LOAD SETTLEMENT BEHAVIOUR OF CIRCULAR PLATE IN SANDY SOIL MIXED WITH FINE GRAVELS AND ITS NUMERICAL MODELLING IN ABAQUS 6.10

Abstract

This project work evaluates the load settlement response to investigate the influence of density of coarse sand and addition of gravel in sand. For this, modeled plate load test has been conducted on small and large scale setup. In this work to conduct small scale modeled plate load test a mild steel box of 0.4m X 0.7m X 0.5m and plates of 100 mm, 150 mm and 200mm diameter have been used .The influence of density of sand can be investigated by performing plate load test at various densities i.e. 17.8, 19.28, 21.24 and 25 KN/m3 respectively and effect of fine gravels by adding 8%, 16% and 24% respectively. Large scale model testing has also been conducted on a box of 1.5m X 1.5m X0.8m and plate load test results of large scale and small scale are compared. The experimental results are also compared with numerical simulation done in Abaqus 6.10. The outcomes of experimental investigation shows that as the soil get densified, the settlement of modeled footing goes on decreasing and the bearing capability of sand can be improved by adding fine gravels. From the outcomes it can also be stated that with increment in plate size the settlement under footing also increases. From the comparison of experimental results with elastic analysis in software it has been found that the settlement at a particular load is more in case of elastic one than that in experimental results that may be the case of elasto- plastic / plastic behavior.