Probabilistic analysis of ultimate seismic bearing capacity of strip foundations

This paper presents a reliability analysis of the pseudo-static seismic bearing capacity of a strip foundation using the limit equilibrium theory. The first-order reliability method (FORM) is employed to calculate the reliability index. The response surface methodology (RSM) is used to assess the Hasofer-Lind reliability index and then it is optimized using a genetic algorithm (GA). The random variables used are the soil shear strength parameters and the seismic coefficients (kh and kv). Two assumptions (normal and non-normal distribution) are used for the random variables. The assumption of uncorrelated variables was found to be conservative in comparison to that of negatively correlated soil shear strength parameters. The assumption of non-normal distribution for the random variables can induce a negative effect on the reliability index of the practical range of the seismic bearing capacity.