FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

Foundation engineering is the subject that studies the design of geotechnical systems directly or indirectly related to the support of the loads of buildings, bridges, towers, silos and other structures. Foundations and other geotechnical systems must be designed in such a way that they are safe and that they serve their intended function at the lowest possible cost. Of all the geotechnical systems used in foundation solutions, Prof. Salgado is particularly interested in shallow foudnations, deep foundations and slopes. Prof. Salgado and the researchers in his group have been conducting research on both stability (related to safety) and deflections (related to serviceability) of foundations and other geotechnical systems.

Specific Research Interests

• Cone Penetration Test Interpretation
• Design and Analysis of Axially Loaded Piles
• Design and Analysis of Laterally Loaded Piles
• Design and Analysis of Shallow Foundations
• Stability of Geotechnical Structures using Limit Analysis
• Dilatometer testing

Cone Penetration Test Interpretation

1. Lateral Stress Effects on CPT Liquefaction Resistance Correlations.
2. Calibration Chamber Size Effects on Penetration Resistance in Sand.
3. Extra-terrestrial Soil Property Determination by CPT.
4. Design of Deep Foundations in Sands Based on CPT Results.
5. Pile Design Based on Penetration Test Results.
6. Use of CPT Results for Pile Base Resistance in Granular Soils.
7. Evaluation of Liquefaction Resistance of Clean and Silty Sands Based on CPT Cone Penetration Resistance.
8. Estimation of the Load Capacity of Pipe Piles in Sand Based on CPT Results.

Design and Analysis of Axially Loaded Piles

1. Penetration Resistance in Sands: Analysis and Applications to Liquefaction Potential Assessment and Estimation of Pile Base Resistance.
2. Determination of Pile Base Resistance in Sands.
3. Analysis of Calibration Chamber Plate Load Testing.
4. Determination of Bearing Capacity of Open-Ended Piles in Sand.
5. The Behavior of Open- and Closed-ended Piles Driven into Sands.
6. Estimation of the Load Capacity of Pipe Piles in Sand Based on CPT Results.
7. Calibration Chamber Size Effects on Penetration Resistance in Sand.
8. The Tip Displacement of Drilled Shafts in Sands.
9. Design of Deep Foundations in Sands Based on CPT Results.
10. Pile Design Based on Penetration Test Results.
11. Loading Response of Piles Bearing in Sand.
12. Pre-Failure Loading Response of Foundations on Sand.
13. Use of CPT Results for Pile Base Resistance in Granular Soils.
14. Non-linear Finite Element Analysis of Calibration Chamber Plate Load Tests for Sands.
15. Influence of Pile Installation Method on Pipe Pile Behavior in Sands.

Design and Analysis of Laterally Loaded Piles

Design and Analysis of Shallow Foundations

1. Shear Strength and Stiffness of Silty Sands.
2. The Estimation of the Settlement of Footings in Sand.

Stability of Geotechnical Structures using Limit Analysis

1. Limit Analysis vs. Limit Equilibrium for Slope Stability Assessment.
2. Limit Analysis of Soil Slopes Subjected to Porewater Pressures.
3. Limit Analysis of Complex Soil Slopes.
4. Comparative Study of Limit Equilibrium, Limit Analysis and Finite Element Analysis of the Seismic Stability of Slopes.
5. Limit Analysis vs. Limit Equilibrium for Slope Stability Assessment.
6. Análise Limite para Taludes com Perfis Complexos de Solos.

Dilatometer Testing

1. The Research Dilatometer: In-situ and Calibration Test Results.