Owing to the comeback of small-scale models, this paper presents results of an experimental study based on the effect of underground circular voids on strip footing placed on the edge of a cohesionless slope and subjected to eccentric loads. The bearing capacity-settlement relationship of footing on the slope and impact of diverse variables are expressed using dimensionless parameters such as the top vertical distance of the void from the base of footing, horizontal space linking the void-footing centre, and load eccentricity. The results verified that the stability of strip footing is influenced by the underground void, as well as the critical depth between the soil and top layer of the void. The critical horizontal distance between the void and the centre was also affected by the underground void. Furthermore, the results also verified that the influence of the void appeared insignificant when it was positioned at a depth or eccentricity equal to twice the width of footing.

The objective of the present manuscript is to describe the impact of polypropylene fibers on the behavior of heated concrete subjected to heating and cooling cycles at temperatures of 200, 450 and 600 °C respectively for six hours, through a series of experimental tests on mass loss, water absorption, porosity, compressive and tensile strength. For this purpose, mixes were prepared with a water/cement ratio with the incorporation of polypropylene fibers with a rate varying from 0.5 to 1.5%. These fibers were added in order to improve the thermal stability and to prevent the concrete from splitting. The results show that a considerable loss of strength was noticed for all tested specimens. The relative compressive strengths of the concretes containing polypropylene fibers were higher than those of the concretes without fibers. Also, a greater loss of mass of the polypropylene fibers compared to those without fibers was noticed when increasing the temperature. The flexural tensile strength of the concrete was more sensitive to elevated temperatures than the compressive strength and a rapid increase in porosity was observed for the fiber-reinforced concrete compared to the reference concrete. Furthermore, water absorption by the fibers is proportional to the fiber content of the concrete.

Owing to the comeback of small-scale models, this paper presents results of an experimental study based on the effect of underground circular voids on strip footing placed on the edge of a cohesionless slope and subjected to eccentric loads. The bearing capacity-settlement relationship of footing on the slope and impact of diverse variables are expressed using dimensionless parameters such as the top vertical distance of the void from the base of footing, horizontal space linking the void-footing centre, and load eccentricity. The results verified that the stability of strip footing is influenced by the underground void, as well as the critical depth between the soil and top layer of the void. The critical horizontal distance between the void and the centre was also affected by the underground void. Furthermore, the results also verified that the influence of the void appeared insignificant when it was positioned at a depth or eccentricity equal to twice the width of footing.    

During the last decade, the construction sector in Algeria has been in constant development with higher demands for urban lands. This has resulted in placing building foundations in closer proximities with potential impact on the bearing capacity and settlements. Moreover, there have been limited investigations on the interference and overlapping effects on the ultimate bearing capacity of closely placed footings. This work explains the numerical investigation of the interference effect of juxtaposed strip footings based on a bilayer granular soil. A numerical model, based on the finite element method, was developed using Plaxis Package. The influence of spacing between foundations, friction angle, Young's modulus and thickness of the first layer on the efficiency factor ξγ were examined. The obtained results show clearly that the efficiency factor depends significantly on the thickness and strength of the first layer.