A numerical model for settlement analysis of circular plates on multilayered soil

This paper presents a numerical model for calculating settlements and contact stresses of a circular plate resting on an elastic subgrade. The method is an extension of the elastic continuum method developed by Poulos and Davis for piles. Soil settlements are calculated with Mindlin’s equations. Plate settlements are calculated through a finite difference approximation of Kirchhoff’s equations for thin plate bending. The method, originally devised for homogenous soils, has been extended for multilayered soils using the Steinbrenner approximation. Model validation was performed by comparing results with a finite element solution and with previously published methods. The results prove that the method provides a very good approximation for homogenous soils and also for multilayered soils in which soil stiffness increases with depth, while for layered soils with stiffness decreasing with depth the Steinbrenner approximation was found not to be sufficiently accurate. Compared to alternative numerical methods, such as those using variational calculus, the proposed method has the advantage of its greater simplicity. • We present a model for analysis of circular plates on elastic foundations. • The model is based on the elastic continuum method, commonly applied to piles. • The method can be applied to multilayered soils using the Steinbrenner approximation. • The results showed a very good agreement with an FEM solution. • In most cases, the method proved more accurate than more complex alternatives.