Winkler Model

 Winkler’s idealization represents the soil medium as a

system of identical but mutually independent, closely
spaced, discrete, linearly elastic springs.
 According to this idealization, deformation of foundation
due to applied load is confined to loaded regions only.
 Figure shows the physical representation of the Winkler
foundation.
 The pressure–deflection relation at any point is given by p
= kw, where k = modulus of subgrade reaction.