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3. Various types of soil models

3.1 Winklers Spring Model It is well known that deformability of soil under stres
s can be modelled by springs knowing the subgrade modulus of soil.
Fig 3.1 Soil as springs
Calculation of the stiffness of the vertical springs to be used in the model The
rigidity of the springs can be calculated by subgrade modulus or the modulus of
elasticity of the soil. From the Youngs modulus
As we know that, Stressstrain
Or, = stress = Youngs modulus of elasticity = strain
Where,
If we consider a cubical element of the soil and multiply by the area of any of
the face with the stress over that face we will get the force over that face. Th
erefore, multiplying the above equation by area A,

Or,
F=AE
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Or, Or,
F= (AE).(L/L) F= (AE/L). L
Therefore, (AE/L) can be considered as the equivalent spring constant of that el
ement of the soil
but due to heterogeneous nature of the soil, this constant can vary from element
to element. So care should be taken while using the constant value in our model
.

From the subgrade modulus of the soil

Subgrade of the soil multiplied by the tributary area will give the stiffness of
the springs. Suppose we have to insert one spring in the centre of the plate wh
ich has been divided into four parts. The spring constant will be obtained from
the contribution from the all four parts of the plate i.e. Spring constant= A3 A
4 Fig 3.2 Subgrade of the soil * ()(A1+A2+A3+A4)
A1
A2
*The springs used here are uncoupled which means that each spring in independent
of the movement of the other spring which is not the case in reality because th
e movement of any soil grain is not independent of the other soil grain in its v
icinity. So, we need to make some modification in the values of the spring const
ant to couple them and to do so, softer springs should be provided in the interi
ors of the plate and the stiffness of the springs should increase as we move out
wards. To do so, some of the structural engineers provide double springs near th
e edge of the plate. But, in this case it has been assumed that stiffness of the
springs are constant throughout to take into account some coupling effect (refe
rence, FOUNDATION ANALYSIS AND DESIGN; J.E. BOWLES).
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Example 1 Using STAAD.pro one individual footing has been modelled as a plate an
d has been divided into 72 elements. The subgrade modulus used for the soil is 4
000 kN/ .
Fig 3.3 Spring modelling in STAAD.pro
Springs are provide in 3 zones i.e. springs on the interior of the plate, spring
s on the corners of the plate and the springs on the edge of the plate other tha
n corner springs. Spring constants: For Interior Springs: Area of one plate elem
ent= (4/9)*(4.85/8) m2 = 0.269444 m2 From the figure, it is clear that for inter
ior springs (for example spring number 1), each plate on the 4 side of the node
will contribute 1/4th of their area. Thus, Stiffness of interior spring = 4*(1/4
)*(Area of one plate element)*(Subgrade modulus) =4*(1/4)*(0.269444)*(4000) kN/m
=1077.77 kN/m
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For Corner Springs: As it is evident from the above figure that for the spring n
umber 3, only one plate element is contributing 1/4th of its area. Thus, Stiffne
ss = ()*(area of one plate element)*(subgrade modulus) = (1/4)*(0.269444)*(4000)
kN/m =269.44 KN/m
For Edge Springs: It can be seen that for the springs at the edge (other than at
corner) only two of the plate elements contribute 1/4th of their area. Thus, St
iffness = 2*()*(area of one plate element)*(subgrade modulus) = 2*(1/4)*(0.269444
)*(4000) kN/m = 538.88 kN/m
Individual Footing Thickness of the footing has been assumed to be 1.15m. The di
mensions of the footing are 4m X 4.85m and a load of 7952.667 kN has been applie
d and the results are as shown in the diagrams. Springs of constant stiffness ha
ve been used to take coupling effect of the soil into account.
Fig 3.4 Bending moment in the plates along the two axes
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It can be noted that the maximum magnitude of the bending moment in the plate is
1209 kN/m.
Example 2 Two Individual Footing Connected By A Raft Two footings of same proper
ties, loading and dimensions have been now combined by a raft of thickness 500 m
m and then analysed. Same stiffness values have been used as the area of each pl
ate has been kept same as in case of example 1. The length of the raft is taken
equal to 2 m.The results obtained have been shown in the diagram below:
Fig 3.5 Bending moment Mx in case of combined footing
Fig3.6 Bending moment My in case of combined footing
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It is observed that the magnitude of maximum bending moment in case of the combi
ned footing is 1215 kN/m which is slightly greater in magnitude than that obtain
ed in case of the individual footings. In one of the direction i.e. Mx in this c
ase; the bending moment reduces but in other direction there is no significant c
hange in the magnitude of bending moment.