Ultimate bearing capacity of embedded strip footings on rock slopes under inclined loading conditions using adaptive finite element limit analysis

The stability of rock slope-footing systems is influenced by various factors, including slope geometry, rock mass strength, load properties, and foundation placement. Previous studies on the ultimate bearing capacity of strip footings on slopes have primarily focused on slope geometry and rock mass strength, with limited attention to the effects of foundation embedment depth and inclined loads. This study employs the finite element limit analysis (FELA) method to examine the influence of load inclination angles on the ultimate bearing capacity of strip footings with varying embedment depths on rock slopes. Additionally, an image recognition technique is utilized to quantify the sliding volume of the rock slope-footing system at the failure moment. A detailed parametric study is conducted, considering influential parameters such as embedment depth ratio, load properties (inclination angle), edge distance ratio, slope geometry, and geotechnical parameters based on the Hoek-Brown criterion. The results reveal that the ultimate bearing capacity of the foundation and the sliding volume of the system increase with greater foundation embedment depth. The impact of inclined loads on the slope-foundation system is represented by a failure envelope. Owing to the asymmetry of the slope-foundation geometry, the failure envelope is not symmetric about the vertical loading direction.