A study on interference of surface model footings resting on sand

Abstract

A model study has been conducted on the effect of interference of footings on bearing capacity and settlement of surface square, circular and strip footings resting on sand. One footing was loaded to its safe bearing capacity and increments of load were applied to an adjacent footing till complete failure of sand occurred. The efficiency of interfering footings have been compared to that of the isolated footings having the same size from the considerations of bearing capacity and settlement characteristics. The interference between footings was observed to cause an increase in bearing capacity and decrease in settlement with reduction in spacing.