Undrained bearing capacity of square and rectangular footings

The uniaxial vertical bearing capacity of square and rectangular footings resting on homogeneous undrained clay is investigatedwith finite element analyses, using both Tresca and von Mises soil models. Results are compared with predictions from conventionalbearing capacity theory and available analytical and numerical solutions. By calibrating the finite element results against known exactsolutions, best estimates of bearing capacity for rough-based rectangular footings are derived, with the shape factor fitted by a simplequadratic function of the footing aspect ratio. For a square footing, the bearing capacity is approximately 5% lower than that based onSkempton’s shape factor of 1.2.