Geomechanics and Engineering

  • 제44권5호
  • /
  • Pages.721-750
  • /
  • 2026
  • /
  • 2005-307X(pISSN)
  • /
  • 2092-6219(eISSN)
테크노프레스 (Techno-Press)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Influence of skirt on pressure-settlement response of shallow foundation in cohesionless soil

  • 투고 : 2025.04.04
  • 심사 : 2026.02.26
  • 발행 : 2026.03.10
⟨ 이전 논문 다음 논문 ⟩

초록

The provision of skirt improves the bearing capacity of conventional shallow foundation by confining the soil and transferring the superstructure load to the deeper strata; however, the role of governing parameters remains inadequately explored. This study investigates the improvement in the pressure-settlement performance of the skirted foundation through physical model tests at 1-g scale. The contribution of skirt beneath the vertically loaded shallow foundation is evaluated attributing a variety of influential system parameters such as depth ratio of skirt (Ds/B), normalized offset distance (λ/B) and soil relative density (RD). This study presents a novel investigation into how the relative offset distance between the model foundation and the skirt periphery influences the foundation response, providing new insights for optimized skirted foundation design in cohesionless soils. Results are presented in the form of dimensionless parameters such as the Improvement Factor (IF) and Settlement Reduction Factor (SRF). The results indicate that the skirting of the foundation improves the bearing capacity by a factor of approximately 1.25 and reduces the settlement by a factor in the range of 0.69-0.74. The reduction in normalized offset distance from 1.00 to 0.25 reduces the foundation settlement by a factor in the range of 0.85-0.88 to 0.66-0.74. Additionally, the study demonstrates that the effect of skirting is insignificant under dense soil conditions (70% RD). The results obtained from experimental investigation have been validated with the analytical solutions in this study. The findings of this study are pertinent to subgrade, foundation, and pavement stabilization in cohesionless soils.

키워드

과제정보

The authors would like to sincerely thank the Director of CSIR-CBRI, Roorkee, for all of the institutional assistance, continuous guidance, and infrastructure.

참고문헌

  1. Al-Aghbari, M.Y., Khan, A.J. (2002). Behaviour of shallow strip foundation with structural skirts resting on dense sand. Proceedings of the International Conference on Concrete for Extreme Conditions, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK, September. https://doi.org/10.1680/cfec.31784.0072.
  2. Al-Aghbari, M.Y., Mohamedzein, Y.E.A. (2004). Bearing capacity of strip foundations with structural skirts. Geotechnical & Geological Engineering, 22(1), 43-57. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:GEGE.0000013997.79473.e0.
  3. Al-Aghbari, M.Y., Dutta, R.K. (2008). Performance of square footing with structural skirt resting on sand. Geomechanics and Geoengineering, 3(4), 271-277. https://doi.org/10.1080/17486020802509393.
  4. Al-Aghbari, M.Y., Mohamedzein, Y.A. (2020). The use of skirts to improve the performance of a footing in sand. International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 14(2), 134-141. https://doi.org/10.1080/19386362.2018.1429702.
  5. Ali, K., Shahu, J.T., Sharma, K.G. (2012). Model tests on geosynthetic-reinforced stone columns: a comparative study. Geosynthetics International, 19(4), 292-305. https://doi.org/10.1680/gein.12.00016.
  6. ASTM D2487-17e1 (2006). Standard practice for classification of soils for engineering purposes (unified soil classification system), West Conshohocken, PA.
  7. Ansari, A., Sharma, A., Samanta, M., Bhowmik, R. (2024). Evaluation of improved ground characteristics of displacement type sand compaction piles: an experimental approach. International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering, 10(4), 73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40891-024-00583-x.
  8. Braja, M.D. (2008). Advanced soil mechanics. (3rd Ed.), Taylor & Francis, New York, NY, USA.
  9. Bransby, M.F., Randolph, M.F. (1998). Combined loading of skirted foundation. Geotechnique, 48(5), 637-655. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1998.48.5.637.
  10. Bransby, F., Randolph, M. (1999). The effect of embedment depth on the undrained response of skirted foundations to combined loading. Soils and Foundations, 39(4), 19-33. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf.39.4_19.
  11. Bashir, K., Jakka, R.S. (2025). Lateral capacity and failure mechanisms of skirted foundation resting on slopes. Acta Geotechnica, 20(1), 89-117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-024-02486-7.
  12. Butterfield, R., Andrawes, K.Z. (1970). An air activated sand spreader for forming uniform sand beds. Geotechnique, 20(1), 97-100. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1970.20.1.97.
  13. Byrne, B., Byrne, B.W. (2000). Investigations of suction caissons in dense sand. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Oxford, Wellington Square.
  14. Das, A.K., Patra, C., Sobhan, K. (2024). Bearing capacity of a skirted square footing under eccentric loading in granular soil. International Journal of Geomechanics, 24(5), 04024063. https://doi.org/10.1061/IJGNAI.GMENG-9211.
  15. Ebid, A.M., Abdelhamid, N.M., Zaher, A.H., Ors, D.M. (2025). Improving the punching capacity of footings using geocell, geogrid and granular soil replacement. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 11148. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81251-y.
  16. Eid, H.T., Alansari, O.A., Odeh, A.M., Nasr, M.N., Sadek, H.A. (2009). Comparative study on the behavior of square foundations resting on confined sand. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 46(4), 438-453. https://doi.org/10.1139/T08-134.
  17. Eid, H.T. (2013). Bearing capacity and settlement of skirted shallow foundations on sand. International Journal of Geomechanics, 13(5), 645-652. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000237.
  18. El Sawwaf, M., Nazer, A. (2005). Behavior of circular footings resting on confined granular soil. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 131(3), 359-366. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2005)131:3(359).
  19. El Sawwaf, M., Nazir, A.K. (2010). Behavior of repeatedly loaded rectangular footings resting on reinforced sand. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 49(4), 349-356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2010.07.002.
  20. Fatolahzadeh, S. (2020). Experimental study of the effects of bedrock on the square skirted shallow foundations behaviour. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 38(4), 3577-3584. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-020-01235-3.
  21. Gourvenec, S., Jensen, K. (2009), Effect of embedment and spacing of cojoined skirted foundation systems on undrained limit states under general loading. International Journal of Geomechanics, 9(6), 267-279. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1532-3641(2009)9:6(267).
  22. Gourvenec, S., Randolph, M.F. (2010). Consolidation beneath circular skirted foundations. International Journal of Geomechanics, 10(1), 22-29. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1532-3641(2010)10:1(22).
  23. Gourvenec, S., Barnett, S. (2011). Undrained failure envelope for skirted foundations under general loading. Géotechnique, 61(3), 263-270. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.9.T.027.
  24. Gulhati, S.K., Datta, M. (2005). Geotechnical engineering, Tata McGraw Hill Publishing Company Ltd. New Delhi, India.
  25. Hain, S.J., Lee, I.K. (1978). The analysis of flexible raft-pile systems. Geotechnique, 28(1), 65-83. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1978.28.1.65.
  26. Halder, P., Manna, B. (2021). Large scale model testing to investigate the influence of granular cushion layer on the performance of disconnected piled raft system. Acta Geotechnica, 16(5), 1597-1614. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-020-01121-5.
  27. Hansen, J.B. (1970). A revised and extended formula for bearing capacity.
  28. Horikoshi, K., Randolph, M.F. (1997). On the definition of raft-soil stiffness ratio for rectangular rafts. Géotechnique, 47(5), 1055-1061. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1997.47.5.1055.
  29. Hu, Y., Randolph, M.F., Watson, P.G. (1999). Bearing response of skirted foundation on nonhomogeneous soil. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 125(11), 924-935. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(1999)125:11(924).
  30. Khatri, V.N., Debbarma, S.P., Dutta, R.K., Mohanty, B. (2017). Pressure-settlement behavior of square and rectangular skirted footings resting on sand. Geomechanics and Engineering, 12(4), 689-705. https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2017.12.4.689.
  31. Khatri, V.N., Kumar, J. (2019). Finite-element limit analysis of strip and circular skirted footings on sand. International Journal of Geomechanics, 19(3), 06019001. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001370.
  32. Kirkpatrick, W.M., Andrawes, K.Z., Wong, F.K. (1987). Contact pressures and failure mechanisms of square footings in sand. Proceedings of the 9th Southeast Asian Geotechnical Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, December.
  33. Kusakabe, O., Maeda, Y., Ohuchi, M. (1992). Large-scale loading tests of shallow footings in pneumatic caisson. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 118(11), 1681-1695. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1992)118:11(1681).
  34. Lambe, T.W., Whitman, R.V. (1969). Soil mechanics, John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY, USA.
  35. Lei, H., Ma, T., Feng, S., Wang, L. (2024). Confinement effect of geocell on the mechanical characteristics of reinforced sand subgrade. Transportation Geotechnics, 48, 101336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trgeo.2024.101336.
  36. Liu, J., Li, K., Guo, X., Yi, P. (2025). Tip bearing capacity of skirted foundations with cutting face in undrained clay. Ocean Engineering, 322, 120480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.120480.
  37. Malviya, D.K., Samanta, M. (2024). Lateral load sharing and response of piled raft foundation in cohesionless medium: An experimental approach. Geomechanics and Engineering, 38(2), 139-155. https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2024.38.2.139.
  38. Mahmood, M.R., Fattah, M.Y., Khalaf, A. (2020). Experimental investigation on the bearing capacity of skirted foundations on submerged gypseous soil. Marine Georesources & Geotechnology, 38(10), 1151-1162. https://doi.org/10.1080/1064119X.2019.1656311.
  39. Mana, D.S., Gourvenec, S.M., Randolph, M.F., Hossain, M.S. (2012). Failure mechanisms of skirted foundations in uplift and compression. International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, 12(2), 47-62. https://doi.org/10.1680/ijpmg.11.00007.
  40. Mana, D.S., Gourvenec, S., Martin, C.M. (2013). Critical skirt spacing for shallow foundations under general loading", Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 139(9), 1554-1566. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000882.
  41. Mei, S., Tian, Y., Cassidy, M.J., O'Loughlin, C. (2025). Experimental investigation of rate effects on the uplift response of surface and skirted circular shallow foundations. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 151(1), 04024149. https://doi.org/10.1061/JGGEFK.GTENG-12519.
  42. Meyerhof, G.G. (1963). Some recent research on the bearing capacity of foundations. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 1(1), 16-26. https://doi.org/10.1139/t63-003.
  43. Mohanty, M., Shahu, J.T. (2021). Laboratory investigation on performance of soil-cement columns under axisymmetric condition. International Journal of Civil Engineering, 19(8), 957-971. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40999-021-00612-0.
  44. Patel, D.M., Chavda, J.T., Joshi, N.H., Chatra, A.S. (2026). Numerical evaluation of undrained bearing capacity of unconnected strip and circular skirted footings. Transportation Infrastructure Geotechnology, 13(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40515-025-00768-5.
  45. Punrattanasin, P., Nishioka, H., Murata, O., Kusakabe, O. (2003). Development of combined loading apparatus for centrifuge test. International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, 3(4), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1680/ijpmg.2003.030401.
  46. Rao, B.G., Ranjan, G. (1985). Settlement analysis of skirted granular piles. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 111(11), 1264-1283. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1985)111:11(1264).
  47. Rezazadeh, S., Eslami, A. (2018). Bearing capacity of semi-deep skirted foundations on clay using stress characteristics and finite element analyses. Marine Georesources & Geotechnology, 36(6), 625-639. https://doi.org/10.1080/1064119X.2017.1361488.
  48. Sajjad, G., Masoud, M. (2018). Study of the behaviour of skirted shallow foundations resting on sand. International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, 18(3), 117-130. https://doi.org/10.1680/jphmg.16.00079.
  49. Shahu, J.T., Kumar, S., Bhowmik, R. (2023). Ground improvement for transportation infrastructure: experimental investigations on cyclic behavior of a group of granular columns. International Journal of Geomechanics, 23(3), 04022309. https://doi.org/10.1061/IJGNAI.GMENG-7880.
  50. Sharma, M., Satyam, N., Reddy, K.R. (2021). Investigation of various gram-positive bacteria for MICP in Narmada Sand, India. International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 15(2), 220-234. https://doi.org/10.1080/19386362.2019.1691322.
  51. Shukla1a, R.P., Jakka, R.S. (2022). Bearing capacity and failure mechanism of skirted footings. Geomechanics and Engineering, 30(1), 51-66. https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2022.30.1.051.
  52. Skau, K.S., Chen, Y. and Jostad, H.P., 2018. A numerical study of capacity and stiffness of circular skirted foundations in clay subjected to combined static and cyclic general loading. Géotechnique, 68(3), 205-220. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.16.P.092.
  53. Okamura, M., Takemura, J., Kimura, T. (1993). A study on bearing capacities of shallow footings on sand. Doboku Gakkai Ronbunshu, 1993(463), 85-94. https://doi.org/10.2208/jscej.1993.463_85.
  54. Terzaghi, K. (1943). Theoretical soil mechanics, Wiley, New York NY, USA.
  55. Verma, S., Datta, S., Chauhan, V.B. (2025). Bearing capacity and failure mechanisms of skirted strip footings on c-ϕ slopes using limit analysis. Transportation Infrastructure Geotechnology, 12(8), 292. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40515025-00757-8.
  56. Vesić, A.S. (1973). Analysis of ultimate loads of shallow foundations. Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division, 99(1), 45-73. https://doi.org/10.1061/JSFEAQ.0001846.
  57. Villalobos, F. (2003). Model testing of foundations for offshore wind turbines first year report. University of Oxford.
  58. Wakil, A.Z.E. (2013). Bearing capacity of skirt circular footing on sand. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 52(3), 359-364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2013.01.007.
  59. Walker, B.P., Whitaker, T. (1967). An apparatus for forming uniform beds of sand for model foundation tests. Geotechnique, 17(2), 161-167. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1967.17.2.161.
  60. Wood, D.M., Crewe, A., Taylor, C. (2002), Shaking table testing of geotechnical models. International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, 2(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1680/ijpmg.2002.020101.
  61. Yetimoglu, T., Wu, J.T., Saglamer, A. (1994). Bearing capacity of rectangular footings on geogrid-reinforced sand. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 120(12), 2083-2099. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1994)120:12(2083).
  62. Yun, G.J., Bransby, M.F. (2003). Centrifuge modeling of the horizontal capacity of skirted foundations on drained loose sand. In BGA International conference on foundations: innovations, observations, design and practice: Proceedings of the international conference organised by British Geotechnical Association and held in Dundee, Scotland on 2-5th September. https://doi.org/10.1680/fiodap.32446.0093.
  63. Yun, G., Bransby, M.F. (2007). The undrained vertical bearing capacity of skirted foundations. Soils and Foundations, 47(3), 493-505. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf.47.493.
  64. Zhang, L., Zhao, M., Shi, C., Zhao, H. (2013). Settlement calculation of composite foundation reinforced with stone columns. International Journal of Geomechanics, 13(3), 248-256. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000212.
  65. Zografou, D. (2018). Investigation of shallow skirted foundations under undrained cyclic loading.
  66. Zografou, D., Gourvenec, S., O'Loughlin, C. (2019). Vertical cyclic loading response of shallow skirted foundation in soft normally consolidated clay. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 56(4), 473-483. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2018-0179.
  67. Zornberg, J.G., Mitchell, J.K., Sitar, N. (1997). Testing of reinforced slopes in a geotechnical centrifuge. Geotechnical Testing Journal, 20(4), 470-480. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ10413J.