Bearing capacity of shallow foundations on sloping ground

The bearing capacity of shallow foundations placed near slope crests can be obtained from that corresponding to a flat horizontal ground, multiplied by a reducing factor. There are simplified methods that allow us to estimate this factor. This paper reviews some of the best-known methods and proposes a procedure that seems to improve somewhat the results obtained by the preceding methods. It takes into consideration the influence of all the main variables that control the problem and has been contrasted, to some extent, with results obtained from numerical methods and with the conclusions of the analysis of the actual failure of a foundation close to a slope.