TITLE:
Numerical Analysis of Eccentricity Influence on Bearing Capacity and Settlement of Tropical Soils: A Case Study of Northern Part of Penka-Michel, West Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Thiery Blondel Suffeu Talla, Jean Victor Kenfack, Eric Donald Teikeu Ngueveu, Abdoul Aboubakar, Armand Sylvain Ludovic Wouatong
KEYWORDS:
Bearing Capacity, Settlement, Shallow Foundation, Load Eccentricity, Numerical Modeling, Plaxis 2D
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.13 No.6,
June
13,
2025
ABSTRACT: 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.