Numerical and Experimental Investigation on the Scaling Law of Strip Model Foundation on Cohesionless Soils

In this study, a revised scaling law for laboratory test models of strip foundations on cohesionless soils is proposed. The centrifuge model tests were conducted on a strip model foundation at four different gravity levels (1 g, 5 g, 7.5 g, and 10 g), and the test results were used to calibrate numerical simulations. A set of numerical models were created to simulate full-scale tests and laboratory-scale tests. From the numerical simulations, the behavior of a foundation in the centrifuge model test is similar to that of the full-scale test but is different from the behavior in the laboratory-scale test under the 1 g condition. A parametric study was performed by varying the key variables that are internal friction angle, foundation width, and gravitational acceleration. The stress scale ratio is approximate to the geometric scale ratio in the 1 g model test. However, the settlement conversion requires both the geometric scale ratio and the settlement scale ratio newly proposed. The settlement scale ratio increases with increasing the internal friction angle and geometric scale ratio; accordingly, an equation for calculating the settlement scale ratio is proposed.