Analysis of the bearing capacity of conical foundations on slope crest Hoek-brown through finite element method

Abstract

There has been a growing trend toward constructing and operating infrastructure in mountainous terrains in recent decades due to land scarcity and the rapid pace of global urbanization. Therefore, for wind turbine projects, structures are often constructed with standard load-bearing footings, such as conical foundations on sloping terrain. Previous studies have applied the finite element method to investigate the behavior of various shallow foundations, such as strip foundations, circular foundations, and ring footings on sloping ground, considering ultimate bearing capacity with multiple geotechnical soil models and applied loads. In this paper, the bearing capacity of conical foundations is investigated when placed near the slope crest, along with the influential parameters of the soil through finite element software Plaxis 3D and the Hoek-Brown yield criterion. Firstly, the model is simulated along with the rock model parameters, including the geological strength index and yield parameters. Additionally, the failure mechanism of the conical foundation on the Hoek-Brown rock mass is also depicted to assess the influence of all other parameters. The study's findings will provide valuable insights for optimizing construction solutions for conical foundations under different geological conditions.