Seismic Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations Under Large Earthquakes Using an Extended Pseudo-Dynamic Method

The seismic bearing capacity of foundations is an essential issue in seismically active regions, especially during significant earthquakes. This study presents an innovative time-domain pseudo-dynamic approach for estimating the seismic bearing capacity of strip foundations. By incorporating time-history ground motion, the analysis utilizes a composite failure surface that integrates active, logarithmic spiral, and passive zones to effectively capture the seismic response. Applying this method to significant earthquakes requires considering post-peak reduction in shear strength and shear wave velocity of the soil deposit. Furthermore, a comparative analysis is conducted, comparing the results with select experimental and analytical results from the literature. To explore further, a parametric study assesses the impact of key parameters, including shear wave velocity, soil layer thickness, frequency content, depth embedment, foundation width, damping ratio, shear strength parameters, and peak ground acceleration. The results indicate a more rapid decline in bearing capacity compared to previous studies.