Analysis and Design of Stiffened Slab Foundations on Reactive Soils using 3D Numerical Modelling

Abstract

Sophisticated three dimensional (3D) hydro-mechanical finite element (FE) models are developed to address the major shortcomings of the current design methods of stiffened slab foundations on reactive soils. The models simulate the complex shrink-swell responses of unsaturated soils, by incorporating a coupled flow-deformation and stress analysis. The models are used to perform an extensive parametric study whose outputs are compiled in the form of design equations, which serve as a new, standalone design method.