Reliability-Based Analysis of Bearing Capacity of Strip Footings Considering Anisotropic Correlation of Spatially Varying Undrained Shear Strength

A reliability-based analysis of the bearing capacity of strip footings considering the spatial variability of undrained shear strength of clay was performed using the random FEM. The effect of anisotropic correlation of spatially varying undrained shear strength on the mean and standard deviation of bearing capacity was obtained using the random FEM. It was found that the anisotropic correlation of undrained shear strength significantly affects the bearing capacity. The mean bearing capacity was found to be minimal for a specific combination of horizontal and vertical scales of fluctuation. The coefficient of variation of the bearing capacity increased with increases in horizontal or vertical scales of fluctuation, or both. The factor of safety required to achieve a specified target failure probability for different scales of fluctuation and coefficients of variation of the undrained shear strength of clay is presented.