Numerical Analysis of Eccentricity Influence on Bearing Capacity and Settlement of Tropical Soils: A Case Study of Northern Part of Penka-Michel, West Cameroon

This study investigates the effect of load eccentricity on the bearing capacity and settlement of soils beneath shallow foundations using numerical modeling with Plaxis 2D. Six soil samples were collected from different sites in Penka-Michel (West Cameroon) and classified according to the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS). The soils are predominantly fine-grained, comprising clayey sands (SC), low to highly plastic clays (CL, CH), and highly plastic silty-clayey materials (OH). Numerical analysis reveals that bearing capacity ranges from 3.5 to 10 bars, while settlement varies between 4 cm and 24.09 cm. Results indicate that footing behavior depends not only on soil type but also on load eccentricity. For sandy soils, settlements remain within acceptable limits when eccentricity is low. However, an eccentricity exceeding 10 cm leads to an 8% reduction in bearing capacity and a significant increase in settlement, particularly in fine soils. These findings suggest that eccentric footings exceeding 10 cm should be avoided in tropical fine soils to minimize structural damage to buildings.