What is SoFA?
SoFA is a newly-developed simple program based on Matlab for
Static Bearing Capacity calculation using formulas from:
Design Codes
- Eurocode 7 (EC7 - 2004)
- DIN 4017 (DIN - 2006)
- Greek Antiseismic code (EAK - 2000)
Literature
- Meyerhof (MEY – 1953,1963)
- Hansen (HAN - 1970)
Seismic Bearing Capacity calculation using formulas from:
- Eurocode 8 (EC8 - 2005)
- Greek Antiseismic code (EAK - 2000)
Immediate Settlements calculation using the adjusted elasticity method for a footing sitting on
- Infinite depth elastic half-space
- Finite depth elastic strata
Settlements due to Consolidation calculation using confined one dimentional deformation model
Static Bearing Capacity calculation using formulas from:
Design Codes
- Eurocode 7 (EC7 - 2004)
- DIN 4017 (DIN - 2006)
- Greek Antiseismic code (EAK - 2000)
Literature
- Meyerhof (MEY – 1953,1963)
- Hansen (HAN - 1970)
Seismic Bearing Capacity calculation using formulas from:
- Eurocode 8 (EC8 - 2005)
- Greek Antiseismic code (EAK - 2000)
Immediate Settlements calculation using the adjusted elasticity method for a footing sitting on
- Infinite depth elastic half-space
- Finite depth elastic strata
Settlements due to Consolidation calculation using confined one dimentional deformation model
What can SoFA do?
- In this stand-alone program, safety factors are calculated for the ultimate bearing capacity using several well-known formulas from the literature and design codes.
- 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.
- SoFA provides solutions for all three design approaches implemented in Eurocode 7 (but in a totally customizable way), as well as in Eurocode 8 for earthquake loading.
- Strip and rectangular foundations, soil or foundation base inclination, cohesive and cohesionless soils, static and dynamic loads, drained and undrained conditions are examined.
- Results are given in both textual and graphical form
- SoFA has a simple user-friendly graphical interface and is well documented in order to attract engineers to exploit its capabilities.
Why is SoFA different from other similar programs?
Shallow foundation design procedure consists of several checks, among them the two usually most crucial are the bearing capacity and settlement calculations. Modern computer software used by engineering practice can be divided in two major categories analytical, that use empirical formulas and numerical that use finite element models to assess ultimate bearing capacity. SoFA uses only analytical formulas gathered from several literature papers or design codes that are embedded in a simple Matlab based program which aspires to become the engineers' “sidekick” in shallow foundation design.
Although its main purpose is to solve shallow foundation problems, bearing capacity formulas are of general interest, and are also used in raft foundations design or general bearing capacity problems.
Bearing capacity and settlement checks are of major importance in the design procedure of shallow foundations. SoFA software is oriented to help the designer and provide him with additional information that currently used commercial and free software usually omit. It is not uncommon for different design codes to lead to completely different results. Bearing capacity of foundations is usually underestimated, while settlements are overrated, which results in a conservative foundation design.
SoFA has a very simple graphical user interface and many capabilities. It uses analytical formulas from the literature and the European code provisions in an embedding manner, such that several results can be immediately compared. Static, earthquake bearing capacity and settlement formulas are examined.
SoFA uses the concept of partial safety factors as presented in Eurocode (several design approaches) in a fully customizable way. The user can modify every partial safety factor independently. Our program is adjusted in order to work for both strip and rectangular foundations. It produces extended reports of the results in textual and graphical form. Almost every calculation is transparent.
Using the design codes, engineers need to see beyond their provisions,as some codes take into account crucial phenomena not described in others. Using SoFA differences between literature and design codes are clearly viewed. Five different formulas from the literature: Eurocode(EC7), Greek Antiseismic code(EAK2000), DIN, Meyerhof(1963), and Hansen(1961) are used to compute the static load bearing capacity.
Eurocode 8 complex formula is used for the seismic bearing capacity.
Although its main purpose is to solve shallow foundation problems, bearing capacity formulas are of general interest, and are also used in raft foundations design or general bearing capacity problems.
Bearing capacity and settlement checks are of major importance in the design procedure of shallow foundations. SoFA software is oriented to help the designer and provide him with additional information that currently used commercial and free software usually omit. It is not uncommon for different design codes to lead to completely different results. Bearing capacity of foundations is usually underestimated, while settlements are overrated, which results in a conservative foundation design.
SoFA has a very simple graphical user interface and many capabilities. It uses analytical formulas from the literature and the European code provisions in an embedding manner, such that several results can be immediately compared. Static, earthquake bearing capacity and settlement formulas are examined.
SoFA uses the concept of partial safety factors as presented in Eurocode (several design approaches) in a fully customizable way. The user can modify every partial safety factor independently. Our program is adjusted in order to work for both strip and rectangular foundations. It produces extended reports of the results in textual and graphical form. Almost every calculation is transparent.
Using the design codes, engineers need to see beyond their provisions,as some codes take into account crucial phenomena not described in others. Using SoFA differences between literature and design codes are clearly viewed. Five different formulas from the literature: Eurocode(EC7), Greek Antiseismic code(EAK2000), DIN, Meyerhof(1963), and Hansen(1961) are used to compute the static load bearing capacity.
Eurocode 8 complex formula is used for the seismic bearing capacity.