Effect of fabric anisotropy on bearing capacity and failure mode of strip footing on sand: An anisotropic model perspective

Abstract Soils are inherently anisotropic, which may significantly influence their mechanical behavior and the performance of related geostructures. In this study, the response of strip footing on anisotropic sand was investigated using a J2-type deformation model coupled with state-dependent dilatancy and fabric evolution. The capability of the model was validated by simulating several element tests and a centrifuge test of strip footing. Footing tests with varying fabric orientations and relative densities were numerically simulated, revealing the influence of fabric anisotropy on the bearing capacity and its mobilization mechanism. Additionally, the effect of fabric on the failure mode of strip footing, including the pattern of the shear band, displacement field within the sand mass, and progressive failure characteristics, was also investigated. The simulation results obtained using an isotropic model indicate that neglecting the fabric anisotropy may cause severe overestimation of the bearing capacity of the strip footing.