Rectangular footing on sand subjected to double eccentric load

This paper describes the results of a series of loading tests of a rectangular footing, with an aspect ratio of two, resting on dry sand and subjected to double eccentricity in a centrifuge. The results indicate that current design practice of calculating failure load of rectangular surface footing excessively underestimates the centrifuge loading test data. This trend is more marked when the eccentricity becomes larger. The decreasing trend in failure load with an increase of double eccentricity is rather uniquely expressed by a single curve, using a newly defined resultant eccentricity and the diagonal length of the footing base. Detailed measurements of progressive change in the contact area between the footing base and the ground were made, and three-dimensional failure mechanisms were also captured and presented for future verification of three-dimensional analysis.