Stress Distribution below Strip Footing Using Finite Element Analysis

Abstract

The estimation of stress distribution below ground is important in all types of geotechnical analysis. That is why the correctly measured value of stress distribution below ground level under various conditions will be helpful for resilient design in geotechnical point of view. This paper presents an analysis of vertical stress distribution below a strip footing due to varying applied loads using finite element method (FEM) modeling in ABAQUS and the results are compared with Boussinesq’s solution. In FEM, elastic analysis is done with and without the presence of pore pressure to check the effect of pore pressure on stress distribution below ground level. A two-dimensional analysis of strip footing was carried out with an aim to develop a condition where the effect of pore pressure can be considered and its effect can be analyzed while studying the stress distribution across the depth of soil. The variation of stress, strain, displacement, pore pressure with various loading condition along vertical as well as horizontal planes were studied graphically using both Boussinesq’s solution and FEM analysis result. It was observed that stress distribution below ground is different in the presence of pore water than in dry condition which is not at all following the Boussinesq’s solution.