Innovative safety framework and direct load-settlement method to optimize vertical subgrade modulus in sustainable mat foundations
[EN] This work presents a rigorously formulated methodology for directly estimating the vertical subgrade modulus (Ks) in slab foundations, overcoming key deficiencies of conventional indirect and semi-direct approaches. The model integrates elastic half-space theory with multilayer settlement analy...
| Autores: | , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2026 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) |
| Repositorio: | RiuNet. Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:riunet.upv.es:10251/232383 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/232383 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Sustainable construction Soil-structure interaction Subgrade modulus Foundation design: Geotechnical engineering Life cycle assessment Multi-criteria decision analysis 09.- Desarrollar infraestructuras resilientes, promover la industrialización inclusiva y sostenible, y fomentar la innovación |
| Sumario: | [EN] This work presents a rigorously formulated methodology for directly estimating the vertical subgrade modulus (Ks) in slab foundations, overcoming key deficiencies of conventional indirect and semi-direct approaches. The model integrates elastic half-space theory with multilayer settlement analysis and oedometer-based consolidation mechanics, explicitly incorporating depth of influence and load compensation effects¿parameters typically excluded from standard practice. The proposed formulation yields a Ks value of 5.30 MN/m3, closely matching the harmonic mean of established upper (17.82 MN/m3) and lower (2.91 MN/m3) bounds, thereby producing a modulus consistent with elastic energy principles and mechanistically grounded, suitable for advanced soil¿structure interaction modeling. A new, application-specific safety coefficient for Ks is introduced, offering a calibrated metric for reliability-based foundation design under spatially variable subsurface conditions. The study implements a life-cycle sustainability assessment across three reinforced concrete slab foundation alternatives, utilizing a hybrid neutrosophic analytic hierarchy process (NAHP-G) in conjunction with the ELECTRE IS multi-criteria decision method. This framework enables integrated evaluation across structural, environmental, and socio-economic dimensions. Results indicate a 2.5-fold enhancement in the social safety index and a 50 % relative improvement in sustainability performance compared with baseline methodologies. The outcomes delineate a unified analytical and decision-making framework for subgrade characterization and foundation optimization, advancing the state of practice in geotechnical design and sustainability integration. |
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