New Calculation Model for Predicting the Bearing Capacity of Seabed Foundations under the Load of Mining Vehicles

In order to better explore the response state of seabed soil when the deep-sea mining vehicle walks on the seabed, this paper theoretically analyzes the bearing capacity of seabed foundation and the movement mode of soil under the track plate of the mining vehicle in detail. The main innovations are shown as follows. (1) The soil under the whole track plate is regarded as an ideal elastoplastic body, and the stress state under the critical failure condition is calculated by using the slip line field theory and the Mohr–Coulomb strength criterion. A simplified model for calculating bearing capacity is proposed. When the rigid core under the track plate is an isosceles triangle, it corresponds to the calculation model of vertical foundation bearing capacity. When the rigid core under the track plate is a nonisosceles triangle, it corresponds to the horizontal bearing capacity model of the foundation, and the analytical solution of the bearing capacity under the track plate is derived. (2) Based on the aforementioned solution, the factors affecting the bearing capacity are analyzed. (3) By comparing the aforementioned analysis model with the existing test results, the results show that the theoretical model proposed in this paper has certain rationality and applicability.