Evaluation of the bearing capacity of footings on slopes

In the last few decades, a great amount of interest has developed in the evaluation of the influence of bearing capacity of shallow foundations on slopes. When a footing is placed near a slope the bearing capacity may be reduced. In fact, the failure mechanism is influenced by the distance of the foundation from the edge of the sloping ground. In order to investigate the effect of the bearing capacity of shallow foundations on slopes, model footing tests were performed. This paper presents the results of the investigation, to establish both qualitative and quantitative relationships between the ultimate load of the soil–foundation system and the location of the footing with respect to the slope. Values of ultimate loads deduced from experimental tests are compared with values derived by a numerical analysis based on the limit equilibrium method. Modified bearing capacity factors which take into account the effect of the sloping ground are proposed.