Arabian Journal of Geosciences (2022) 15: 1265

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-10503-w

ORIGINAL PAPER

Effect of the circular cavity on the undrained bearing capacity

of shallow strip footing
Ali M. Rajabi1 · Mahdis Saadati2 · Motahare Mahmoudi2 · Elham Fijani1

Received: 3 February 2022 / Accepted: 10 June 2022 / Published online: 7 July 2022
© Saudi Society for Geosciences 2022

Abstract
Underground cavities such as aqueducts, karsts, wells, and tunnels in the vicinity of the footing have significant effects on
its bearing capacity. In the present study, the undrained bearing capacity of strip footing above single and twin cavities in
clay is investigated using numerical modeling using the Plaxis 2D. The curves are presented as a dimensionless function
concerning vertical and horizontal distances from the footing, cavity radius, and distance between twin cavities for rigid and
heterogeneous soil to assess the undrained bearing capacity factor. The results show that with increasing the vertical and
horizontal distance of the cavity from the footing, the undrained bearing capacity factor increases. Accordingly, at a certain
vertical and horizontal distance (respectively 𝛼cr and𝛽cr ), the bearing capacity reaches a certain and constant value, and at
greater distances, the bearing capacity factor of the footing is independent of the cavity. Also, as the cavity size increases, the
bearing capacity factor of the footing decreases. Displacements due to the presence of underground cavities have significant
effects on the stability and bearing capacity of the shallow footing. These displacements occur by three mechanisms of ceil-
ing, wall, and combined ceiling and wall failure.

Keywords Strip footing · Cavity · Bearing capacity · Plaxis · Undrained

Introduction
Underground cavities in rigid surface structures (such as
roads, building foundations, and pipelines) have direct effects
on the behavior of structures. Underground cavities are
formed under the effect of various human and natural factors.
Human activities include drilling to construct tunnels, mines,
and subways. Most large cavities occur in karst environments
where limestone is washed and dissolved by groundwater.
Responsible Editor: Zeynal Abiddin Erguler
* Elham Fijani
efijani@ut.ac.ir
Ali M. Rajabi
amrajabi@ut.ac.ir; amrajabi@ymail.com
1
School of Geology, College of Science, University of Tehran,
Tehran, Iran
2
Master of Sciences, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University
of Qom, Qom, Iran
These large cavities can be present at any depth of the earth’s
surface and can cause subsidence, the collapse of engineering
structures, and considerable human and financial losses. As
a result, geotechnical engineers are interested in the study
of the effect of underground cavities on surface structures.
Different researches have been done to assess the stability
of strip footings above underground cavities. Atkinson and
Cairncross (1973), Atkinson and Potts (1977), and Atkinson
et al. (1975) were the first researchers who studied the effect
of an underground cavity on the stability of the footing and
examined the bearing capacity of a shallow footing affected
by a shallow circular tunnel in cohesive and homogeneous
soils. The footing bearing capacity in the footing-cavity sys-
tem depends significantly on the dimensions and location of
the cavities; in other words, it decreases with decreasing dis-
tance between the footing and the cavity in cavities with the
same dimensions (Baus and Wang 1983; Baus 1978; Wang
and Baus 1980). Mansouri et al. (2021) have been reported
that in cohesionless soil, the influence of the void appeared
negligible when it was positioned at a depth or eccentricity
equal to twice the width of the footing.

13
Vol.:(0123456789)
1265 Page 2 of 10
Generally, tunnel location (Kiyosumi et al. 2011), the size
and shape of the cavity (Anaswara and Shivashankar, 2020;
Lavasan et al. 2016), concrete lining thickness (Jao and Wang
1998), and soil properties (Wu et al. 2020) affect the bearing
capacity of shallow footings in different soils. Studies also
show that as the vertical and horizontal distance of the cavity
from the footing increases, the bearing capacity of the footing
increases in sandy soil (Al-Tabbaa et al. 1997) and homogene-
ous and heterogeneous clay (Lee et al. 2014). Rodriguez-Roa
(2002) measured changes in ground surface subsidence profile
due to tunneling in granular soils in the city of Santiago and
showed that numerical modeling could be used to simulate the
tunnel construction process and the stress–strain behavior of
the involved materials (Azam et al. 1997).
Wang and Badie (1985) and Badie and Wang (1984)
investigated the effect of single cavities in cohesive soils
on the stability of the shallow strip footing through numeri-
cal and physical modeling. The results of the finite element
numerical analysis method showed that despite the pres-
ence of a single cavity under the footing, a critical area was
formed under the footing. They also investigated the effect
of location, size, geometric shape, and direction of the cavity
relative to the axis of footing on the stability of rectangular
footings with different shapes and sizes and showed that
only when there were cavities in the critical area under the
footing, its bearing capacity was affected. Xiao et al. (2018)
investigated the undrained bearing capacity factor of strip
footings above the cavities located in two-layer clay using
finite element analysis. They showed that the factor of bear-
ing capacity was affected by the ratio of undrained soil shear
stress, the layer thickness, and size, location, and distance
between square cavities.
In general, the mechanism of failure in a single cavity
can be divided into three categories, including failure of
the cavity ceiling, combined wall and ceiling failure, and
bearing failure without cavity destruction (Xiao et al. 2020).
Wang et al. (2001) developed the studies of Wang and Hsieh
(1987) and presented ten types of rupture mechanisms by
considering the effect of footing size, dimensions, and loca-
tion of cavities on the loading and strip footing failure. Simi-
lar studies have been performed on the effect of different
governing factors of the ultimate bearing capacity of the
strip footing in rock by Kumar and Chauhan (2022).
A review on previous studies shows that although there
are many studies on shallow footings above the single
and twin square and circular cavities, most of them have
addressed frictional-cohesive soils, and bearing capacity
of the undrained of the footings above cavities has been
less discussed. Studies of this type have been conducted
by Lee et al. (2014) for square cavities. In this paper, the
bearing capacity of shallow strip footing above an und-
rained clay with single and twin continuous circular cavi-
ties is investigated using finite element analysis. Also, the
13
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1265
effect of location, shape, and number of cavities along with
the soil stiffness and heterogeneity is investigated more
comprehensively.
The method of obtaining bearing capacity is one of the
issues that should be considered to investigate the effect of
cavities on the stability of shallow footings. The bearing
capacity of shallow strip footings is measured according to
Meyerhof (1963). However, the simplest method is to use
the exact solution (Prandtl 1920) in undrained conditions:
qu = Qu ∕B = Su Nc (1)
where qu is ultimate bearing capacity of the footing, Qu is
the ultimate vertical force, B is the width of footing, Su is
undrained shear strength of the soil, and Nc is the factor of
undrained bearing capacity.
Modeling
Problem definition
Figure 1 shows the geometric shape of a shallow footing
above the circular underground cavity/cavities as well as the
effective parameters such as horizontal and vertical distances
of the cavity from the footing, the distance between the twin
cavities, and the radius of the cavity.
According to Fig. 1, a rigid strip footing with B width is
located on normally consolidated clay. Tables 1 and 2 show
the soil and footing characteristics studied in this research,
respectively. The undrained shear strength of soil at the
depth of Z is one of the important issues expressed in Eq. 2
(Lee et al. 2014), in which k is the increase of the shear
strength in proportion to the depth, and Su is the undrained
shear strength at ground level:
Su (Z) = Su0 + KZ (2)
Assuming that the normally consolidated clay under
study in this study is homogeneous with a uniform shear
strength, then K = 0 is considered. A dimensionless quan-
titative parameter is needed to investigate the effect of K
changes on the shear strength of clay so that the stability
conditions of solid footing can be studied in heterogeneous
soils. Accordingly, the dimensionless parameter of KB/Su0 is
considered for three values of 0, 1, and 1.5. The stability of
the footing above underground cavities is influenced by sev-
eral factors such as the size, shape, location, and number of
cavities, which are introduced as dimensionless parameters
in this paper. For example, according to Fig. 1, α is the ratio
of the vertical distance from the ground surface to the center
of the cavity, β is the horizontal distance from the ground
surface to the center of the cavity, r is the ratio of the cavity
radius to the footing width in twin cavities, and S is the ratio
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1265 Page 3 of 10 1265

Fig. 1  Geometrical shape of footing-cavity system (B footing of the cavity radius to the footing width in twin cavities; S the ratio
width;Su undrained soil shear strength; α ratio of the vertical distance of the distance between the centers of the two cavities to the width of
from the ground surface to the center of the cavity; β horizontal dis- the footing)
tance from the ground surface to the center of the cavity; r the ratio

Table 1  Characteristics of the studied footing

Type of behavior Elastic

Stiffness (kN/m) 1.1e10

Rigidness ­(kNm2/m) 1.1e10
Equivalent thickness (m) 3.464
Weight (kN/m/m) 25
E (Gpa) 30
Type Concrete
Poisson’s ratio 0

Table 2  Characteristics of the Model Mohr–Coulomb

studied soil
Type Unconsolidated
ϒd (kN/m3) 18
ϒwet (kN/m3) 20
Fig. 2  Meshing of the soil elements and the footing at the specified
Eu (Mpa) 30
boundary limit
ν 0.35
ϕ (degree) 0
Ψ 0 strip footing under the effect of underground cavities has
C (kPa) 60,100,300 been carried out in the form of plane strain and using Plaxis
2D. Table 2 indicates characteristics of the footing, which is
considered as a linear elastic material without pores and with
of the distance between the centers of the two cavities to the a thickness of 1 mm. Three different values of undrained soil
width of the footing. Also, the position of the twin cavities shear strength including 100, 60, and 300 kPa have been
relative to each other has been studied in two parallel and used in this study. Very fine meshing has been considered
symmetrical forms (Fig. 1). to make the analysis results more accurate. Figure 2 shows
the meshing of the soil elements around the footing-cavity
Finite element analysis system by the finite element method.
According to Fig. 2, the expanded soil boundary for the
Plaxis 2D (Brinkgreve et al., 2012) finite element software is shallow footing under plane strain conditions is 9.5 B later-
an advanced and suitable software for deformation analysis ally at the corner of the footing and 15 B perpendicularly
which has many applications in geotechnical engineering under the surface. At the lateral boundaries, horizontal
projects (Kumar and Chauhan 2022; Mahmoudi and Rajabi, displacements were restricted. Boundaries and zones were
2020). In this study, the finite element analysis of a shallow full fixated at the bottom boundary. The environment was

13
1265 Page 4 of 10 Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1265

meshed into finite elements and then the analysis method 7

r =1, Eu/Su=500, KB/Su0 =0
was defined. The selection of mesh dimensions in differ- 6
ent parts of modeling was conducted. Trial and error was
5
applied in a way that in addition to high accuracy of results,
the modeling speed was also acceptable. For more accuracy 4 α=1.5 α=2

Nc
in modeling, the meshes around the foundation and the cav- 3 α=2.5 α=3

ity were considered smaller. Investigations showed that the 2 α=3.5 α=4
finer mesh dimensions have no effect on the output. The soil
1
around the underground cavities was modeled by a 15-node
element using the Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion. 0
0 1 2 3 4 5
β

Results and discussion
Figures 3 and 4 show the curves of the factor of footing bearing
capacity based on the vertical and horizontal distances of the
single circular and square cavities from the footing. According
to Fig. 3, when the horizontal distance between the footing and
the center of a single circular cavity is considered constant, the
footing bearing capacity increases by increasing the vertical
Fig. 4  Simultaneous effect of the horizontal and vertical distance of
the cavity on the factor of bearing capacity of the strip footing above
the single circular cavity
distance from the center of the circular cavity. Accordingly,
from a certain vertical distance onwards (𝛼cr ), the increase
in the vertical distance from the center of the circular cavity
will have a very small effect on the bearing capacity of the

Fig. 3  The effect of rigidity (a) Eu/Su=100-Square void Eu/Su=300-Square void

of soil and vertical (a) and =0, r=1, KB/Su0=0
horizontal (b) distance on the Eu/Su=500-Square void Eu/Su=100-circle void
40
factor of bearing capacity of Eu/Su=300-circle void Eu/Su=500 circle void
strip footings above a square 35
and circular cavity
30

25
Nc

20

15

10

0
1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

(b) Eu/Su=100-square void =1.5, KB/Su0 =0, r=1

40 Eu/Su=300-square void
Eu/Su=500-square void
35
Eu/Su=100-circle void
30 Eu/Su=300-circle void
25 Eu/Su=500-circle void
Nc

20

15

10
5

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5
β

13
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1265 Page 5 of 10 1265

r=1, Eu/Su=500, KB/Su0=0 According to Lee et al. (2014), in the same conditions
4.5 for a square cavity, the values of the bearing capacity factor
4 are obtained according to Eq. 5 and 6 at β = 0 and α = 1.5:
3.5
3 Nc = 1.47𝛼 ≤ Ncmax (5)
β

2.5
2
1.5 y = -0.1786x2 - 0.1607x + 4.5893
Nc = 1.26𝛽 + 2 ≤ Ncmax (6)
1 R² = 0.9923
0.5
Figure 3 also shows the effect of rigidity of soil on the
0 factor of bearing capacity of a strip footing above a single
0 1 2 3 4 5 circular cavity. Accordingly, soil rigidity has very little effect
α
on the factor of bearing capacity of the footing above the
single cavity. In other words, the bearing capacity of foot-
Fig. 5  Critical position of the strip footing on a single circular cavity
ings located at very shallow depth depths is independent of
soil rigidity.
According to Fig. 4, as the constant α depth increases
footing, which can be ignored. Therefore, the bearing capac-
from 1.5 to 4, the process of changes in the bearing capac-
ity of the footing can be independent of the vertical distance
ity of the shallow footing approaches zero by changes in
from the center of the cavity and equal to Nc,max. On the other
the horizontal distance of the footing from the center of the
hand, according to Fig. 4, when the single circular cavity is
circular cavity (β). Accordingly, at a constant depth of 4 m,
at a constant depth from the footing, the bearing capacity of
no changes in the bearing capacity of the shallow footing
the footing increases with increasing horizontal distance of the
occur with increasing horizontal distance of the footing
footing from the center of the circular cavity until reaching its
from the cavity (β). Also, with increasing the value of α,
maximum, Nc,max, at the critical horizontal distance of 𝛽cr . A
the bearing capacity of the strip footing increases so that
comparison of the bearing capacity factor in the two states of
from a certain depth ( 𝛼cr ) onwards, the bearing capacity
single circular and square cavities shows that the process of the
reaches its maximum value, after which the increase in the
changes is the same, and the factor of bearing capacity of the
depth does not affect the bearing capacity of the strip foot-
footing is directly related to the vertical and horizontal distance
ing. Similarly, at a certain depth, the bearing capacity of the
of the footing from the center of the cavity in both cases.
strip footing increases with the increase in the horizontal
According to Figs. 3 and 4, in the case of a circular cavity
distance of the footing from the cavity, so that the bearing
with a radius of 1 m, the values of the bearing capacity factor
capacity reaches its maximum value at a certain horizontal
are obtained according to Eqs. 3 and 4 at β = 0 and α = 1.5:
distance. According to Fig. 4, at lower α values, the bearing
Nc = 1.74𝛼 − 1.02 ≤ Ncmax (3) capacity of the footing has increased more significantly with
increasing β. 𝛽cr represents the critical horizontal distance at
a constant depth at which the bearing capacity factor reaches
Nc = 1.29𝛽 + 1.37 ≤ Ncmax (4)
its maximum value, Nc,max while the value of 𝛽cr decreases

Fig. 6  The effect of size (radius) 7 =1.5

of single cavity located on strip u0 0
footing on the bearing capacity =2.5
6
factor =3.5
5

4
Nc

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
r

13
1265 Page 6 of 10 Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1265

7 =0, r=1, Eu/Su=500, KB/Su0=0

KB/Su0=0

25 KB/Su0=0.5 6
=1.5, r=1, Eu/Su=500 KB/Su0=1
5
20
4

Nc
15 3
Nc

2 S=2 (symmetrical) S=3 (symmetrical)

10
5 0
0 α
0 1 2 3 4 5
β
Fig. 7  The effect of soil heterogeneity around the cavity on the bear-
ing capacity of the strip footing above a single cavity
with increasing the depth (or α). Figure 5 shows the posi-
tion of the critical circular cavities determined in Fig. 4. As
shown in Fig. 4, when the circular cavity is located above
the curve, the bearing capacity of the footing is so high that
the presence of the cavity can be ignored. In other words,
the bearing capacity factor reaches its maximum (Nc,max).
However, when the cavity is below the curve, the bearing
capacity of the footing is determined based on the position
of the cavity relative to the footing, and its value is obviously
less than Nc,max.
Figure 6 shows the bearing capacity factor of the footing
for different sizes of circular cavities. As the radius of the
circular cavity increases, the value of the shallow footing
bearing capacity factor decreases so that with decreasing the
depth, the bearing capacity of the shallow footing decreases
more significantly as the radius of the cavity increases. In
other words, at α = 1.5, the change in the cavity radius has
a greater effect on the bearing capacity factor, which faces
more decrease. Figure 8 shows the effect of soil heteroge-
neity factor for three values of 0, 0.5, and 1 for kB ∕Su for
1 S=4 (symmetrical) S=2 (Parallel)
S=3 (Parallel) S=4 (Parallel)
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
Fig. 9  Comparison of bearing capacity of strip footing above twin
cavities in parallel and symmetrical states
different values of α and β. The bearing capacity of the strip
footing is a function of soil heterogeneity, and as expected,
the bearing capacity of the footing is increased with increas-
ing the value of kB ∕Su . Also, by increasing the clay hetero-
geneity, the effect of depth on the bearing capacity factor
will be more, and the Nc,max value will also increase more.
On the other hand, as the value of kB ∕Su increases, the criti-
cal horizontal distance (𝛽cr ) increases. In other words, when
the clay is more heterogeneous, the bearing capacity of the
footing will reach its critical state at lower values β (Fig. 7).
The bearing capacity factor of the footing above the twin
cavities is under the effect of various factors, such as the
distance between the two cavities (S). According to Fig. 8a,
when the twin cavities are parallel, the bearing capacity
increases with increasing the horizontal distance between
the two cavities at a constant depth of α; accordingly, the
increasing process of the footing bearing capacity contin-
ues up to a certain horizontal distance ( 𝛽cr ), after which
it reaches its maximum value of Nc,max and then becomes
constant. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 8a, the greater
the depth of the twin cavities, the smaller the horizontal
distance of the cavities from each other will be along with

Fig. 8  The effect of horizontal =0, r=1, Eu/Su=500, KB/S u0=0 =0, r=1, Eu/Su=500, KB/Su0=0
distance of twin cavities in 7
parallel (a) and symmetrical (b) =1.5 =2.5
=3.5 =4.5 6
state on the factor of the bearing 6
capacity of strip footing 5
5
4
4
Nc

3 =1.5
Nc

3
2
=2.5
2
=3.5
1 1
=4.5
0 0
1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 0 2 4 6 8
S S
(a) (b)

13
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1265 Page 7 of 10 1265

Symmetrical twin cavities in the symmetrical state. As shown in Fig. 8b,

=0, r=1, Eu/Su=500, KB/Su0=0
8 Parallel when the horizontal distance between the twin cavities
7 increases, the bearing capacity factor increases signifi-
6 cantly so that the intensity of this increase will become
5 significantly more with decreasing the value of α. In other
words, as the depth of the cavities increases, their hori-
Scr

4
3 zontal distance will have less effect on the footing bearing
2 capacity. A comparison of Figs. 8b and 9 shows that when
1 the distance between the twin cavities increases at a con-
0
stant vertical distance, the change in the bearing capacity
0 1 2 3 4 5 factor is greater in the symmetric state than in the paral-
α lel state. Therefore, the effect of the distance of the two
cavities can be ignored in the parallel state. Also, in the
Fig. 10  Comparison of the effect of vertical distance on critical dis- symmetric state, the value of Scr decreases constantly with
tances of twin cavities in parallel and symmetrical states the increasing value of α.
Figure 9 compares the critical horizontal distance of
the twin cavities from each other, Scr , in parallel and sym-
the less impact on the bearing capacity of the footing above metrical states. At identical horizontal distances of two
the cavities. cavities from each other, when the value of α increases,
Figure 8b shows the change in the bearing capacity fac- the factor of bearing capacity increases until it reaches its
tor of the footing regarding the horizontal distance of the maximum value of Nc,max. Figure 10 compares the change

Fig. 11  Displacement contours of single circular cavities

13
1265 Page 8 of 10 Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1265

in the critical distance relative to the change in the vertical parallel state while it increases significantly in the sym-
distance of twin cavities in the parallel and symmetrical metrical state. Figure 11 shows the displacement contours
states. As shown in Fig. 12, when the depth increases, of strip footing above single circular cavities in undrained
the value of the critical distance is almost constant in the homogeneous clay.

Fig. 12  Displacement contours of twin circular cavities

13
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1265
As shown in Fig. 11, the failure mode depends signifi-
cantly on the location and shape of the cavities. According
to Fig. 11a and c, the displacement of the soil elements
located at the upper boundary of the single circular cavity is
downwards for shallow circular cavities. Therefore, the fail-
ure mechanism for the estimation of the failure loads can be
explained by the ceiling failure mechanism in this case. As
shown in Fig. 11d, since the single circular cavity is farther
from the footing axis in vertical and horizontal distances, the
failure mode is slightly wider and deeper and almost involves
the ceiling failure mechanism similar to the shallow state.
However, the studies of Lee et al. (2014) show that when
the horizontal and vertical distances of the footing from the
square cavity increase, the failure mechanism is a combina-
tion of ceiling and wall failures. Figure 11b shows the wall
failure mechanism for shallow circular cavities whose center
has a horizontal distance from the footing. Figure 12 shows
the displacement contours for the shallow footing above twin
circular cavities in undrained homogeneous clay.
According to Fig. 12, the displacement of the soil elements
around each cavity reduces the bearing capacity of the footing.
As shown in Figs. 12a andb, when the distance between the
cavities is large enough, their interaction does not affect the
footing performance. In particular, the footing behavior for
the case of parallel cavities is similar to that of a single cav-
ity. According to the displacement pattern shown in Fig.12a,
b, and c for the parallel state, the soil column between the
two cavities does not bear much vertical load, while accord-
ing to Fig.12d, e, and g for the symmetrical state, the column
between the two cavities bears a significant amount of load,
and the failure mechanism is obviously a combination of ceil-
ing and wall failures. As a result, the reducing effect of the
footing bearing capacity due to the twin cavities is greater in
the symmetrical compared to the parallel state.
Conclusion
In this paper, the undrained bearing capacity of shallow strip
footing above single and twin cavities in homogenous clay
was investigated using numerical modeling in the Plaxis
2D. The bearing capacity factor of shallow strip footing was
also investigated under the effect the cavity distance from
the footing, the cavity size, and the position of the cavities
relative to each other. According to the results, when the
horizontal and vertical distances of the cavity from the foot-
ing (α and β) increase in the case of a single circular cavity,
the bearing capacity of the strip footing increases linearly.
This increase continues up to the critical area of the cavities
(𝛼cr and 𝛽cr ), where the footing bearing capacity reaches its
maximum value and the constant value of Nc,max. As the
vertical distance of the cavity from the footing (α) increases,
the horizontal distance of the cavity from the footing (β)
Page 9 of 10 1265
will have less effect on the bearing capacity. Accordingly,
the effect of the horizontal distance on the bearing capac-
ity of the footing can be ignored from a vertical distance
onwards. When the vertical distance (α) increases, the
change in the dimensions of the cavity has less effect on
the footing bearing capacity, and the change in the size of
the cavity can be ignored at a certain vertical distance. At
a certain horizontal and vertical distance, the more hetero-
geneous the soil is, the higher its bearing capacity will be.
However, the increase in the horizontal distance of the foot-
ing (β) has a greater impact on its bearing capacity. Also,
rigidity of soil has very little effect on the factor of bear-
ing capacity of the footing above the cavities. In twin cavi-
ties, the bearing capacity factor of the footing decreases by
decreasing the horizontal distance between the two cavities.
This decrease is greater in the symmetrical compared to the
parallel state of the twin cavities. As the vertical distance
of the cavities increases in the twin and parallel states, their
horizontal distance has less effect on the footing bearing
capacity. Accordingly, the effect of the horizontal distance
of the twin cavities can be ignored from a certain distance
onwards. On the other hand, the deformation of shallow and
deep circular cavities can be explained by the ceiling failure
mechanism, and the greater the horizontal distance from
the footing, the failure mechanism includes a combination
of ceiling and wall failures. Also, in the displacement pat-
tern of twin circular cavities in the symmetrical state, the
column between the two cavities bears a significant amount
of load. The failure mechanism is obviously a combination
of the ceiling and wall failures in this case. The results of
this study can be considered in the design of footings in
the vicinity of subsurface cavities. Despite the assumptions
used in modeling and probable uncertainties, the results of
this study can be used to estimate the bearing capacity of
foundations located in the urban environment adjacent to
tunnels and subways.
Data availability All data, models, and code generated or used during
the study appear in the submitted article.
Declarations
Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no competing
interests.
References
Al-Tabbaa A, Russell L, O’Reilly M (1997) Model tests of footings
above shallow cavities. Ground Eng 22, 9–42. http://w
​ orldc​ at.o​ rg/​
issn/​00174​653.
Anaswara S, Shivashankar R (2020) Study on behavior of two adjacent
strip footings on unreinforced/reinforced granular bed overlying
clay with voids. Geotech Geol Eng,1-18.https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​
s10706-​020-​01590-​1(01234​56789
13
1265 Page 10 of 10
Atkinson J, Potts DM (1977) Stability of shallow circular tunnel in a
cohesionless soil. Geotechnique 27:203–215. https://​doi.​org/​10.​
1680/​geot.​1977.​27.2.​203
Atkinson J, Brown E, Potts D (1975) Collapse of shallow unlined tun-
nels in dense sand. Tunnel and Tunneling 7:81–87
Atkinson J, Cairn cross AM (1973) Collapse of shallow tunnel in
Mohr–Coulomb material. In: Proceedings of the symposium on
the role of plastic in soil mechanics. Cambridge, MA. 13–15
Azam G, Jao M, Wang MC (1997) Cavity effect on stability of strip
footing in two-layer soils. J Geotechn Eng 28,151–64. http://w ​ orld​
cat.​org/​issn/​00465​828
Badie A, Wang MC (1984) Stability of spread footing abovevoid in
clay. J Geotech Eng Div ASCE 110:1591–1605
Baus RL, Wang MC (1983) The bearing capacity of strip foot-
ing located above a void in cohesive soils. J Geotech Eng
Div ASCE 109:1–14. https://​d oi.​o rg/​1 0.​1 061/​( ASCE)​0 733-​
9410(1983)​109:​1(1)
Baus RL (1978) The stability of shallow continuous footing located
above a void. PhD thesis, Pennsylvania State University, at Uni-
versity Park, Pennsylvania, USA
Brinkgreve RBJ, Engin E, Swolfs WM (2012) Plaxis user’s manual.
Plaxis BV, Netherlands. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1061/​(ASCE)​0733-​
9410(1984)​110:​11(1591)
Jao M, Wang MC (1998) Stability of strip footing above concrete-lined
soft ground tunnels. J Tunn Undergr Space Technol 13.https://d​ oi.​
org/​10.​1016/​S0886-​7798(98)​00085-6
Kiyosumi M, Kusakabe O, Ohuchi M (2011) Model tests and analyses
of bearing capacity of strip footing on stiff ground with voids. J
Geotech Geoenviron Eng 137:1522–1531. https://d​ oi.o​ rg/1​ 0.1​ 061/​
(ASCE)​GT.​1943-​5606.​00004​40
Kumar P, Chauhan VB (2022) Bearing capacity of strip footing rest-
ing above a circular void in the rock mass using adaptive finite
element method. Innov Infrastruct Solut 7:72. https://​doi.​org/​10.​
1007/​s41062-​021-​00666-y
Lavasan AA, Talsaz A, Ghazavi M et al (2016) Behavior of shallow
strip footing on twin voids. Geotech Geol Eng 34:1791–1805.
https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s10706-​016-​9989-6
Lee JK, Jeong S, Ko J (2014) Undrained stability of surface strip foot-
ings above voids. Comput Geotech 62:128–135. https://​doi.​org/​
10.​1016/j.​compg​eo.​2014.​07.​009
Mahmoudi M, Rajabi AM (2020) Application of numerical back
analysis for determination of soil mass specifications during
13
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1265
tunnel construction. Arab J Geosci. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​
s12517-​020-​05935-1
Mansouri T, Boufarh R, Saadi D (2021) Effects of underground circular
void on strip footing laid on the edge of a cohesionless slope under
eccentric loads. Soils and Rocks 44:1. https://​doi.​org/​10.​28927/​
SR.​2021.​055920.
Meyerhof GG (1963) Some recent research on the bearing capacity of
foundations. Can Geotech J.1. 26,1:16. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1139/​
t63-​003
Prandtl L (1920) Uber die Harte Plasticher Korper. Nachr Ges Wiss. Gottin-
gen Math Phys Kl 12:74–85. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1016/j.​compg​eo.​2014.​
07.​009
Rodriguez-Roa F (2002) Ground subsidence due to a shallow tunnel in
dense sandy gravel. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng ASCE 128.https://​
doi.​org/​10.​1061/​(ASCE)​1090-​0241(2002)​128:​5(426)
Wang MC, Baus RL (1980) Settlement behavior of footing above a
void. In: Proceedings of the 2nd conference on ground movement
and structures. Cardiff, UK. 68,184–194
Wang MC, Badie A (1985) Effect of underground void on foundation
stability. J Geotech Eng Div ASCE 111:1008–1019. https://​doi.​
org/​10.​1061/​(ASCE)​0733-​9410(1985)​111:​8(1008)
Wang MC, Hsieh CW (1987) Collapse load of strip footing above cir-
cular void. J Geotech Eng 113:511–515. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1061/​
(ASCE)​0733-​9410(1987)​113:​5(511)
Wang MC, Kim YU, Jun JT (2001) Cavity effect on collapse load of
strip footings. Proceedings of the international conference on soil
mechanics and geotechnical engineering, vol. 1. Balkema Publish-
ers, 317–320
Wu G, Zhao M, Zhang R, Liang G (2020) Ultimate bearing capacity
of eccentrically loaded strip footings above voids in rock masses.
Comput Geotech 128:103819. https://d​ oi.o​ rg/1​ 0.1​ 016/j.c​ ompge​ o.​
2020.​103819
Xiao Y, Zhao M, Zhao H (2020) Undrained stability of strip footing
above voids in two-layered clays by finite element limit analysis.
Comput Geotech 97:124–133. https://d​ oi.o​ rg/1​ 0.1​ 016/j.c​ ompge​ o.​
2018.​01.​005
Xiao Y, Zhao M, Zhao H (2018) Undrained stability of strip footing
above voids in two-layered clays by finite element limit analysis.
Comput Geotech 97.https://​doi.​org/​10.​1016/j.​compg​eo.​2018.​01.​
005