Effects of cracks and desiccation on the bearing capacity of soil deposits

Large cracks in soil deposits have been identified in many locations in different parts of the world. Various studies have examined processes of crack formation and interactions with atmospheric conditions, but the effects of cracking on bearing capacity have received little attention. This study used a geotechnical centrifuge to simulate the influence of cracks and desiccation on the bearing capacity of shallow circular foundations. The results indicate that there are different failure mechanisms depending on the depth of the cracks.