Bearing Capacity of a Shallow Foundation above the Soil with a Cavity Based on Rigid Plastic Finite Element Method

Based on the Rigid Plastic Finite Element Method (RPFEM), this study investigates the performance of the footing on the soil with a cavity. The RPFEM is used in plane strain conditions and necessitates only a few materials to predict the bearing capacity: the unit weight of the soil, the cohesion, the shear resistance angle, and the dilation angle. Considering diverse soil types, including cohesive and intermediate soils, the findings are presented through dimensionless 2D charts in which the horizontal axis X and vertical axis Y are normalized to parameters R and H, representing the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the plastic mechanism beneath the footing in the absence of the soil cavity. Analyzing geometric factors such as footing width B and cavity characteristics (shape, size, and location), the study reveals that the farther the cavity, the less it impacts the footing performance. The distribution of the normalized bearing capacity across the (X, Y) space elucidates the expansion and variation of the influence zone. Equations incorporating the mentioned geometric parameters and soil shear strengths are proposed and verified with data in the literature. In cohesive soils, the influence zone predominantly extends vertically, following the expansion of the slip surface in no void condition. Conversely, for intermediate soils, the zone of influence exhibits a dependency on the shear resistance angle, resulting in an extension in one direction more than the other. Illustrating typical failure mechanisms, the study delves into detailed discussions to enhance comprehension of how the cavities affect the bearing capacity of the footing.