FINITE-ELEMENT MODELING OF SETTLEMENTS ON SPATIALLY RANDOM SOIL

The effect of a random and spatially correlated soil stiffness on the total settlement under the center of a uniformly loaded flexible-strip footing has been studied. Random field theory has been combined with the finite-element method to perform ''Monte Carlo'' simulations of th e settlement problem with a variable Young's modulus and a constant Po isson's ratio. The soil Young's modulus field has been simulated with a fixed mean, standard deviation, and spatial correlation structure us ing the local average subdivision (LAS) method. The results of paramet ric studies have been compared with the deterministic quantities to ga uge the effect of the standard deviation, correlation structure, and g eometry on the settlement behavior. The results indicate a modest incr ease in expected settlement for presumptive ranges of soil stiffness v ariability.