Reliability analysis of shallow foundation in the vicinity of the existing buried conduit

ABSTRACT

The present study proposes reliability-based approach for assessing the performance of shallow foundation placed in the vicinity of an existing buried flexible pipe or utility tunnel. Performance function for the reliability analysis is defined in terms of % bearing capacity loss in the load carrying capacity of the shallow foundation due to the presence of buried flexible pipe or utility tunnel, and, allowable bearing capacity loss in load carrying capacity that can be tolerated. For the reliability analysis, an explicit functional relationship between input variables, such as geotechnical parameters of in situ soil as well as material properties of pipe, and, output response, i.e. % bearing capacity loss in load carrying capacity of foundation soil is needed. Using concept of response surface methodology (RSM) combined with the results of the numerical analysis; such an explicit functional relationship is easily established. Thereafter, reliability analysis can be performed, conveniently, using standard First Order Second Moment (FOSM) approach and performance of the foundation soil system with buried flexible pipe, present in the vicinity, can be assessed in terms of an index, popularly known as ‘reliability index (β)’.