An easy-to-use software tool for estimating the bearing capacity of surface foundations on rock masses.
SUPROCK FOUNDATION is a software tool for the calculation of the ultimate bearing capacity of surface foundations over rock masses. SUPROCK is based on some analytical solutions that include the most widely accepted failure criteria for rock masses.
SUPROCK FOUNDATION is a quick and simple-to-use analysis tool that facilitates reliability and risk assessment . Among its possible applications, building and transport infrastructures (bridges, vertical breakwaters, etc.) or other civil engineering infrastructures (dams, reservoirs, windmills, etc.) are found. SUPROCK helps to quickly decide through different stages of a construction project and to assess the risk in high-uncertain rock masses. Furthermore it reduces the costs of qualified personnel, the cost of the license (in comparison to general purpose softwares) as well as the design time.
This tool allows to predict the theoretical maximum pressure between a surface foundation and a rock that does not produce shear failure in the rock mass. It also gives the allowable bearing capacity.
This is done by means of an analytical model of general shear failure that has been particularly set up for the most common problems in civil engineering and architecture. The tool uses one of the most widely used failure criterion or rock mass (the generalized Hoek & Brown failure criterion), which considers not only the features of the rock mass but also its real situation.
A very low computational cost gives the opportunity to simulate different scenarios and perform sensitivity analysis. Under the framework of reliability theories this tool gives the factor of safety, something particularly interesting due to the common uncertainty of input parameters in rock masses.
“This is an easy-to-use, robust and quick tool for geotechnical design and reliability analysis in the context of surface foundations in rock masses”
“SUPROCK performs probabilistic calculations to assess the reliability of the solutions that help for the decision-making process in situations of high uncertainty”
Suprock Contact
Ignacio González Tejada ignacio.gtejada@upm.es
Rubén Galindo Aires rubenangel.galindo@upm.es
UPM contact
Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship Area
Centre of Support for Technological Innovation – UPM
e: innovacion.tecnologica@upm.es