version 1.0 Quick Guide - Weebly

SoFA version 1.0

Konstantinos Nikolaou Dimitris Pitilakis

ShallOw Foundation Analysis Software

Aristotle University of ThessalonikiThessaloniki 2012

Quick Guide

SoFA version.1.0

Quick guide Konstantinos Nikolaou

Dimitris Pitilakis

ShallOw Foundation Analysis Software

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki 2012

http://sofasoftware.weebly.com/

SoFA Quickguide Shallow Foundation Analysis Software

2

Contents

Contents .................................................................................................................................................... 2

1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 3

2. Install SoFA ...................................................................................................................................... 5

3. How to perform a static bearing capacity check ............................................................................... 7

4. How to perform earthquake bearing capacity check ....................................................................... 10

5. How to perform a settlement calculation ........................................................................................ 12

6. Feedback ......................................................................................................................................... 15


3

1. Introduction

About the software

SoFA is a newly-developed simple program based on Matlab, for the calculation of bearing

capacity and settlements of shallow foundations. Correct calculation of ultimate bearing

capacity and foundation settlement is the most crucial step in the design of shallow

foundations. Analytical solutions are preferred to numerical methods (i.e. complex finite

element models) in engineering practice, mainly because of their inherent simplicity. In this

stand-alone program, safety factors are calculated for the ultimate bearing capacity using

several well-known formulas from the literature. Short-term components of settlements are

calculated using the adjusted elasticity method, and confined one-dimensional deformation

of the soil is assumed for the consolidation. The newly-developed software provides

solutions for all three design approaches implemented in Eurocode 7, as well as in

Eurocode 8 for earthquake loading. Cohesive and cohesionless soils, static and dynamic

loads, drained and undrained conditions are examined. Our program has a simple user-

friendly graphical interface. It is freely distributed and well documented in order to attract

engineers to exploit its capabilities.

About this QuickGuide

This Quickguide contains all required information (briefly) to install and run SoFA. For an

advanced description of the algorithms and formulas used, consult the analytical user’s manual.

http://sofasoftware.weebly.com/documentation.html


4

Licensing information

This program is copyrighted (© K. Nikolaou) under the GNU General Public License as

published by the Free Software Foundation, version 2. In short, you can employ them freely

(assuming you cite the original source and the relevant publication) but if you want to build

upon, extend or re-distribute it, then the derivative software products will also have to be covered

under the GPL (i.e., be free software).

NO WARRANTY

THE PROGRAM IS DISTRIBUTED IN THE HOPE THAT IT WILL BE USEFUL, BUT

WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY. IT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY

KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE

IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR

PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE

PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME

THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.

IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW THE AUTHOR WILL BE

LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL

OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE

THE PROGRAM (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING

RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A

FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER PROGRAMS), EVEN IF

THE AUTHOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.


5

2. Install SoFA

Download SoFAv1_FULL_pkg.exe

1. Run SoFAv1_FULL_pkg.exe

Matlab Compiler Runtime (MCR) will automatically be installed.

*If you have MCR already installed, move on to step 3


6

2. You will find in the directory of SoFAv1_FULL_pkg the

SoFAv1_FULL.exe

MCRInstaller.exe

Readme.txt

3. Run SoFAv1_FULL.exe


7

3. How to perform a static bearing capacity check

1. Open SoFA

Figure 1 - main form

2. Input your problem data

Geometry of the problem

o select a rectangular or strip foundation

o footing dimensions

o depth of foundation

o depth of water level (you are allowed to set it infinite)

o footing base inclination

o soil inclination

Soil properties


8

o select a cohesive or cohesionless soil

o select drained or undrained loading conditions

o angle of friction (𝜙)

o cohesion or undrained shear strength of soil

o soil unit weight (𝛾)

o saturated soil unit weigth (𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 )

Loads (only static loads are used for a static bearing capacity check)

o Vertical, horizontal loads and moments

o Additional surface loads

o Select the appropriate Design Approach, default is DA2 (DA’s are described

in Eurocode 7)

o You may modify the partial safety factors at will

o Leave Earthquake Design at NO

3. Press Bearing Capacity Button (for graphical results) or View Report (for textual results)

The horizontal dashed line shows the appropriate Design Approach safety factor

Figure 2 - Static load case safety factors


9

Figure 3 - Ultimate bearing capacities

If you press View Report, a text like fig.4 will pop up. Also a .txt file will appear in the folder

you are running SoFA.

Figure 4 - Textual report


10

4. How to perform earthquake bearing capacity check

1. Repeat steps 1,2 as described in chapter How to perform static bearing capacity check

o Change Earthquake Design to YES

o Complete Earthquake Load Case with loads

2. At Eurocode 8-5 Annex F panel press Calculate. SoFA will calculate all the required

parameters.

3. Press Bearing Capacity Button (for graphical results) or View Report (for textual results)

Except from the static load case figures, a figure like Fig.5 will appear.


11

Figure 5 - Earthquake load case safety factors


12

5. How to perform a settlement calculation

1. Open SoFA

Figure 6 - main form

2. Input your problem data

Geometry of the problem

o select a rectangular or strip foundation

o footing dimensions

o depth of foundation

o depth of water level (you are allowed to set it infinite)

Soil properties

o select a cohesive or cohesionless soil

Loads (only static loads are used for settlement calculation)


13

o Vertical load applied

Settlement data

o Modulus of elasticity (E)

o Poisons ratio (n)

o Stratum thickness (H)

For cohesive soils, the following are also required

o Over consolidation ratio (OCR)

o Void ratio (eo)

o Cc factor

3. Press Settlements Button (for graphical results) or View Report (for textual results)

Figure 7 - Immediate, due to consolidation and total settlements

If you press View Report, a text like fig.8 will pop up. Also a .txt file will appear in the folder

you are running SoFA.


14

Figure 8 - Settlements Report


15

6. Feedback

Feel free to contact us for any comments, regarding SoFA. You can directly contact us by email

([email protected]) or use our comment form in our website.

If you discover what you think is a bug, report it here. Please try to include all SoFA reports.

mailto:[email protected]

http://sofasoftware.weebly.com/feedback.html

http://sofasoftware.weebly.com/bug-report.html

http://sofasoftware.weebly.com/

Documents

version 1.0 Quick Guide - Weebly