Deep foundations

Abstract

The stress transmission between a rigid foundation and the ground below is traditionally formulated into mathematical terms as the elastic problem of finding the stress state in a half-plane loaded by a rigid indentor. But this model is not realistic since foundations are not built on the surface of the ground but below its level, at the bottom of an excavation. We here suggest a solution for a notched elastic half-plane loaded by a rigid punch applied at the throat of the cavity.