INFLUENCE OF ECCENTRIC FOOTING THICKNESS ON CONTACT PRESSURE AND STRESS DISTRIBUTION AT INTERFACE

Foundation eccentric loading has always been one of the subjects of major interest in geotechnical engineering for researchers and practical engineers. This study examines stresses distribution and contact pressure underneath eccentric footing subjected to the variation of its thickness and eccentricity using 2D finite element modelling. The FEM analysis is carried out using ABAQUS software program. The results indicated that stresses are higher along edges of footing than at center when footing is subjected to the variation of its thickness and eccentricity, the increase in footing thickness causes a decrease of maximum contact pressure and an increase in contact area, so that the maximum contact pressure increases proportionally with the increase in eccentricity, while contact surface decreases. Finally, they showed the importance of eccentric footing thickness on stresses distribution.