Effect of interface characteristics on the influence coefficients of an embedded circular footing under horizontal and moment loading

By means of a semi-analytical FE approach an embedded circular footing under monotonic horizontal and moment loading is studied. In a non-homogeneous soil whose shear modulus is characterized by a power law variation with depth, horizontal, rocking and coupled modes of displacement, expressed in terms of influence factors are thoroughly examined. The exponent α that controls the shape of the stiffness variation with depth is termed shear modulus factor. Surface influence coefficients are considered for the situations where the interface between the soil and the footing is either perfectly rough or perfectly smooth. First, results of semi-analytical FE analysis in the case of rough footing are established and compared with those of another numerical method. Results of comparison show good agreement. Then, for different values of α the surface influence coefficients are presented for an embedded footing in perfect smooth contact with soil. The metacentre is referred to as the depth at which there is no coupling between the sliding and the rocking modes of footing deformations. Expressions for location and horizontal influence coefficient corresponding to this particular depth are developed and their variations with α examined. The paper finishes by showing the effect of interface conditions on the soil normal stresses developed beneath the embedded circular footing for the case of loading applied at the footing top.