Ghanim, H., Al-Wakel, S., Samueel, Z. (2025). Experimental and numerical investigation of the influence of relative density on the behavior of ring footings on an inclined surface. , 43(11), 1015-1022. doi: 10.30684/etj.2025.156504.1891
Huda A. Ghanim; Saad F. A. Al-Wakel; Zeena W. Samueel. "Experimental and numerical investigation of the influence of relative density on the behavior of ring footings on an inclined surface". , 43, 11, 2025, 1015-1022. doi: 10.30684/etj.2025.156504.1891
Ghanim, H., Al-Wakel, S., Samueel, Z. (2025). 'Experimental and numerical investigation of the influence of relative density on the behavior of ring footings on an inclined surface', , 43(11), pp. 1015-1022. doi: 10.30684/etj.2025.156504.1891
Ghanim, H., Al-Wakel, S., Samueel, Z. Experimental and numerical investigation of the influence of relative density on the behavior of ring footings on an inclined surface. , 2025; 43(11): 1015-1022. doi: 10.30684/etj.2025.156504.1891

Experimental and numerical investigation of the influence of relative density on the behavior of ring footings on an inclined surface

Engineering and Technology Journal
Volume 43, Issue 11, November 2025, Pages 1015-1022    PDF (604.19 K)
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.30684/etj.2025.156504.1891
Authors
Huda A. Ghanim* ; Saad F. A. Al-Wakel; Zeena W. Samueel
Civil Engineering College, University of Technology-Iraq, Alsina’a street, 10066 Baghdad, Iraq.
Abstract
Ring footings are a crucial foundation type for supporting large and tall structures, as they enhance structural stability, mitigate the risk of overturning, and resist lateral forces. Compared with conventional circular foundations, ring footings also provide savings in construction materials and overall cost. This study examines the behavior of ring footings with radius ratios of n = 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75. The models consist of steel footings with a thickness of 50 mm and an area of 2200 mm², placed on granular sandy soil with a dried unit weight of 16 kN/m³ and a relative density of 50%. The footings were positioned at a distance of b/Do​=1 from the slope crest to assess the influence of inclined surfaces. Centrifuge modeling was employed to simulate realistic field stresses, while numerical analyses were performed using PLAXIS 3D to verify and supplement the experimental data. The results show that the bearing capacity of ring foundations decreases as the surface inclination increases from 10° to 20°. On average, this reduction is about 10–15%, indicating the significant effect of slope angle on foundation performance. Furthermore, increasing the radius ratio of the footing leads to an additional decrease in bearing capacity, which aligns with previous studies. The combined experimental and numerical approach highlights the importance of considering slope inclination and geometry in the design of ring footings. These findings offer practical guidance for enhancing foundation stability and cost efficiency in geotechnical engineering applications involving sloping sandy soils.

Highlights
  • Behavior of ring footings with radius ratios of n = 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 was investigated.
  • The bearing capacity of ring foundations decreases as the surface inclination increases from 10° to 20°.
  • Numerical simulations of the ring foundations were carried out using the PLAXIS 3D finite element program.
  • The bearing capacity of ring footings decreased by 15% when the slope angle increased from 10° to 20°.
Keywords
Bearing capacity; Centrifuge modeling; Ring footing; Inclined surface; Numerical analysis
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