRACT

The problem with this method is that the chosen value of β can have an important influence on the calculated bearing capacity. A value of β between tan−1 (1/3) and tan−1 (1/5) is often adopted in practice (Kellezi, 2009) although it is generally accepted that the value of this parameter is influenced by the strength of the sand, the strength of the clay and the geometry of the problem. The use of these standard values may lead to results on the unsafe side in certain situations.