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An Investigation Of The Bearing Capacity Of Irregular Shaped (Triangular)

Footings

Article · January 2007

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 Proceedings of the 6th International Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics Conference:
Confronting New Challenges and Sharing Knowledge, 11–13 September 2007, London, UK

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE BEARING CAPACITY OF

IRREGULAR SHAPED (TRIANGULAR) FOOTINGS
KJL Stone and S Kozman
University of Brighton, UK
TA Newson
University of Western Ontario, Canada
Zhongwei Guan
University of Liverpool, UK

Abstract
Analysis of shallow footings for relatively simple loading configurations and geometries is generally
performed through the application of conventional bearing capacity calculations. These calculations
are essentially based on adapting theoretical solutions for the vertically loaded infinite strip problem
through the application of bearing capacity factors to other cases, such as footings of finite dimensions
(rectangular or circular), sloping ground, inclined bases and combinations of vertical, horizontal and
moment loadings. This approach has proved very successful and, from a designer’s point of view, is
very attractive since the process is straightforward to apply, provided suitable bearing capacity factors
are available.
This paper presents the results of a study of the response of triangular footings subjected to both cen-
tric and eccentric loading. A series of small-scale single gravity tests were carried out on model footings
to investigate the footing response. In addition, a basic numerical study was carried out using a simple
elastic-perfectly plastic soil model.
The model tests are analysed using conventional bearing capacity theory in conjunction with the deri-
vation of an ‘equivalent’ rectangle, which has section and areal properties derived from the reduced
area of the loaded footing.

1. Introduction approaches to the problem have been formulated4, 5, 8, 9. T

Shallow foundations used in the offshore environment are
invariably subjected to complex loading patterns, where the
application of conventional bearing capacity theory through
the use of bearing capacity factors is limited. Consequently
much research has been directed to the analysis of shallow
foundation systems through the use of both physical and nu-
merical modeling techniques1, 2, 3. In most cases this research
has focused on regular shaped footings – rectangular and cir-
cular – and little work is reported for the case of irregular
shaped footings, in particular, triangular ones. Such shapes
are often encountered in the form of ‘mudmats’ used for the
temporary support of offshore structures prior to the installa-
tion of piles. In some instances, irregular shaped foundation
pads are also used for the permanent support of more minor
structures, such as sub-sea isolation valves (SSIVs). The actual
shape of the foundation pad, or mudmat, is usually dictated
by the geometry of the structure, i.e. triangular mudmats are
often formed when steel plates are welded between the bot-
tom chords of an offshore jacket structure.
The bearing capacity of shallow foundations has received much
attention in the study of soil mechanics, and as a result several
hese bearing capacity formulae are generally applicable as
variations in geometry, and loading are catered for through
the use of bearing capacity factors. For most conventional
foundations (square, rectangular and circular) these factors
are generally satisfactory, however, it is not obvious how best
to apply this approach to irregular footing shapes.
Triangular footings, for example, are regularly used for
the temporary support of offshore structures in the form
of mudmats formed at the apex of jacket legs (Figure 1).
There is little guidance in the literature to aid the analysis of
irregular shaped footings, and current practice follows the
recommendation that the effective area of irregular shapes
can be established as an equivalent rectangle, having its geo-
metrical centre matching the load centre6, 8. The dimensions
of the effective rectangle should closely follow the outline
of the actual base area. This hypothesis was investigated by
Vomva and Stone10, who found that such an approach sat-
isfactory for equilateral triangular footings with relatively
small eccentricities of load.
An alternative approach11 for adapting conventional bear-
ing capacity theory to triangular footings suggests either to

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 Stone, Kozman, Newson and Guan. An Investigation of the Bearing Capacity of Irregular Shaped (Triangular) Footings

Figure 1: Illustration of mudmats used for temporary support Figure 2: Footing geometry and definition of eccentricities rela-
of an offshore steel jacket tive to centroid (NB. eccentricities ex and ey are shown positive)

treat the triangular footing as a circle of the same area, or 3. Results

to assume the triangle to be a rectangle with the width, B, The results of the bearing capacity tests are summarized
equal to the least altitude of the triangle, and the length, L, through the measured peak loads attained as presented be-
equal to the longest side of the triangle. However, this ap- low in Table 1. The soil density and eccentricity of loading
proach is limited to centrally applied loads. No attempt is (as defined in Figure 2) are also summarised for each test.
made to relate the section properties of the triangular foot-
ing to its equivalent circle or rectangle. The effect of the eccentricity on the peak load is illustrated
in Figures 3 to 5. These plots show load-displacement curves
In this paper the bearing capacity of a triangular footing for footings loaded at two eccentricities along the same axis,
is derived through the application of conventional bearing together with the load displacement data for the centrally
capacity theory applied to an equivalent rectangle derived loaded case. The eccentricity of loading for the tests is given
from the revised geometry (contact area) of the footing. in Table 1, and also identified by the thumbnail sketches on
the plots (refer also to Figure 6).
2. Experimental Procedure
Model footing tests were performed using a 70mm right- It is apparent that in all cases, as the eccentricity increases,
angled triangular footing, as illustrated in Figure 2. The tests both the peak load and the displacement to achieve the peak
were performed in a sandbox of inner dimensions 362mm load is significantly reduced. The degree of peak load reduc-
x 245mm x 200mm (in depth). The footing was fabricated tion is approximately proportional to the eccentricity for the
from 6mm-thick plywood, and conical depressions were one-way eccentric load cases (tests TF4, TF5, TF8 and TF9),
made into one side to act as locating seats for a 10mm ball but not for the two-way eccentric loading (TF6 and TF7).
bearing through which the footing was loaded.
4. Analysis of results
Loading was applied by a strain controlled load frame at a The analysis presented in the following subsections is an
constant rate of 0.02mm/s. Both the applied load and ver- attempt to simplify the problem to one where convention-
tical displacement (at the point of application of the load) al bearing capacity formulae can be used for an irregular
were continuously recorded using a 16-bit data acquisition shaped footing. The approach consists of three steps: (1)
system. Loading was terminated once sufficient data had the estimation of the contact area and hence the reduced
been accumulated to determine the peak bearing capacity dimensions of the loaded footing; (2) the generation of an
of the footing.
After termination of the loading phase, the axis about which Table 1: Summary of footing tests
any footing rotation had occurred was determined using a Test ID Soil Density Peak Load Eccentricity of Load
compass clinometer. The ‘dip’ of the footing was first es- (t/m3) (N) (ex and ey in mm)
tablished to provide the perpendicular to the dip vector,
TF3 1.72 201 0, 0
or ‘strike’, which defines the axis about which the footing
is rotating. All of the tests were performed on samples of TF4 1.73 143 0, –6
uniformly graded sand (d50 = 0.5mm), with maximum and TF5 1.73 72 0, –11
minimum density 1.79 and 1.42 t/m3 and a critical state TF6 1.73 161 6, 6
angle of friction of 32°. Dense sand samples were prepared TF7 1.68 80 11, 11
through dry pluvation and compaction using a vibrating
TF8 1.72 126 0, 6
table. This method of sample preparation was found to pro-
duce reasonably consistent samples (refer to Table 1). TF9 1.72 60 0, 11

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 Proceedings of the 6th International Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics Conference:
Confronting New Challenges and Sharing Knowledge, 11–13 September 2007, London, UK

Figure 3: Plots of vertical load versus Figure 4: Plots of vertical load versus Figure 5: Plots of vertical load versus
displacement for triangular footings displacement for triangular displacement for triangular footings
subjected to one-way eccentric footings subjected to two-way subjected to one-way eccentric
loading below the centroid eccentric loading loading above the centroid

equivalent rectangular shape based on the reduced footing formula, it is necessary to derive an equivalent rectangle to
geometry; and (3) the application of conventional bearing represent the geometry of the revised footing (i.e. the as-
capacity theory to the equivalent rectangular footing de- sumed contact area). Conventionally6, 7, 8 it is suggested that
rived in the preceding steps. an equivalent rectangle can be estimated by setting the long-
4.1 Estimation of soil contact area est dimension of the contact area as L’ and deducing the
shorter dimension, B’, from the contact area, A’, such that
The axis of rotation of the footing is determined using the
compass clinometer, and so the soil beneath the footing – B’= A’/L’ (1)
bounded by the footing edges and the axis of rotation, and with the further requirement that the centroid of the area,
rotating into the soil – must be in contact with the soil. The
A’, is coincident with the point of application of the load.
footing area rotating into the soil is indicated by the solid
However, the analysis presented here follows the procedure
shaded areas shown in Figure 6. Having established the area
suggested by Price12, where both the area and inertia of the
of the footing rotating into the soil, it is now required to
equivalent rectangle are made equal to that of the reduced
estimate the area of footing in contact with the soil on the
footing or assumed contact area.
opposite side of the axis of rotation, shown as the hatched
areas in Figure 6, so that the full contact area of the footing
with the soil can be estimated. Figure 6:
Evaluation of
There are several approaches to estimating the full footing contact areas
contact area. The dimensions of the contact area could be for footings
formulated so that the revised footing geometry results in loaded
the axis of rotation being a central axis to one of the footing eccentrically
dimensions, a process similar to that employed for singly
eccentric rectangular footings. Alternatively, and the ap-
proach adopted here, is to assume that the soil response
beneath the footing is essentially plastic and that a uniform
soil pressure is exerted on the footing. Consequently, the
total contact area is found by equating the contact areas
either side of the axis of rotation. It is noted that for the
case of an assumed elastic soil response, where a linear soil
resistance would be present beneath the footing, the total
contact area can be found by equating first moments of area
either side of the axis of rotation.
4.2 Derivation of equivalent rectangle
Having established an assumed contact area of the triangular
footing with the soil in order to apply a bearing capacity

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 Stone, Kozman, Newson and Guan. An Investigation of the Bearing Capacity of Irregular Shaped (Triangular) Footings

This procedure is illustrated as follows: for a triangular foot- footing is determined by multiplying the bearing stress, q,
ing loaded at an eccentricity to its centroid, the area of the by the reduced area A’.
footing rotating into the soil is the dark solid shaded area
The critical state value of friction angle for the material is
shown in the various cases in Figure 6. This area is equated
32º. However, during the test, the actual value of mobi-
to an area of the footing above the axis of rotation, shown as
lised frictional resistance will involve a contribution due to
the hatched area in Figure 6. The shape of the total contact
dilation and, at any stage of the test, the value of mobi-
area is assumed to be the combined shaded and hatched
lised friction will be composed of a dilatative component
areas. For one way vertical eccentricity (ey > 0, ex = 0) above
in addition to the critical state value. The average value of
and below the centroid, the contact areas are symmetric tri-
mobilised friction along the slip surface is likely to be sig-
angular and trapezoidal shapes, respectively. For the case of
nificantly greater than the critical state value.
two-way eccentricity and one-way horizontal eccentricity,
the contact area is non-symmetric and may be either trian- The analysis presented here was performed through the ap-
gular or irregular trapezoidal. plication of equations 4 to 6, applied with the geometry of
the deduced equivalent rectangles, such that the value of
Having established the contact area, in all cases an equiva-
mobilised friction angle required to match the measured
lent rectangular shape is derived such that the area and in-
peak loads was determined. The results of this analysis are
ertia of the rectangle are the same as those for the contact
summarised below in Table 2, together with the dimensions
area or reduced footing dimensions.
and section properties of the reduced footings and their as-
Based on the area and inertia of the reduced footing (A’ and sociated equivalent rectangles
I’), a rectangle (subscript R) of equivalent area and inertia
The results presented in the above table are very encouraging.
can be derived by solving the following relationships for L’
With the exception of test TF5, a mobilised friction angle
and B’
between 46 and 48.5º is required to achieve the measured ul-
A’ = AR = B’ x L’ (2) timate loads. This implies a mobilised dilation angle of about
I’ = IR = (A’ x L’ )/12
2 (3) 16–20º, which is very consistent with typical values of dila-
tion for dense sand at relatively low stress levels 13, 14.
4.3 Bearing capacity
It is not immediately apparent why the friction angle de-
Having established the equivalent rectangle, standard bear-
duced for test TF5 was higher than expected. In this test the
ing capacity equations can be used to determine the bearing
load was applied at a large one-way eccentricity below the
capacity. Clearly, there is a wide choice of bearing capacity
centroid of the triangle. The contact area was thus small and
equations and associated bearing capacity factors that could
the aspect ratio of the equivalent footing large. It is likely
be applied at this stage in the analysis. For simplicity, the
that this combination of geometry is not as well suited to
results presented here are based on Brinch Hansen’s bear-
the analysis procedure as the less eccentric load cases, which
ing capacity formulae9, where the soil bearing capacity is
produce smaller aspect ratios for their contact areas and as-
given by
sociated equivalent rectangles.
q = 0.5 B’ Nγ sγ γ’ (4)
where the shape factor sγ is derived from the dimensions of
5. Numerical Modelling
the equivalent rectangle, B’ and L’ as Some preliminary finite element simulations of the trian-
gular footing problem were performed using a simple elas-
sγ = 1- (0.4B’/L’) (5) tic–perfectly plastic soil model. These analyses were not
and the bearing capacity factor intended to simulate the model tests, at least not in the
first instance, but were performed to see if the failure mech-
(6)
anisms developed in the numerical model would match
The baring capacity factor Nγ is a function only of the those observed in the physical model. Clearly the problem
mobilised angle of frictional resistance, φ. The load on the is three-dimensional, and the undeformed mesh is shown

Table 2: Summary of analysis

Test ID Peak Load (N) Contact Area Section Properties Equivalent Rectangle Dimensions Required Mobilised Friction Angle
A’ (mm2) Inertia (mm4) B’ (mm) L’ (mm) (°)
TF3 201 2449.6 333462.8 40.41 60.62 46.0
TF4 143 1935.7 110693.4 26.19 73.91 47.5
TF5 72 987.7 9580.921 10.78 91.63 51.0
TF6 161 1670.3 122691.1 29.69 56.26 48.5
TF7 80 1057.7 43375.94 22.18 47.69 48.5
TF8 126 1447.0 116329.4 31.06 46.59 48.0
TF9 60 881.8 43178.08 24.24 36.38 48.0

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 Proceedings of the 6th International Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics Conference:
Confronting New Challenges and Sharing Knowledge, 11–13 September 2007, London, UK
Figure 7: Three-dimensional FE model of triangular footing
in Figure 7. To keep the analysis as simple as possible, the
soil was modelled as a Tresca material with an undrained
strength of 25kPa, an undrained modulus of elasticity
of 12.5MPa and Poisson’s ratio of 0.49. The footing was
modelled as a concrete block (i.e. rigid). A no-tension soil
model was not used and consequently the footing is unable
to separate from the soil. Comparison of the results of the
Figure 8: Post test photograph of (a) centrally loaded
footing and (b) contour plot of vertical
displacements from FE analysis
(a)
(b)
OSIG final.indb 495
numerical and experimental studies is clearly limited, but
some interesting aspects are presented and discussed in the
following section.
6. Discussion and Conclusions
The analysis presented illustrates a simple procedure for the
estimation of the bearing capacity of triangular footings on
dense sand. The approach attempts to reduce the problem to
one where a solution can be based on conventional bearing
capacity theory. As is the case for the rectangular footing with
small L/B ratios, three-dimensional effects are significant.
Figures 8a and 9a show photographs of centrally and ec-
centrically loaded triangular footings, and Figures 8b and
9b show vertical displacement contours from numerical
simulations of the same load cases. It is clearly apparent
that for both cases three distinct failure surfaces develop,
one associated with each edge of the footing.
For the centrally loaded footing (Figure 8) a symmetric de-
velopment of the failure surfaces is observed both in the
physical and numerical models. The effect of the load ec-
centricity in the physical model test (Figure 9a) is to reduce
the development of the shear surface on the footing edge
closest to the load. This effect does not appear to have been
so well captured in the numerical analysis. This is attributed
Figure 9: Post test photograph of (a) eccentrically loaded
footing (TF4) and (b) contour plot of vertical
displacements from FE analysis
(a)
(b)
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09/08/2007 00:10:15
 Stone, Kozman, Newson and Guan. An Investigation of the Bearing Capacity of Irregular Shaped (Triangular) Footings
to the fact that without the use of a no-tension soil model,
the numerical analysis is very limited and is only able to
model the centrically loaded case adequately.
Three-dimensional effects are obviously apparent for square
and rectangular footings, and these effects are accommo-
dated, at least to a certain extent, through the use of bearing
capacity factors. The results of this study suggest that an ap-
proach based on the application of bearing capacity factors
to an equivalent rectangle can also provide a reasonable esti-
mate to the bearing capacity of irregular shaped footings.
It is noted, however, that the bearing capacity calculation
is highly sensitive to the angle of friction used in the cal-
culation. The actual value of mobilised friction comprises
the critical state friction angle and an angle of dilation. The
value of mobilised friction derived in this analysis is consist-
ent with the findings reported by other researchers13 in that,
for tests of the scale reported here, it is likely that the peak
footing load is associated with the maximum dilation being
mobilised all along the slip surface. Consequently, the mo-
bilised friction angle appropriate for the analysis (46º and
48.5º) would be close to the peak friction angle associated
with maximum dilation (16–20º), as indeed appears to be
the case.
Finally, the assumption of a ‘plastic’ soil is perhaps more
applicable for foundations on clay. The application of the
method using a non-uniform distribution of bearing stress
under the footing may lead to better predictions for the
sand tests reported here. Future work should involve gen-
erating considerably more test data for footings bearing on
both sand and clay. Furthermore, it is proposed that the
experimental test programme be extended to centrifuge
model testing, where a more realistic response of the soil
can be created.
496
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