Conventional method to estimate settlement of plate subjected to bi-axial loading – Part I

ABSTRACT: A plate bi-axially loaded presents general loading case of shallow foundations. Raft columns loads resultant does not lay on its center. Isolated footing subjected to moment and vertical load eccentric or concentric, property-line or interior footings are plate’s subjected to bi-axial loadings. Not to mention if wind or seismic is considered. Even though, most conventional methods were developed for settlement of concentric loadings. This research presents novel simplified method for settlement prediction of rigid plate center and corners subjected to bi-axial loadings. The method works for rectangular plate rests on Mohr-Coulomb soil having any B/L ratio, starting from squares up to strips. Also it suits any ES and µS values. This method uses one graph that contains two figures, alternatively two empirical equations. The generalization of this method is proved analytically. The used methodology and method to develop this technique was parametric study, finite element, Plaxis 3D, and first principals’.