DEM Study of a Shallow Foundation under Vertical Loading

Presence of firm soil near the ground surface favors the construction of a shallow foundation. The shallow foundation is also an attractive option when combined with ground improvement techniques (such as geosynthetic reinforcement) even in weaker soil. This study presents the bearing capacity estimation of a shallow foundation on a granular soil underlain by a rigid base using the Discrete Element Method (DEM), which is suitable for granular media. A physical model test of the shallow foundation on sand was conducted using a plate load test in the laboratory. The DEM model of the plate load test simulated the load-settlement behavior of the shallow foundation. The failure model of the foundation under this condition was investigated.