Dynamic Load–Settlement Performance of Shallow Footings under Varying Vibration Frequencies
Received: 5 August 2025 | Revised: 23 August 2025 | Accepted: 30 August 2025 | Online: 8 December 2025
Corresponding author: Sarab Siham Tawfeeq
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of machine-induced vibration on the mechanical behavior of gypsum soils with subsurface cavities, utilizing numerical simulations. The analysis integrates advanced statistical methods, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), to explore the interactions between critical geotechnical variables, such as settlement, Energy Absorption (EA), Initial Stiffness (IS), Inflection Point (IP), secant stiffness at peak and mid-settlement, and ultimate bearing capacity (Qu). This study modeled subsurface cavities as cylindrical voids, represented the soil degradation by staged reduction of stiffness and strength, and introduced the dynamic loading with specified amplitudes, damping, and frequencies to account for resonance. Wilks' test reported F = 1.16, λ = 0.81, and p ≈ 0.04, indicating a statistically significant, yet, moderate impact of vibration. The results demonstrate that the vibration increased the settlement by more than 150%, reduced EA by up to 80%, decreased secant stiffness by over 70%, and lowered the ultimate bearing capacity by approximately 60%, particularly in soils with larger cavities and higher dissolution potential. These findings underscore the importance of accounting for dynamic loading in foundation design and point to practical measures, including conservative safety factors, targeted soil improvement, and effective resonance control.
Keywords:
gypseous soils, cavities, machine-induced vibration, dynamic loading, settlement responseDownloads
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