6th National Congress on Civil Engineering,

April 26-27, 2011, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

Foundation size effect on modulus of sub grade reaction on

Sandy soils

M.Janbaz1, S.Janbaz2
1- Department of Civil Engineering, International University of Imam Khomeini, Qazvin, Iran
2- Department of Civil Engineering, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran
Masoud_cello@yahoo.com
Abstract
Winkler model is one of the most popular models in determining the modulus of sub grade reaction. In
this model, the sub grade soil is assumed to behave like infinite number of linear elastic springs. The
stiffness of these springs is named as the modulus of sub grade reaction. This modulus is dependant to
some parameters like soil type, size, shape, depth and type of foundation. The direct method for
estimating the modulus of sub grade reaction is plate load test that is done with 30-100 cm diameter
circular plate or equivalent rectangular plate. Afterward, we have to extrapolate the test value for exact
foundation. In the practical design procedure, Terzaghi's equation is usually used to determine the
modulus of sub grade reaction for exact foundation, but there are some uncertainties in utilizing such
equation. In this paper the size effect of foundation on sandy sub grade with use of finite element
software (Plaxis 8.2) is proposed to investigate the validation of Terzaghi's formula on determination of
sub grade reaction modulus. Also the comparison between Vesic's equation, Terzaghi's one and obtained
results are presented.
Keywords: Sub grade reaction modulus, Terzaghi's equation, Mat foundation, Plate load test

1.

INTRODUCTION

Soil medium, because of the nonlinear, stress-dependant, anisotropic and heterogeneous nature, has very
complex mechanical behavior. Hence, instead of modeling the subsoil in its three-dimensional nature,
subgrade is replaced by a much simpler system, called a subgrade model that dates back to the nineteenth
century. Searching on this concept leads to two basic approaches, which are Winkler approach and the elastic
continuum model. Both of these models are of widespread use, both in theory and engineering practice.
Winkler (1867) was assumed the soil medium as a system of identical but mutually independent, closely
spaced, discrete and linearly elastic springs. The ratio between contact pressure (P) at any given point, and
settlement (y) produced by load application at that point, is named the coefficient of subgrade reaction, Ks:


  

(1)

In fact, in this model subsoil is replaced by fictitious springs whose stiffness equals to Ks. However, the
simplifying assumptions, which this approach is based on, cause some approximations. One of the basic
limitations of it lies in the fact that this model cannot transmit the shear stresses, which are derived from the
lack of spring coupling. In addition, linear stress-strain behavior is assumed. The coefficient of subgrade
reaction, Ks, identifies the characteristics of foundation supporting and has a dimension of force per length
cubed.
Many researches like Biot (1937), Terzaghi (1955), Vesic (1961), and most recently Vallabhan (2000)... have
investigated the effective factors and determination approaches of Ks. Geometry and dimensions of the
foundation and soil layering are assigned to be the most important effective parameters on Ks. Generally, the
value of subgrade modulus can be obtained in the following alternative approaches:
1- Plate load test, 2- Consolidation test, 3- Triaxial test, 4- CBR test
Many researchers have worked to develop a technique to evaluate the modulus of subgrade reaction, Ks.
Terzaghi (1955) made some recommendations where he suggested values of Ks for 11 ft rigid slab placed
on a soil medium; however, the implementation or procedure to compute a value of Ks for use in a larger slab
was not specific. Biot (1937) solved the problem for an infinite beam with a concentrated load resting on a
3D elastic soil continuum. He found a correlation of the continuum elastic theory and Winkler model where

6th National Congress on Civil Engineering,

April 26-27, 2011, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

the maximum moments in the beam are equated. Vesic (1961) tried o develop a value for Ks, by matching the
maximum displacement of the beam in both aforementioned models. He obtained the equation for Ks for
using in the Winkler model. Another works by Filonenko-Borodich (1940), Heteneyi (1950), and Pasternak
(1954)... attempt to make the Winkler model more realistic by assuming some form of interaction among the
spring elements that represent the soil continuum.

2.

ESTIMATION OF KS FOR FULL SIZED FOOTINGS

The modulus of subgrade reaction method is preferred, because of its greater ease of use and substantial
savings in computation time. A major problem is to estimate the numerical value of Ks. Terzaghi in 1955
proposed that Ks for full sized footing in sandy subgrade can be obtained from:

 
 


 

Where:

(2)

B1 =side dimension of square base used in the plate load test to produce Ks
B= side dimension of full-size foundation
Kp= the value of Ks for 0.3*0.3 bearing plate or other size load plate
Ks= desired value of modulus of subgrade reaction for the full-size foundation
According to Terzaghi (1955), this equation deteriorates when B/B1 3 ,another uncertainty is according to
Bowles(1997), this equation is not correct in any case, as Ks using a 3 m footing would not be 0.1 the value
obtained from a B1= 0.3 m plate. Another equation, which can be used for estimating the modulus of
subgrade reaction, is Vesic's equation. It is based on elastic parameters of soil medium like elasticity modulus
of soil, E, and Poisson ratio, .

  

Where:

(3)

Ks= modulus of subgrade reaction

E= elasticity modulus of soil
B= width of foundation
= Poisson ratio
In present paper, according to these uncertainties, with use of finite element software (Plaxis 8.2), the effect
of the width of foundation on modulus of subgrade reaction, Ks, are investigated and the obtained results are
compared with Terzaghi's and Vesic's equations.

3.

CALIBRATIONS AND ANALYSIS METHOD

The element used in analysis is based on program and is the 15-node triangular elements to model soil layers
and other volume clusters. It provides a fourth order interpolation for displacements and the numerical
integration involves twelve Gauss points.
Axi-symmetric model is used to model the soil, plate and load. The calibration of axi-symmetric modeling, is
based on the results of plate load tests on sandy soil by Anderson et al (2007). The soil parameters, used in
Mohr-Coulomb soil behavior model, are based on this article as shown in Table 1. There are four layers of
sand that is used in this paper and the soil parameters are based on CPT results as followed:

Table 1. Soil parameters

Layer
1
2
3
4

C
(kPa)
1
1
1
1

()
47.5
42
42.8
38

0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3

E
(MPa)
32060
14880
23080
7820

(KN/m3)
18.2
17.3
15.7
15.7

sat
(KN/m3)
18.9
18.1
17.3
17.3

K0
2.16
0.63
0.66
1.04

H
(m)
2.44
1.5
3.05
0.9

6th National Congress on Civil Engineering,

Semnan Iran
April 26-27, 2011, Semnan University, Semnan,

The sides of axi-symmetric

symmetric model with side dimension of plate or foundation in X direction is 3B where B is
half of the plate or foundation dimensions and 8 m in Y direction as in the calibration example, as shown in
Figure 1. For higher dimensions,, the ratio between thicknesses of footing to side dimension is 1/12,
according to the plate of plate load test, and is constant in all the models. The calibration results
re
from axisymmetric analysis and the result by Anderson et al
al. (2007) are shown in Figure 2.

Figure 1. Side dimensions of model

Figure 2. Comparison of calibration results

As shown in Fig.2, the points that represent mean value of different methods in computing foundation
settlement have good agreement with finite element analysis and therefore calibration is satisfactory.

6th National Congress on Civil Engineering,

April 26-27, 2011, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

4.

Results

Sixty vertical plate load tests analysis are performed on Plaxis 8.2 software. The vertical settlement (y) for
each analysis obtained, according to the constant contact pressure (p) about 220(KN/m), plotted and Then
the secant modulus of each graph (Ks) is determined. The finite element analysis is performed both with
ground water level and without it. One of the uncertainties about Terzaghi's formula is that it neglects the
effect of water table in the soil. Figure 3 represents the effect of ground water level in comparison with
Terzaghi's equation. Full results are shown in Table 2.
100
90
80
Ks (MN/m3)

70
60

Obtained Results(With GWL)

50
40

Terzaghi

30

Obtained Results(Without GWL)

20
10
0
0

12

15

18

B (m)
Figure 3. Comparison of obtained results with Terzaghi's Equation
4
3.5

Ks Dry/Ks Wet

3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0

12

15

18

B (m)
Figure 4. Comparison of obtained results in Dry and Wet case

Based on obtained results, the modulus of subgrade reaction (Ks) is decreased as the side dimension of plate
increased. This is due to increasing load area which consequences in increasing settlement. As shown in
Figure 3, the effect of water in the soil is very significant, and Ks obviously have larger values in dry soil.
This effect is very significant until 10 times of plate dimension. This fact is showed in Figure 4, the effect of

6th National Congress on Civil Engineering,

April 26-27, 2011, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

water in the soil, as side dimension of footing increases, decreases. It could be due to in small dimensions
water can lubricate the particles contact pressure while in bigger dimensions, the effect of loading area is
much more significant in settlements and water is not very effective.
30
25

Ks Wet

20

Ks = 12.73 B -0.5
R = 0.96

15
10
5
0
0

12

15

18

B (m)

100
90
80
Ks Dry

70
60
50

Ks = 28 B -0.78
R = 0.93

40
30
20
10
0
0

12

15

18

B (m)
Figure 5. Obtained Results and statistical equation

These two simple power equations represent the Ks in this study, as shown in Figure 5:
Ks = 12.73 B -0.5
Ks = 28 B -0.78

Wet case:
Dry case:

5.

CONCLUSION

In this article, a finite element analysis of plate load test is performed for sandy soil. The obtained results are
as followed:
The statistical correlation between modulus of subgrade reaction (Ks) and side dimension of footing (B) is
obtained for two cases, whit and without water. The comparison between Terzaghi's famous equation for

6th National Congress on Civil Engineering,

April 26-27, 2011, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

sandy subgrade and obtained results shows that the usual Ks computing equation does not consider the effect
of ground water table and soil layering. In addition, this equation gives lower values for Ks.
As side dimension of footing (B) increased, the modulus of subgrade reaction (Ks) decreased. The modulus
of subgrade reaction that obtained from Terzaghi's equation for prototype footing has lower value than finite
element obtained Ks.
Presence of water can reduce the value of Ks due to decreasing internal contact pressures of soil particles, but
as dimension of footing increases this effect decreases and for big side dimensions the dry and wet Ks is
almost the same.

Table 2. Full results

B
(m)

P
(KN/m2)

Settlement
(m)Dry

Settlement
(m)Wet

Ks Dry
(MN/m3)

Ks wet
(MN/m3)

Ks
Terzaghi
For Wet
case

0.3
0.6
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
5.5
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

6.

220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220

0.0025
0.00363
0.00545
0.01035
0.01472
0.0188
0.02348
0.027
0.02974
0.03365
0.03577
0.03786
0.03904
0.04054
0.04187
0.04333
0.04521
0.04623
0.04645
0.04732
0.04765
0.04976
0.05046
0.051
0.05169
0.05255
0.05285
0.053
0.0534

0.00904
0.01252
0.01453
0.01924
0.02361
0.02769
0.03237
0.0359
0.03867
0.0425
0.04441
0.04674
0.04798
0.04942
0.05089
0.0522
0.0541
0.05513
0.05532
0.05617
0.05655
0.05861
0.05936
0.05981
0.06058
0.06143
0.06243
0.06389
0.06429

88.00
60.61
40.37
21.26
14.95
11.70
9.37
8.15
7.40
6.54
6.15
5.81
5.64
5.43
5.25
5.08
4.87
4.76
4.74
4.65
4.62
4.42
4.36
4.31
4.26
4.19
4.16
4.15
4.12

24.34
18.27
15.14
11.43
9.32
7.95
6.80
6.13
5.69
5.18
4.95
4.71
4.59
4.45
4.32
4.21
4.07
3.99
3.98
3.92
3.89
3.75
3.71
3.68
3.63
3.58
3.52
3.44
3.42

24.34
10.28
6.40
4.12
3.08
2.49
2.06
1.81
1.64
1.47
1.39
1.31
1.26
1.22
1.18
1.14
1.09
1.07
1.06
1.04
1.03
0.99
0.97
0.96
0.95
0.93
0.91
0.89
0.88

REFERENCES

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6th National Congress on Civil Engineering,

April 26-27, 2011, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

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