Seismic Bearing Capacity Factors for Strip Footings on an Embankment by Using Lower-Bound Limit Analysis

By using the lower-bound finite-element limit-analysis technique, the bearing capacity of a strip footing placed over an embankment was determined with the incorporation of pseudostatic horizontal seismic body forces. The variation of the bearing capacity factors N-c, N-q, and N-gamma were calculated as the function of the friction angle of soil phi, slope angle beta, horizontal seismic acceleration coefficient k(h), and setback distance S. On the basis of the magnitude of phi, the S values were varied from 0B to 15B. From the results, it can be understood that the bearing capacity factors decrease with the increase in beta and k(h). With the increase in phi and S, the bearing capacity factors were found to increase. After a particular setback distance, the effect of the embankment slopes was found to be negligible. Failure patterns were also studied. (C) 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.