Indian Geotechnical Conference IGC2016

15-17 December 2016, IIT Madras, Chennai, India

DYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF SOILS FOR THE DESIGN OF

MACHINE FOUNDATIONS

Bablu Kirar 1
Research Scholar, Department of Earthquake Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee – 247667.
kirardeq@iitr.ac.in

A.Murali Krishana2
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Guwahati – 781039.
amurali@iitg.ac.in

Hasan M. Rangwala3
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, I.T., Nirma University, Ahmedabad – 382481.
hasan.m.rangwala@gmail.com
ABSTRACT: Analysis and design of machine foundations is very important area of research and has always been a
topic of special attention in foundation engineering. The design of machine foundation majorly depends on the
dynamic properties of soils. Investing dynamics properties is therefore very sensitive and challenging task. This
demads complex mathematical analysis for the incorporation of various aspects of design.
This paper presents a discussion about various dynamic soil properties those are essential in the machine foundation
design and the methods to evaluate them. Some of the established correlations between the important dynamic soil
properties and general soil properties are also presented. A design for machine foundations with given input parameter
is developed through a simple spread sheet program, to avoid complexity from the problem.
Keywords: Design of Machine Foundation, Block vibration test, resonant frequency, resonant amplitude, shear
modulus and damping ratio.

dynamic properties of soils [Savinov, (1955); Barkan,

1 Introduction
Design of machine foundations has always seized a
considrable attention in foundation engineering. In
the design of a foundation, that to support a machine,
the following criteria have to be satisfied (i) the
frequency of excitation force shall lie away the soil-
foundation system shall be and (ii) displacement of
the system shall be less the permissible limits. The
design of machine foundation majorly depends on the
dynamic properties of soils such as coefficient of
elastic uniform compression (Cu), coefficient of
elastic uniform shear (Cτ ), modulus of deformation
(E), shear modulus (G) and damping ratio (ξ).
The dynamic response of foundations on different
types of soil reported in the literature has been
reviewed. These investigations can be categorized in
(i) analytical approaches and (ii) the experimental
studies conducted in the field or in the laboratory.
Several theoretical approaches are available for
obtaining the dynamic response of embedded
foundation on soils [Jhonson et al., (1975); Gazetas et
al., (1987); Ahmad and Bhardwaj, (1991) and
Baishya (2002)]. Many investigations have also been
carried out to study the effect of embedment on the
(1962); Novak et al., (1972); Saran et al., (1979) and
Vijayvargiya (1980)]. However, apart from this, many
investigators [Baidya and Muralikrishna (2001);
Baidya and Rathi (2004); Baidya et al. (2006);
Mandal et al. (2012)] studied the dynamic response of
foundations resting on different types of layered soil
system.
This paper presents a discussion about various
dynamic soil properties those are essential in the
machine foundation design and the methods to
evaluate them. Some of the correlations between the
important dynamic soil properties are also presented.
The vertical block vibration test was adopted for the
experimental evaluation of the dynamic soil
properties which are useful in the analysis and design
of machine foundation. A number of vertical block
vibration tests were performed (according to IS 5249-
1992) on a block of size 0.75 m × 0.75 m × 1 m high
resting on ground. A brief discussion about the
experimental procedure, equipment and
instrumentation used is given.
1
Dynamic Properties of Soils for the Design of Machine Foundations

2 Experimental Study 3 Test results

A series of vertical block vibration test conducted on
test block of the size 0.75 m x 0.75 m x 1.0 m high
(Kirar 2010). The oscillator assembly is mounted
centrally on the block so to generate purely vertical
sinusoidal vibrations. Two acceleration pickups were
mounted on top of the block to record the vertical
acceleration of the block. The oscillator masses were
first set at a particular eccentricity and operated at
constant frequency, and the acceleration of the
oscillatory motion of block was monitored. The
oscillator frequency was increased in steps, and the
signals of monitoring pickups were recorded.
Amplitude verses frequency curves are plotted for the
Four vertical block vibration tests have been
conducted on the setup discussed above varying the
eccentricity of the eccentric masses in the oscillator.
The eccentricity were considered as 16.4º, 32.8º,
49.2º, and 65.6º. Each test was done at different
frequencies ranging from 5 Hz to 35 Hz. Amplitude
of vertical acceleration was recorded at the top of the
block and displacement amplitude was computed for
each reading. Displacement amplitude, az, was
plotted with the operating frequency, as shown in Fig.
2, to determine the natural frequency of the system.
0.15
θ = 16.4°

Displacement Amplitude
given eccentricity to determine the natural frequency θ = 32.8°
of the foundation soil system. The eccentricity of the 0.10 θ = 49.2°
oscillator mass was than modified and the natural θ = 65.6°

(mm)
frequency at different eccentricity were noted. The
complete test setup is shown in Fig. 1. 0.05

A poorly graded sand, having its bulk density of 18.6

0.00
kN/m3 and water content of 20%, was used for testing
purpose. Total mass of Eccentric masses were 16 kg 0 10 20 30 40
Frequency (Hz)
while the distance between the centre of shaft and the
c.g. Mass was 0.094 m.
Fig. 2 Amplitude Frequency Curve
Force induced by the oscillation was calculated by the
Eq. 1.

 
Fd  2me e 2 sin  
2 (1)
where, Fd = Dynamic force of the oscillator (N), m e =
eccentric mass of the oscillator (here 2m e = 16 kg), θ
= angle of eccentricity between masses (rad). e =
eccentricity of the mass (=0.094 m) and ω = angular
frequency (rad/sec).
Coefficient of elastic uniform compression,
coefficient of elastic uniform shear, elasticity
modulus and shear modulus can be calculated from
Eqs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Damping ratio ξ was
obtained by half power bandwidth method. Results
obtained from the study are presented in Table 1.

Fig. 1 Test Setup for Block Vibration Test

Table 1 Experimental results and analysis
Sr. θ fnz az Force Cu Cτ E G ξ
No. (Deg) (Hz) (microns) kN ×104 ×104 ×103 ×103 (%)
(kN/m3 ) (kN/m3 ) (kN/m2 ) (kN/m2 )
1 16.4 19.9 57 3.35 6.57 3.28 40.8 15.10 9.55
2 32.8 18.2 68 5.55 5.49 2.75 34.1 12.63 9.89
3 49.2 17.5 89 7.57 5.08 2.54 31.5 11.68 10.00
4 65.6 16 130 8.23 4.24 2.12 26.4 9.76 10.31

2

4 2 f nz2 M
Cu 
A (2)
C Exciting forces of the machine and short-circuit
C  u
2 (3)
E

Cu 1   2
 A
Cs
(4)
E
G
21    (5)
where, fnz = Natural frequency, M = Mass of the
block, exciter and motor, A = Contact area of the
block with the soil, μ = Poisson’s ratio, C s=
Coefficient depending on L/B ratio, 1.06 for L/B =1.
4 Interpretation and Discussion of Results
Vertical block vibration tests were performed on a
poorly graded sand. Amplitude frequency curves were
plotted and analysed for natural frequency and
damping. Dynamics Soil properties such as
coefficient of elastic uniform compression (C u),
coefficient of elastic uniform shear (Cτ), Young’s
modulus (E) and shear modulus (G) were obtained as
given in Table 1. It is evident from the results given
in Table 1, amplitude of vibration (a z) increases with
an increase in the eccentricity (or force). The natural
frequency of the system (fnz) decreases with an
increase in eccentricity. Coefficient of elastic uniform
compression (C u), coefficient of elastic uniform shear
(Cτ), Young’s modulus (E) and shear modulus (G)
also decreases with an increase in the eccentricity, as
they are frequency dependent properties. Damping
ratio increases with an increase in the eccentricity.
5 Design of Block Type Machine Foundation
Procedure adopted for the design of block type
machine foundation is described in detail in this
section (according to IS 2974 Part 1-1982). The
commencement of the design requires several data
like properties machine and properties of soil, which
are to be procuring before going to the rational design
for a foundation to support a machine. The important
design steps are discussed subsequently.
5.1 Properties of Machine
The properties of the machine is an essential data so
to plan and start the exploration for the various
parameter and its evaluation. Such various properties
are (i) Layout of the machine including loading
diagram and Plan, elevation, section with the
connection details. (ii) Height of the axis main shaft
Indian Geotechnical Conference IGC2016
15-17 December 2016, IIT Madras, Chennai, India
of the machine which is above the top of the
foundation. (iii) Capacity or rated output of the
machine (iv) Operating speed of the machine, (v)
moment of the motor, (vi) Position of cavities, open
spaces (if any) and anchor bolt locations and (vii)
Permissible amplitudes of vibration.
5.2 Properties of Soil and related Data
Properties of the soil which is to support the machine
foundation is a necessary data to be acquired. These
data include (i) soil profile and data, (ii) Generally
soil properties for depth equal to twice the width of
the proposed foundation or up to hard stratum, (iii)
Soil investigation to find the allowable soil pressure
and to also determine the dynamic properties of soil,
(iv) Water table position below the ground at different
times of the year.
5.3 Trial size of the foundation
The size of the foundation block should be larger than
the bed plate of the machine. The minimum all-
around clearance of 150 mm is used. The foundation
should deep enough to rest on the good bearing
stratum and also to ensure the stability against failure.
The combined centre of gravity of the machine and
block should be as far below the top of the foundation
as possible. The Eccentricity should not exceed 5% of
the least dimension in any horizontal direction.
5.4 Selecting Soil Constants
The soil constant can be obtained from the procedure
given in section 3. These soil constants are used in the
design of block type foundation.
5.5 Centering the Foundation Area in Contact
with Soil
Determine the combined centre of gravity of the
machine and foundation in the x, y and z directions
and the eccentricity along x, y and z directions should
not exceed 5 percent.
5.6 Design Value for Unbalanced Exciting
Loads and Moments
The values of the exciting forces and resulting
moments may be determined with respect to the
combined centre of gravity of the system. If the
vertical unbalanced force acts at some eccentricity, it
will give rise to a moment. The nature of the
unbalanced forces and moments should give the
investigator an idea about the nature of the
foundation’s vibrations.
3
Dynamic Properties of Soils for the Design of Machine Foundations
5.7 Natural Frequencies and Amplitudes of
Vibrations
From Step 5.1 to 5.6 give the information, which is
used for computing the natural frequencies and
amplitudes of vibration. By keeping these all the
information, the dynamic response may be calculated
by linear weightless spring approach or Elastic half-
space approach. Linear weightless spring approach is
discussed for calculating the natural frequency and
amplitude
A design problem was considered for which
foundation size of 2 m x 2m was required for a
machine operated at 300 Hz, considering the offsets.
Analysis was done considering three different depths
and depth of foundation block required was obtained
by iteration. The depth was determined to be 1.5 m.
the results of analysis is given in Table 2
Table 2 Results of Design
Db az aψ ω/ωnz ω/ωnψ
(m) (micron) (micron)
0.5 0.9 4.4 1.62 1.29
1 0.46 3.12 1.62 0.63
1.5 0.3 2.55 1.62 0.42
6 Conclusion
A number of vertical block vibration tests were
performed on a block of size 0.75 m × 0.75 m × 1 m
high resting on ground. A parametric study to check
the effects of force level and excitation frequency was
carried out. The natural frequencies of the soil-
foundation system were obtained for all the cases.
Dynamic soil properties at different strain levels
corresponding to different dynamic forces were
evaluated from the analysis of experimental results.
From these results, it was observed that the resonant
frequency of the soil-foundation system decreased
with an increase in the excitation force while resonant
amplitude increases with an increase in the excitation
force level.
References
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