Finite element investigation and ANN-based prediction of the bearing capacity of strip footings resting on sloping ground

Footings placed on or near a slope, the slope face act as a finite boundary that leads to an inappropriate and inadequate development of the plastic region of failure as the foundation approaches the limit state under the applied loading. Depending upon the position of the footing and steepness of the slope, the above-mentioned phenomena might lead to considerable decrease in the bearing capacity of the foundation. A sequence of finite element analysis has been carried out using Plaxis 2D v 2015.02 to inspect the ultimate bearing capacity of strip footings placed at the crest of the c – φ soil slope. The effect of various geo-parameters namely internal angle of friction ( φ ), cohesion ( c ), setback distance ( b ), width of footing ( B ), slope angle ( β ) and embedment depth of footing ( D f ) on the ultimate bearing capacity of the footing have been investigated and the outputs obtained are appropriately elucidated. In addition, large database of numerically simulated ultimate bearing capacity has been considered to develop and verify the ANN model to establish the relative importance of the input parameters.