EXPERIMENTALLY MEASUREMENT AND ANALYSIS OF STRESS UNDER FOUNDATION SLAB

Abstract

Understanding of a load redistribution into subsoil below building foundation is an important
knowledge for reliable design and its economy too. The article presents the results of a physical model of a
foundation slab and its interaction with the subsoil. The interactions were investigated comprehensively by
monitoring the developments of stress in the subsoil and foundation slab settlement during its loading. The
load acting on the foundation was applied by strutting the hydraulic press against heavy steel frame which
was established by the Department of Building Structures, Faculty of Civil Engineering of VSB -TU Ostrava
for this purpose. The preparatory phase of the present experiment involved the homogenization of soil during
which trio pressure cells in three horizons were gradually fitted. The quality of homogenization was checked
on an ongoing basis through field tests: dynamic penetration load test, dynamic plate load test and seismic
measurement of foundation slab response. Finally, the homogenized soil was subjected to mechanical
analysis to determine the strength and deformation parameters for basic Mohr-Coulomb constitutive model.