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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
05:23
Application of Design Aspects in Uniaxial Loading Machine Development
Published on: September 19, 2018
Design and failure envelopes for square raft and embedded block foundations under combined loading.
Amirhossein Ebrahimipour1, Meysam Imani2, Reza Imam1
1Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
Scientific Reports
|July 2, 2026
Summary
Serviceability limits often dictate foundation design, as new design envelopes are smaller than failure envelopes. Embedment depth significantly influences foundation capacity and resistance mechanisms for combined vertical, moment, and horizontal (VMH) loading.
Area of Science:
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Foundation Design
- Computational Mechanics
Background:
- Traditional foundation design often overlooks serviceability, focusing primarily on failure envelopes.
- Recent research introduces serviceability-based design envelopes as a crucial complement to conventional failure envelopes for combined loading.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and analyze three-dimensional design and failure envelopes for square raft and cubic embedded block foundations under combined vertical, moment, and horizontal (VMH) loading.
- To investigate the influence of key parameters like breadth, embedment ratio, and soil density on these envelopes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) with the Hardening Soil model and small-strain stiffness (HSS).
- Validated numerical models against established benchmarks.
- Employed probe tests and multivariate regression analysis to derive mathematical equations for the envelopes.
Main Results:
- Serviceability limits frequently govern foundation design, with design envelopes being substantially smaller than failure envelopes.
- Embedment depth significantly impacts the shift from base-bearing to 3D resistance and improves moment/horizontal capacities.
- Established clear relationships between foundation geometry, embedment, and soil strength in shaping the envelopes.
Conclusions:
- Serviceability considerations are paramount in modern foundation design, often overriding traditional failure criteria.
- Embedment depth is a critical factor for optimizing foundation performance under complex loading conditions.
- Findings advocate for a shift towards displacement-based design methodologies for advanced foundation systems.
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