Abstract: The determination of ultimate bearing capacity of foundation near slope is an important subject for foundation design. Bearing capacity of ground is conventionally calculated using linear Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. However, measured data show that the strength envelopes of geomaterials are nonlinear. In this paper, the upper bound theorem of limit analysis with nonlinear failure criterion and a multi-tangential technique were employed to evaluate the bearing capacity of strip footings adjacent to slope . The unilateral rigid blocks sliding mode of strip footings adjacent to slope was considered according to the characteristics of the asymmetry failure mode. The velocity comparability and plastic flow rule satisfy the corresponding velocity field. A mobile permissible velocity field and the ultimate bearing capacity calculation formula of strip footings adjacent to slope were developed. A new method of determining ultimate bearing capacity of strip footings near slope was implemented using sequential quadratic programming optimization algorithm. The proposed method shows superior to other existing methods. The feasibility, rationality and universal applicability of the approach verified by comparison and analysis with current research results. Nonlinear failure parameter significantly impacts the bearing capacity. The rigorous multi-tangential technique method optimum calculated results.

Key words: ground adjacent to slope, nonlinear failure criterion, upper limit analysis, ultimate bearing capacity, multi- tangential technique method, optimization