Empirical Relationships Between the Elastic Settlement of Rigid Rectangular Foundations and the Settlement of the Respective Flexible Foundations

The problem of settlement shallow foundations is among the most important ones in classical soil mechanics. And while for flexible elastic solutions are widely used, rigid rectangular where actual contact pressure distribution still unknown, approximated either analytically assuming a or semi‐empirically combining theory elasticity with experimental and/or numerical results. A third and often attractive choice use simple empirical relationships relevant tabulated values relating (ρR) respective (e.g. at center, ρCe). Reviewing relathionships this approach, author revealed serious lack consesous between various sources; example, according to literature, ρR ranges 68 125% ρCe, time when it well-known that < ρCe. In paper, comparison 210 foundation cases derived from 3D finite element analysis, elasticity, led ρCe as well ρAv (ρAv = average foundation) coefficient determination (R2) almost unity. analysis showed these largely independent aspect ratio thickness Poisson’s (ν) compressible medium, although separate given ν 0.5, slightly increasing R2. Finally, correction factor rigidity exploting known linear relationship exists relative stiffness settlement.