Abstract:
The development in analysis and design of shell type foundations have led to the understanding that there are
more advantages of shell type foundations compared to their conventional flat counterparts. The hearing
capacities of conical and pyramidal shell foundations on dry sand were determined in the present paper by
conducting laboratory model tests. The results were compared with those of circular and square flat
foundations, respectively. Four foundation models on dry sand were tested in which influence of the shell
configuration on the hearing capacity and settlement were investigated. The present experimental study
indicated admirable performance of shell type foundations with respect to ultimate and settlement
characteristics. Also characteristic of deformations or the failure mechanism of both shell and its flat
counterparts were simultaneously investigated by using coloured and non-coloured sand layer by layer in dry
sand model.
