Slip-line field solution for ultimate bearing capacity of a pipeline on clay soils

A slip-line field solution is presented for the ultimate bearing capacity of the pipeline on a purely-cohesive clay soil, taking into account of circular configuration of the pipe, the pipe embedment, and the pipe-soil interfacial cohesion. The derived bearing capacity factors for a smooth rigid pipe may degenerate into those for the conventional rectangular-shaped strip footing while the pipe embedment approaches zero. Parametric studies indicate that, the pipe-soil interfacial properties have much influence on the bearing capacity for the pipe foundation on clayedy soils.