Estimation of Weak Floor strata Properties and their Influence on Floor Bearing Strength through Physical Modelling Technique

摘要

This paper evaluates some properties of weak floor strata and their influence on bearing strength of the floor. In order to determine the bearing strength, the plate loading tests were conducted on mode/floor strata using the equivalent material modelling approach. The analysis was made for strip surface footing. The load exerted by the plate on the floor strata was assumed to be uniformly distributed. The physico-mechanical properties of weak floor strata determined include unconfined compressive strength (sigma_c) internal friction (phi) and the moisture content (Mc). Attempts were made to correlate these properties with ultimate bearing strength (Bs) of weak floor strata. The regression analysis shows that apart from the influence of various plate sizes, the ultimate bearing strength is strongly correlated with the unconfined compressive strength of floor strata. A better correlation between moisture content (Mc) and ultimate bearing strength with a regression coefficient of 0.91 was also achieved. An excellent correlation between angle of internal friction (phi) and ultimate bearing strength (Bs) was achieved with a confidence level of more than 95 percent.