FLEXIBLE TANK FOUNDATION ON ELASTIC SATURATED SOIL

FLEXIBLE TANK FOUNDATION ON ELASTIC SATURATED SOIL

In this case a exible tank on elastic saturated soil is tested. The test includes the
verication of the settlement of the centre of the tank for the condition of homogeneous,
isotropic soil of nite depth in PLAXIS.
Used version:
PLAXIS 2D - Version 2011
PLAXIS 3D - Version 2012
Input: In this case a exible tank on elastic saturated soil is tested. The test includes
the verication of the settlement of the tank for the condition of homogeneous, isotropic
soil of nite depth. The tank will impose a pressure difference in the soil of
q = 263.3 kN/m
2
. The soil properties are:
E' = 95.8 MN/m
2
= 0.499
The dimensions of the tank used in the test calculation in PLAXIS 2D are shown in Figure
1. An axisymmetric model is used. Geometry lines to be used for local renement are
introduced at the corners of the foundation and 4 m below it.
4 m
23.35 m
116.75 m
116.75 m
Figure 1 Model geometry and dimensions (PLAXIS 2D)
The dimensions of the tank used in the test calculation in PLAXIS 3D are shown in Figure
2.
Meshing: The Coarse option is selected for the Global coarseness. The horizontal
geometry under the foundation is rened with a factor of 0.2.
Calculations: In the Initial phase zero initial stresses are generated by using the K0
procedure with -Mweight equal to zero. The footing is activated in a separate phase
(Phase 1). The calculation type is Plastic analysis and a Tolerated error of 0.001 is
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VALIDATION & VERIFICATION
116.75 m
125 m
125 m
125 m
125 m
46.70 m
Figure 2 Model geometry and dimensions (PLAXIS 3D)
dened.
Output: The vertical settlement of the surface at the centre of the tank are 74.21 mm
and 75.02 mm for PLAXIS 2D and PLAXIS 3D respectively. The vertical displacements
shadings are shown in the Figures 3 and 4.
Figure 3 Vertical displacements (PLAXIS 2D)
Verication: The settlement at the centre of the tank is given by Lancellota (2008):
u
y
=
qRI
p
E
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FLEXIBLE TANK FOUNDATION ON ELASTIC SATURATED SOIL
Figure 4 Vertical displacements (PLAXIS 3D)
Where I
p
is the inuence coefcient, which can be determined with Figure 5.
Figure 5 Inuence coefcients for settlement under uniform load over circular area (Terzaghi (1948))
The settlement at the centre of the tank is therefore:
u
y
=
263.3 23.35 1.15
95.8 1000
= 0.07380 m = 73.80 mm
This is in good correspondence with the numerical value from PLAXIS.
REFERENCES
[1] Lancellota, R. (2008). Geotechnical engineering. Balkema.
[2] Terzaghi, K. (1948). Theoretical soil mechanics.
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