Standardized sign conventions and notation for generally loaded foundations

There has recently been increasing research on the classical geotechnical problem of the load-displacement response of rigid shallow foundations under general loading conditions. Most of the published experimental data and mathematical models relate to the problem's two-dimensional version, where a footing of given breadth supports given vertical and horizontal loads and given in-plane moment. Unfortunately, different authors have used different, often conflicting, sign conventions and notations. This note proposes adopting a specific right-handed coordinate system, with the clockwise positive convention, which can be applied consistently to all such problems, and a comprehensive notation for load and displacement components and their normalised dimensionless counterparts. Six other specific recommendations are made.