A comparative study between the new model and the current model for T-shaped combined footings

This paper presents a more general model for T-shaped combined footings that support two columns aligned on a longitudinal axis and each column provides an axial load and two orthogonal moments. This model can be applied to the following conditions: (1) without restrictions on its sides, (2) a restricted side and (3) two opposite sides restricted. This model considers the linear soil pressure. The recently published works have been developed for a restricted side and for two opposite sides restricted by Luévanos-Rojas et al. (2018a, b). The current model considers the uniform pressure distribution because the position of the resultant force coincides with the center of gravity of the surface of the footing in contact with the soil in direction of the longitudinal axis where the columns are located. This paper shows three numerical examples. Example 1 is for a T-shaped combined footing with a limited side (one column is located on the property boundary). Example 2 is for a T-shaped combined footing with two limited opposite sides (the two columns are located on the property boundary). Example 3 is for a T-shaped combined footing with two limited opposite sides, one column is located in the center of the width of the upper flange (b1/2=L1), and other column is located at a distance half the width of the strip from the free end of the footing (b2/2=b–L1–L). The main advantage of this work over other works is that this model can be applied to T-shaped combined footings without restrictions on its sides, a restricted side and two opposite sides restricted. It also shows the deficiencies of the current model over the new model.