Experimental and Numerical Study of Strip Footing Supported on Stabilized Sand Slope

The paper presents the results of laboratory model tests and theoretical analysis on the behavior of a strip footing supported on sheet pile wall-stabilized sandy slope and loaded vertically to failure. The parameters varied in the study include the height, stiffness and location of the sheet pile wall, the location of the footing relative to the slope crest and the relative density of sand. Two-dimensional plane strain finite element analyses was used to analyze a prototype strip footing on sandy slope with same conditions. The results indicate that the inclusion of sheet pile wall has significant effect in improving the response of the strip footing and the slope itself. The theoretical results confirm the experimental results of the model footing tests and show reasonable agreement. Based on the numerical and experimental results, critical values of the sheet pile wall parameters for maximum stabilizing effect are established.