2022 Journal of Engineering Geology, Vol.8, No.

1, Spring 2014

Introduction
One of the most important engineering challenges in the design of
structures underlying soils is the reaction of soil in contact with
structure. Mechanical behavior of soil is very complex. Because soil is
naturally non-linear, anisotropic and heterogeneous and its deformation
is depended on the stresses that are applied to soil. Hence, in
engineering works, for design of the structure, instead of modeling the
subsoil in all its complexity, it can be replaced by a much simpler
system called a subgrade reaction model.

1. Coefficient of Subgrade Reaction, Ks

Winkler [1] proposed a model that assumes the soil stiffness that is
considered as ratio between the contact pressures (Δσ) and the
associated vertical displacement (Δδ) is linear, and it can be given by
the coefficient of subgrade reaction, Ks. It has units of force per unit
volume (MN/m3).
Ks= Δσ / Δδ (1)
This theory simulates the soil behavior as a group of independent
springs, governed by the linear-elastic model (Figure 1). The coefficient
of subgrade reaction that is spring stiffness is the initial slope of the
curve until the limit pressure.
At first, this concept was introduced for using in the analysis of
rigid plates, but during the following decades the theory was
developed extended to include the computation of stresses in flexible
foundations (Terzaghi [2]). In the area of soil-foundation interaction,
many of researchers have utilized this model (Biot [3]; Terzaghi [2];
Vesic [4]; Horvath [5]; Daloglu and Vallabhan [6]).