Undrained Bearing Capacity of Strip Foundation Under Inclined Loading Lying on Two-Layered Slopes
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study investigates the undrained bearing capacity of strip foundations subjected to inclined loading on two-layer cohesive slopes using finite element limit analysis (FELA). Both lower bound (LB) and upper bound (UB) theorems with adaptive mesh refinement are employed to conduct comprehensive parametric analyses examining the influence of key geotechnical and geometric factors on the bearing capacity factor Nci and associated failure mechanisms. The parameters investigated include the interlayer shear strength ratio cu1/cu2, load inclination angle α, upper layer thickness ratio D/B, setback distance b/B, normalized undrained shear strength of the upper layer cu1/γB, and slope angle β. The results demonstrate that load inclination and interlayer strength contrast have a pronounced effect on the bearing capacity, while the failure mode transitions between foundation failure and overall slope failure depending on the geometric configuration. The numerical results are validated against existing published data, showing excellent agreement with a maximum relative error of 1.19%. Comprehensive design charts are provided to facilitate the bearing capacity estimation and failure pattern identification under various geometric and loading configurations, offering practical guidance for geotechnical engineers dealing with foundations on stratified slopes.
Source: Geotechnics
Language: English
Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,207
OpenAlex ID: W7157682438