Fundações profundas, quando solicitadas ao carregamento lateral, são regidas por três critérios de projeto: resistência última do solo, carga última do elemento estrutural e deflexão máxima. Esses critérios atuam em conjunto e é necessário que sejam analisados dessa forma, visto que a falha de um deles é capaz de acarretar o colapso de todo sistema. No que tange à resistência do solo, metodologias de capacidade de carga existentes traduzem o comportamento de solos granulares e coesivos. Dada a particularidade da atuação de solos residuais na mecânica dos solos, não há uma metodologia abrangente para estacas sujeitas a solicitação de carregamento lateral nesse tipo de solo, o qual apresenta comportamento intermediário e estrutura levemente cimentada. Em vista disso, o presente trabalho propõe um método de estimativa de capacidade de carga para estacas carregadas horizontalmente, quando inseridas em solo residual e em casos em que as mesmas apresentam topo locado em superfície de solo tratado. Dessa forma, dados de provas de carga lateral pré-existentes e ensaios de laboratório executados ao longo da pesquisa serviram como base para a proposição do método, fundamentado no comportamento do material quando solicitado ao carregamento lateral Ensaios de resistência à compressão simples, compressão oedométrica, compressão isotrópica e ensaios triaxiais com medidas de módulo cisalhante demonstram que há um ponto em que se dá a quebra da estrutura cimentada do solo, passando o mesmo a se apresentar num arranjo desestruturado, refletido em maiores deformações. Uma relação linear é capaz de equacionar a capacidade de carga, tanto para estacas inseridas em solo residual quanto para estacas executadas em solo com camada superficial melhorada. Essa relação é estabelecida entre a carga de ruptura das estacas ensaiadas e a área de solo adjacente à mesma, mobilizada pelo carregamento. Os resultados demonstram que a capacidade de carga das estacas estudadas é regida pela tensão de plastificação do material. O equacionamento proposto possibilita a obtenção da carga de ruptura com base em ensaios simples e de fácil execução, tal como o ensaio de resistência à compressão simples que estabelece relação direta com a tensão de plastificação do solo estudado. / Deep foundations, when requested to lateral loading, are governed by three design criteria: ultimate soil strength, piles’ ultimate load, and maximum deflection. These criteria act together and must be analyzed in this way, since the failure of one of them is capable of causing the collapse of the entire system. Regarding soil resistance, the current bearing capacity methodologies describe the behavior of granular and cohesive soils. Given the particular behavior of the residual soils in the soil mechanics, there is no comprehensive methodology for piles subject to lateral loads and inserted in this soil type, which presents an intermediate behavior and a lightly cemented structure. Thus, the present work proposes an estimated bearing capacity for crosswise loaded piles, when inserted in residual soil and in soil with the top layer cemented. So, data from preexisting lateral loading tests and laboratory tests, performed during the research, served as a basis for the proposition of the method, based on the behavior of the material when requested to lateral loading Unconfined compression tests, oedometer consolidation tests, isotropic compression, and triaxial tests with measures of shear modulus demonstrate that there is a point where the soil's cemented structure breaks down, presenting itself in a destructured arrangement, reflected by larger strains. A linear relationship is capable of equating the bearing capacity for both, piles inserted in residual soil and piles carried out in soil with improved surface layer. This relationship is established between the rupture load of the piles tested and the area of soil adjacent to it mobilized by the loading. The results shows that the piles' bearing capacity is governed by the yield stress of the material. The proposed equation makes it possible to obtain the rupture load based on simple and easy tests, such as the unconfined compression test that establishes a direct relationship with the yield stress of the studied soil.

Pesquisas recentes têm mostrado que a utilização de camada de reforço em solo-cimento é uma alternativa para o aumento da capacidade de carga e redução dos recalques de fundações superficiais em solos de baixa resistência. Os métodos para previsão da capacidade de carga em sistemas de dupla camada encontrados na literatura trazem implícita a premissa de que a camada superior é contínua ou suficientemente maior que a largura da fundação. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi desenvolver um novo método para o cálculo de capacidade de carga de fundações superficiais assentes sobre uma camada de reforço em solo-cimento, considerando sua extensão lateral. Para tanto, foram realizados ensaios em modelos reduzidos de fundações contínuas assentes sobre um solo arenoso fofo, bem como, análises numéricas através do método dos elementos finitos. Observaram-se dois tipos distintos de ruptura. No primeiro, a camada de reforço é puncionada para dentro do solo natural, sem apresentar fissuras, até o deslocamento correspondente à capacidade de carga do solo natural No segundo, após um recalque inicial, a camada de reforço rompe com o aparecimento de uma fissura, que pode localizar-se junto à borda ou no eixo da fundação, e se propaga de baixo para cima, à medida que aumentam os recalques. Verificou-se que a máxima tensão de tração na camada de reforço é função da reação do solo na base do reforço e da relação Tr/Hr, onde Tr é a distância horizontal entre a borda da fundação e a borda do reforço e Hr é a espessura do reforço. A partir destas observações, foi desenvolvido um novo método de cálculo com a premissa de que a ruptura ocorra no solo e não na camada de reforço. Assim, é possível calcular a capacidade de carga considerando que fundação e reforço atuam como um elemento único, apoiado na mesma profundidade de assentamento do reforço. Ao mesmo tempo, é apresentada uma equação para previsão da máxima tensão de tração que atuará no reforço, a partir da qual, se pode dimensioná-lo com segurança. / Recent researches have shown that the use of soil-cement reinforcement layer is an alternative to increase bearing capacity and reduce settlements of shallow foundations in low resistance soils. The existing methods for predicting bearing capacity of double layer systems implicitly assume that the top layer is continuous or sufficiently greater than the foundation width. This study aims to develop a new method for bearing capacity calculation of shallow foundations supported by a soil-cement reinforcing layer, considering its lateral extension. Therefore, small scale tests of continuous foundations on a loose sandy soil, as well as, numerical analysis by the finite element method were carried out. It was observed two distinct types of failure. In the first, the reinforcement layer is punched through the sandy soil, without showing any cracking, up to a settlement which corresponds to the sand bearing capacity. In the second, after an initial settlement, the reinforcement layer breaks up, showing a fissure, which may be located near the edge or the axis of foundation, and propagates upward as the settlements continues. It was found that the maximum tensile stress in the reinforcement layer is a function of soil reaction on the reinforcement and the ratio Tr/Hr, where Tr is the horizontal distance between the edge of the foundation and the edge soil-cement layer and Hr is the thickness of the soil-cement layer. From these observations, it was developed a new calculation method, with the assumption that the failure occurs in the soil and not in the reinforcement layer. Thus, it is possible to calculate the bearing capacity considering that foundation and reinforcement act as a single element, supported at the same depth of the reinforcement base. In order to design the soil-cement layer, an equation for the maximum tensile stress prediction is provided.

Se retirará este documento a solicitud del Sandra Rodriguez Dionisio, Coordinador de carrera de Ingeniería Civil. Fecha de solicitud mediante correo electrónuico 19-09-2019 / La investigación consiste en la evaluación técnico-económica de tres alternativas de cimentación, las cuales son platea de cimentación, sistema de zapatas y micropilotes, estudiadas en tres proyectos situados en un suelo de baja capacidad portante igual a 1.01kg/cm2. Esto con el objetivo de determinar la alternativa de solución más óptima en función a los criterios técnico y económico, teniendo en cuenta que la opción de platea de cimentación es comúnmente la más empleada. En cuanto a los proyectos, estos corresponden a edificios multifamiliares de 4, 6 y 8 pisos, de material de concreto armado, de sistema estructural a base de muros y sin sótanos. Estos ese encuentran situados en un suelo arenoso (SP-SM), sin presencia del nivel freático ni fallas geológicas, perteneciente al distrito de Ica, provincia de Ica, departamento de Ica, Perú. Respecto al diseño de las alternativas de cimentación, estas se rigen bajo las exigencias de las normas de diseño vigentes en el Perú, correspondientes al Reglamento Nacional de Edificaciones (RNE). Asimismo, se utilizaron programas de software como ETABS y SAP2000, para complementar el análisis estructural de los edificios y diseño de las alternativas de cimentación. Posterior al diseño, se realizó la evaluación técnico-económica, proponiendo un plan de ejecución (cronograma) acorde con las características y contexto del proyecto, como también un presupuesto económico para cada caso. Finalmente, mediante un análisis comparativo que contrasta ambos criterios, se concluye la alternativa de cimentación más óptima para cada caso de estudio. / The investigation consists in technical and economic evaluation of foundation alternatives, which are foundation plate, shoe system and micropiles, for three projects located in a low bearing capacity soil of to 1.01kg/cm2. The study objective is determine the best foundation alternative according to technical and economic criteria, taking into account that foundation plate is commonly the most used. Corresponding to the projects, these are multifamily buildings of 4, 6 and 8 floors, of reinforced concrete material, structural system based on walls and without basements. In the same way, these projects are located in a sandy soil (SP-SM), without freatic level presence neither geological fails, located in Ica district, Ica province, Ica department, Peru. On the other hand, according to the foundation alternatives design, these are supported by the requirements of the peruvian design rules “Reglamento Nacional de Edificicaciones” (RNE). In the same way, software programs such as ETABS and SAP2000 were used to complement the study of buildings structural performance and foundation alternatives. After design, the technical-economic evaluation was carried out, proposing an execution plan (schedule) according to the characteristics and context of the projects, and an economic budget for each case. Finally, through a comparative analysis that contrats both criteria, the best foundation alternative por each case is concluded. / Tesis

Over the past 50 years, several advancements have been made in the research area of the mechanics of unsaturated soils. These advancements can be categorized into two groups; (i) development (or improvement) of testing techniques (or apparatus) to determine the mechanical properties of unsaturated soils and (ii) development of (numerical, empirical or semi-empirical) models to estimate the variation of mechanical properties of unsaturated soils with respect to suction based on the experimental results. Implementation of the mechanics of unsaturated soils in conventional geotechnical engineering practice, however, has been rather limited. The key reasons for the limited practical applications may be attributed to the lack of simple and reliable methods for (i) measuring soil suction in the field quickly and reliably and (ii) estimating the variation of mechanical properties of unsaturated soils with respect to suction. The main objective of this thesis research is to develop simple and reliable techniques, models or approaches that can be used in geotechnical engineering practice to estimate sol suction and the mechanical properties of unsaturated soils. This research can be categorized into three parts. In the First Part, simple techniques are proposed to estimate the suction values of as-compacted unsaturated fine-grained soils using a pocket penetrometer and a conventional tensiometer. The suction values less than 300 kPa can be estimated using a strong relationship between the compressive strength measured using a pocket penetrometer and matric suction value. The high suction values in the range of 1,200 kPa to 60,000 kPa can be estimated using the unique relationship between the initial tangent of conventional tensiometer response versus time behavior and suction value. In the Second Part, approaches or semi-empirical models are proposed to estimate the variation of mechanical properties of unsaturated soils with respect to suction, which include: - Bearing capacity of unsaturated fine-grained soils - Variation of bearing capacity of unsaturated fine-grained soils with respect to matric suction - Variation of initial tangent elastic modulus of unsaturated soils below shallow foundations with respect to matric suction - Variation of maximum shear modulus with respect to matric suction for unsaturated non-plastic sandy soils (i.e. plasticity index, Ip = 0 %) In the Third Part, approaches (or methodologies) are suggested to simulate the vertically applied stress versus surface settlement behavior of shallow foundations in unsaturated coarse-grained soils assuming elastic-perfectly plastic behavior. These methodologies are extended to simulate the stress versus settlement behavior of both model footings and in-situ plates in unsaturated coarse-grained soils. The results show that there is a reasonably good comparison between the measured values (i.e. soil suction, bearing capacity, elastic and shear modulus) and those estimated using the techniques or models proposed in this thesis research. The models (or methodologies) proposed in this thesis research are promising and encouraging for modeling studies and practicing engineers to estimate the variation of mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils with respect to matric suction.

With the developments in computer technology, the numerical methods are used widely in geotechnical engineering. Finite element and finite difference are the most common methods used to simulate the behavior of soil and rock. Although the reliability of these methods are proven in several fields of application over the years, they are not equally satisfactory in every case and require sophisticated constitutive relations to model the discontinuous behavior of geomaterials since they assume the material is continuum or the location of discontinuum is predictable. The Discrete Element Method (DEM) has an intensive advantage to simulate discontinuity. This method is relatively new and still under development, yet it is estimated that it will replace of the continuum methods largely in geomechanics in the near feature. In this thesis, the theory and background of discrete element method are introduced, and its applicability in bearing capacity calculation of shallow foundations is investigated. The results obtained from discrete element simulation of bearing capacity are compared with finite element analysis and analytical methods. It is concluded that the DEM is a promising numerical analysis method but still have some shortcomings in geomechanical applications.

Naudojamų hidrotechnikos statinių konstrukcijos veikiamos įvairių apkrovų ir neigiamo aplinkos poveikio nudėvimos, susiformuoja pažeidos. Ypač pavojingos pažeidos, mažinančios pagrindinių konstrukcijų laikančiąją galią. Netekus laikomosios galios kyla grėsmė statinio patikimumui ir ilgaamžiškumui. Remiantis užšalimų – atšilimų ciklų įtakos hidrotechnikos statinių konstrukcijų betonui tyrėjų darbais nustatėme, kad mokslinėje literatūroje lig šiol nepakankamai aptarta atraminių sienučių ilgaamžiškumo nustatymo metodika, pagrįsta pagrindinių betono fizikinių – mechaninių savybių kitimo veikiant užšalimų – atšilimų ciklams, vertinimu. Darbo tikslas – įvertinti hidrotechnikos statinių gelžbetoninių atraminių sienučių betono stiprio kitimo įtaką laikomąjai galiai. 2006–2007 metais tyrinėtos 6 naudojamų žemių užtvankų, esančių Marijampolės rajone, atraminės sienutės. Atliekant tyrimus nustatytos labiausiai pažeistos atraminių sienučių vietos, pažeidų tipas, plotas ir gylis bei nustatyta pagrindinė tiriamoji charakteristika – gniuždomojo betono stipris. Skaičiavimais įvertintas Antanavo hidromazgo atraminių sienučių laikomosios galios rezervas, sudaryta jo priklausomybė nuo gniuždomojo betono stiprio. Remiantis gniuždomojo betono stiprio fc ir vandens įgėrio Wm tyrimų rezultatais, žinant leidžiamą ar prognozuojamą betono stiprio sumažėjimą Δ fc dėl šalčio poveikio, apskaičiuotas betono atsparumo šalčiui rodiklis F50 % bei pagal jį nustatytas ilgaamžiškumo rodiklis – galutinio... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Hydraulic structures are under the impacts of various loads and aggressive environment during exploitation, they deteriorate and forms pittings. Pittings decreasing bearing capacity of main constructions are very dangerous. After loosing bearing capacity the danger arises for the reliability and durability of the hydraulic structure in general. Analysis of various researchers’ works about frost cycles influence to the concrete of HS showed, that so far in the scientific literature is not sufficiently discussed the method for retaining walls durability determination based on evaluation of change of main physical– mechanical properties of the concrete under the influence of frost cycles. The aim of the work is to evaluate the bearing capacity of reinforced concrete retaining walls under the influence of changing compression strength. The reinforced concrete retaining walls of hydraulic structures in Marijampole district were investigated in 2006–2007. The following characteristics of these retaining walls were determined when carrying out the investigations: main deteriorations and defects, average depth and area of pittings, the actual quantities of main physical-mechanical properties of concrete – compression strength. Remainder of bearing capacity was evaluated by determination of Antanavas retaining walls compression strength. Using the research results of concrete compression strength fc and water absorbability Wm and knowing allowed or forecasted loss of the concrete... [to full text]

Naudojamų hidrotechnikos statinių konstrukcijos veikiamos įvairių apkrovų ir neigiamo aplinkos poveikio nudėvimos, susiformuoja pažeidos. Ypač pavojingos pažeidos, mažinančios pagrindinių konstrukcijų laikančiąją galią. Netekus laikomosios galios kyla grėsmė statinio patikimumui ir ilgaamžiškumui. Remiantis atsivėrusių plyšių įtakos hidrotechnikos statinių konstrukcijoms tyrėjų darbais nustatėme, kad mokslinėje literatūroje lig šiol nepakankamai aptarta šachtinių perteklinio vandens pralaidų laikomosios galios metodika. Ji pagrįsta pagrindinių betoninių ir gelžbetoninių konstrukcijų fizikinių ir mechaninių savybių kitimo atsiradus plyšiams vertinimu Darbo tikslas – įvertinti gelžbetoninės šachtinės perteklinio vandens pralaidos (toliau– ŠPVP) sienutėje atsiradusių plyšių įtaką jos laikomąjai galiai. Uždaviniai: 1) Natūriniais tyrimais nustatyti šachtinės perteklinio vandens pralaidos gniuždomojo stiprio faktines reikšmes ir vienas iš pagrindinių pažaidų – plyšių geometrinius parametrus. 2) Preliminariai įvertinti ŠPVP techninę būklę pagal (STR.1.12.03:2006) 3) Analitiniais skaičiavimais apskaičiuoti ŠPVP laikomąją galią. 4) Atlikti galutinį ŠPVP būklės vertinimą. 2007–2008 metais tyrinėtos šachtinės perteklinio vandens pralaidos, įrengtos Kauno rajone naudojamose žemių užtvankose. Atliekant tyrimus nustatytos labiausiai pažeistos ŠPVP vietos, pažeidų tipas, plotas ir gylis bei nustatyta pagrindinė tiriamoji charakteristika – gniuždomojo betono stipris. Skaičiavimais... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The operating hydraulic structures, which are under the impact of various loads and aggressive environment, are deteriorated and defects are formed during their exploitation. Defects are especially dangerous because they decrease the bearing capacity of main constructions. After loosing bearing capacity the danger arises for the reliability and durability of hydraulic structures. With reference to the works of the investigators on the influence of the crack opening upon the constructions of hydraulic structures we have defined that in scientific literature the method of the bearing capacity of surplus water gatewells has not been discussed enough till now. It is substantiated by the evaluation of the alteration of physical-mechanical properties of main concrete and reinforced concrete constructions after crack opening. The aim of the work is to evaluate the influence of the crack opening in the reinforced concrete wall of the surplus water gatewell upon its bearing capacity. Tasks to be solved: 1) to determine (by natural investigations) factual significance and one of the main defects as well as crack geometrical parameters of the compressive strength of the surplus water gatewell; 2) to tentatively evaluate the technical state of the surplus water gatewell according to STR.1.12.03:2006; 3) to calculate (by analytical calculations) the bearing capacity of the surplus water gatewell; 4) to carry out the final evaluation of the condition state of he surplus water gatewell... [to full text]

The emphasis of this dissertation is on using numerical and plasticity based methods to study two main areas of offshore geotechnics. The first part of this dissertation focuses on the undrained behavior of deeply embedded anchor plates under combined shear and torsion. Plate anchors are increasingly being used instead of typical foundation systems to anchor offshore floating platforms to sustain uplift operating forces. However extreme loading cases would create general loading conditions involving six degrees of freedom. The focus of my research was to evaluate the bearing capacity of plate anchors under two-way horizontal and torsional loading and to study the decreasing effect of torsional moment on the horizontal bearing capacity of these foundations. The study takes advantage of several approaches: Numerical simulation (two and three dimensional finite element analysis) Evaluating and modification of the available plasticity solutions Developing equations for three degree-of-freedom yield locus surfaces The same methodology is applied to evaluate the response of shallow foundations for subsea infrastructure subjected to significant eccentric horizontal loads. The second part of this study focuses on offshore geohazards. Coastal communities and the offshore industry can be impacted directly by geohazards, such as submarine slope failures, or by tsunamis generated by the failed mass movements. This study aims at evaluating the triggering mechanisms of submarine landslide under cyclic wave and earthquake loading. A simple effective stress elasto-plastic model with a minimal number of parameters accounting for monotonic and cyclic response of fine-grained material is developed. The new constitutive soil model could be used to simulate case histories and conduct parametric study to evaluate the effect of slope inclination angle, the earthquake loading with different PGA, frequency content, and duration, as well as various deposition rates to simulate different over pressure levels. This study will generate more insight on the static and cyclic behavior of submarine slopes and influencing factors on their triggering mechanisms using more comprehensive and realistic modeling tools. Several objectives are defined: Developing an appropriate constitutive formulation, Evaluating the constitutive model and material parameters for available databases.

Several studies were undertaken by various investigators during the last five decades to better understand the engineering behaviour of unsaturated soils. These studies are justified as more than 33% of soils worldwide are found in either arid or semi-arid regions with evaporation losses exceeding water infiltration. Due to this reason, the natural ground water table in these regions is typically at a greater depth and the soil above it is in a state of unsaturated conditions. Foundations of structures such as the housing subdivisions, multi-storey buildings, bridges, retaining walls, silos, and other infrastructure constructed in these regions in sandy soils are usually built within the unsaturated zone (i.e., vadose zone). Limited studies are reported in the literature to understand the influence of capillary stresses (i.e., matric suction) on the bearing capacity, settlement and liquefaction potential of unsaturated sands. The influence of matric suction in the unsaturated zone of the sandy soils is ignored while estimating or evaluating bearing capacity, settlement and liquefaction resistance in conventional engineering practice. The focus of the research presented in the thesis has been directed towards better understanding of these aspects and providing rational and yet simple tools for the design of shallow foundations (i.e., footings) in sands under both static and dynamic loading conditions. Terzaghi (1943) or Meyerhof (1951) equations for bearing capacity and Schmertmann et al. (1978) equation for settlement are routinely used by practicing engineers for sandy soils based on saturated soil properties. The assumption of saturated conditions leads to conservative estimates for bearing capacity; however, neglecting the influence of capillary stresses contributes to unreliable estimates of settlement or differential settlement of footings in unsaturated sands. There are no studies reported in the literature on how capillary stresses influence liquefaction, bearing capacity and settlement behavior in earthquake prone regions under dynamic loading conditions. An extensive experimental program has been undertaken to study these parameters using several specially designed and constructed equipment at the University of Ottawa. The influence of matric suction, confinement and dilation on the bearing capacity of model footings in unsaturated sand was determined using the University of Ottawa Bearing Capacity Equipment (UOBCE-2011). Several series of plate load tests (PLTs) were carried out on a sandy soil both under saturated and unsaturated conditions. Based on these studies, a semi-empirical equation has been proposed for estimating the variation of bearing capacity with respect to matric suction. The saturated shear strength parameters and the soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) are required for using the proposed equation. This equation is consistent with the bearing capacity equation originally proposed by Terzaghi (1943) and later extended by Meyerhof (1951) for saturated soils. Chapter 2 provides the details of these studies. The cone penetration test (CPT) is conventionally used for estimating the bearing capacity of foundations because it is simple and quick, while providing continuous records with depth. In this research program, a cone penetrometer was specially designed to investigate the influence of matric suction on the cone resistance in a controlled laboratory environment. Several series of CPTs were conducted in sand under both saturated and unsaturated conditions. Simple correlations were proposed from CPTs data to relate the bearing capacity of shallow foundations to cone resistance in saturated and unsaturated sands. The details of these studies are presented and summarized in Chapter 3. Standard penetration tests (SPTs) and PLTs were conducted in-situ sand deposit at Carp region in Ottawa under both saturated and unsaturated conditions. The test results from the SPTs and PLTs at Carp were used along with other data from the literature for developing correlations for estimating the bearing capacity of both saturated and unsaturated sands. The proposed SPT-CPT-based technique is simple and reliable for estimation of the bearing capacity of footings in sands. Chapter 4 summarizes the details of these investigations. Empirical relationships were proposed using the CPTs data to estimate the modulus of elasticity of sands for settlement estimation of footings in both saturated and unsaturated sands. This was achieved by modifying the Schmertmann et al. (1978) equation, which is conventionally used for settlement estimations in practice. Comparisons are provided between the three CPT-based methods that are commonly used for settlement estimations in practice and the proposed method for seven large scale footings in sandy soils. The results of the comparisons show that the proposed method provides better estimations for both saturated and unsaturated sands. Chapter 5 summarizes the details of these studies. A Flexible Laminar Shear Box (FLSB of 800-mm3 in size) was specially designed and constructed to simulate and better understand the behaviour of model surface footing under seismic loads taking account of the influence of matric suction in an unsaturated sandy soil. The main purpose of using the FLSB is to simulate realistic in-situ soils behaviour during earthquake ground shaking. The FLSB test setup with model footing was placed on unidirectional 1-g shake table (aluminum platform of 1000-mm2 in size) during testing. The resistance of unsaturated sand to deformations and liquefaction under seismic loads was investigated. The results of the study show that matric suction offers significant resistance to liquefaction and settlement of footings in sand. Details of the equipment setup, test procedure and results of this study are presented in Chapter 6. Simple techniques are provided in this thesis for estimating the bearing capacity and settlement behaviour of sandy soils taking account of the influence of capillary stresses (i.e., matric suction). These techniques are consistent with the methods used in conventional geotechnical engineering practice. The studies show that even low values of capillary stresses (i.e., 0 to 5 kPa) increases the bearing capacity by two to four folds, and the settlement of footings not only decreases significantly but also offers resistance to liquefaction in sands. These studies are promising and encouraging to use ground improvement techniques; such as capillary barrier techniques to maintain capillary stresses within the zone of influence below shallow foundations. Such techniques, not only contribute to the increase of bearing capacity, they reduce settlement and alleviate problems associated with earthquake effects in sandy soils.

When a jack-up foundation is installed on seabeds consisting of a sand layer overlying soft clay, potential for 'punch-through' failure exists. This happens due to an abrupt reduction in bearing resistance when the foundation punches a block of sand into the underlying soft clay in an uncontrolled manner. This can lead to a sudden large penetration that can cause temporary decommissioning and even toppling of the unit. This research has addressed this problem with the aim of developing a practical design method for the jack-up industry to assess potential punch-through hazards. This objective has been achieved with the successful development of a new conceptual model for predicting the peak penetration resistance and a consistent method for constructing a complete resistance profile of spudcan foundations penetrating through sand into the underlying clay. The analytical basis of the new conceptual model follows the approach for silo analysis, and takes into account the stress level and dilatant response of sand. It is therefore a significant improvement over the punching shear and load spread models recommended in the current industry guidelines SNAME (2002), which do not consider the strength properties of the sand. To provide relevant experimental data for the new model, an extensive series of 30 continuous penetration tests were performed using the UWA drum centrifuge. These experimental results were retrospectively simulated using finite element (FE) analysis, in order to back-calculate the stress-level dependent friction and dilation angles in the sand during peak penetration resistance. The back-analysis showed that larger values of peak resistance gave lower friction and dilation angles, which is consistent with gradual suppression of dilatancy under high confining stress. When compared to published results from visualisation experiments, the FE analysis showed a similar failure mechanism during peak resistance, where a frustum of sand was forced into the underlying clay, with the outer angle reflecting the dilation in the sand. This has formed the basis of the new conceptual model. The performance of the new model in predicting the experimental peak resistance was compared with other existing analytical methods. Additional experimental results, including those already in the literature, were incorporated in the comparative study. It was found that the new conceptual model generally gave a good prediction of the experimental values, while the prediction from SNAME (2002) was conservative, with the predicted values being about half the experimental results on average. It was also shown that the new model could be modified to predict the post-peak penetration resistance in the sand layer. Finally, an analytical method for predicting the resistance profiles in the underlying clay was devised based on new bearing capacity factors developed through FE analysis. By joining the values of peak resistance, post-peak resistance and the resistance profile in the underlying clay, a complete simplified penetration resistance profile for spudcan foundations in sand overlying clay can be generated. The predicted profiles were shown to match the experimental results well.