Upper bound solutions of ultimate bearing capacity of curved footing

The bearing capacity of curved footing over foundation soil is considered. In order to solve the ultimate bearing capacity of curved footing on the soil, the Prandtl and the Hill mechanisms are improved. The kinematic approach of the limit analysis is used to calculate the average limit pressure under footings. Using the limit analysis methods, the upper bound solutions of the ultimate bearing capacity are obtained. By comparison, the solutions are greater than those of the ultimate bearing capacity of the plane footing and less than those of the ultimate bearing capacity of the plane footing with which the buried depth is half the width. The analytical solutions can be used for calculation of curved footing.