Effect of Footing Shape and Embedment on the Settlement, Recentering, and Energy Dissipation of Shallow Footings Subjected to Rocking

AbstractFrom results of a recent series of centrifuge model tests, this paper investigates the effects of shape and embedment on the performance of rocking footings. Rectangular and H-shaped footings are considered. Previous studies have characterized the performance of rectangular rocking foundations on sand and clay, but few studies have systematically characterized the effects of footing shape. The effect of shape and embedment are correlated to detrimental aspects of performance (residual settlement or uplift) and beneficial aspects of performance (hysteretic energy dissipation and recentering). The new results are compared with previously reported results. For rectangular footings rocking in their strong direction, it is found that the susceptibility to residual settlement and uplift increases as the length-to-width ratio increases. For H-shaped footings, susceptibility to settlement and uplift increases with the missing area ratio. The factors that lead to increased recentering also tend to lead to decreased energy dissipation.