Probabilistic failure envelopes of strip foundations on soils with non-stationary characteristics of undrained shear strength

This paper investigates probabilistic failure envelopes of strip foundations on spatially variable soils with profiles undrained shear strength, s u , linearly increasing depth using lower-bound random finite-element limit analysis. The is characterised by a non-stationary field mean and constant coefficient variation (COV) depth. deterministic uniaxial capacities are first derived to validate the numerical models provide reference for subsequent Results indicate that parameters COV su (the ) ? (dimensionless autocorrelation distance) have considerable effect normalised capacities, which alters size envelopes. However, an insignificant shape observed in V–H, V–M H–M loading spaces, such different soil variabilities can be simply scaled capacities. In contrast ?, strength heterogeneity index ? = ? k B/? su0 has lowest capacity factors, but highest A series expressions proposed describe under combined vertical, horizontal moment (V–H–M) loading.