Importance of the Geotechnical Variability in the Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations Through Random Fields

This study presents the variability influence of the geotechnical parameters using random fields for shallow foundations. Knowing the variation of bearing capacity can lead to a better foundation design. The present study was made through continuous-footing finite element models (FEM). These FEM models used a constitutive elastoplastic model that takes the geological history of the soil. The model's parameters were generated as random fields with the decomposition matrix technique (Cholesky factorization). Later, these parameters were integrated into the FEM models. Then, more than 2400 FEM simulations were made. The simulations show the parameters that must be carefully obtained to reduce the variability of the load capacity. In addition, the results show that the soil compressibility parameters have a significant influence on the value of the bearing capacity. However, the compression parameters aren't taken into account in the classical equations of bearing capacity.