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<p>Skirted foundations offer a proven solution for improving the performance of shallow foundations across a range of applications and soil conditions, including loose or soft soils, sloping ground, and seismically active regions. Concepts such as bucket foundations and suction caissons were first developed for offshore applications, but since then, several studies have demonstrated their potential for onshore use to improve the bearing capacity and settlement behaviour of foundations. Skirted foundations employ vertical or inclined skirts installed on the footing perimeter, which enclose the soil beneath and improve performance by mobilising skirt-soil interface friction, developing a soil plug, and transferring stresses to deeper levels. The result is an altered failure mechanism, shifting from shallow, large shear zones to deep-seated, confined failure. It improves vertical, uplift and lateral capacity and reduces settlement. This article presents a review of earlier work, including historical development, governing mechanisms, numerical modelling, important design parameters, failure mechanisms, seismic performance, and recent developments in skirted foundations. The reviewed studies are synthesised to examine improvements in bearing capacity and deformation behaviour. The review also provides a comprehensive understanding of the effects of skirt length, embedment depth, skirt stiffness, skirt inclination, soil strength, slope geometry, and setback distance. Skirted foundations can increase bearing capacity significantly, while also improving serviceability and stability under both static and seismic loading conditions. Numerical studies on skirted foundations, particularly those employing finite element limit analysis, are also discussed to understand stress redistribution, evolving failure-surface shapes and seismic performance degradation within skirted foundations. Recent advances in bio-inspired skirted foundations are also reviewed, highlighting promising opportunities for increasing resilience, constructability, and sustainability. Finally, important gaps in current understanding are identified to guide future research towards the development of rational, performance-based design approaches and construction practices for improved skirted foundation systems under complex ground and loading conditions.</p>

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Skirted Footings in Geotechnical Engineering: Evolution, State-of-the-Art, and Emerging Innovations

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月31日

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  • Khalid Bashir,
  • Rajesh P. Shukla,
  • M. Fahim Iqbal,
  • Ravi S. Jakka

摘要

Skirted foundations offer a proven solution for improving the performance of shallow foundations across a range of applications and soil conditions, including loose or soft soils, sloping ground, and seismically active regions. Concepts such as bucket foundations and suction caissons were first developed for offshore applications, but since then, several studies have demonstrated their potential for onshore use to improve the bearing capacity and settlement behaviour of foundations. Skirted foundations employ vertical or inclined skirts installed on the footing perimeter, which enclose the soil beneath and improve performance by mobilising skirt-soil interface friction, developing a soil plug, and transferring stresses to deeper levels. The result is an altered failure mechanism, shifting from shallow, large shear zones to deep-seated, confined failure. It improves vertical, uplift and lateral capacity and reduces settlement. This article presents a review of earlier work, including historical development, governing mechanisms, numerical modelling, important design parameters, failure mechanisms, seismic performance, and recent developments in skirted foundations. The reviewed studies are synthesised to examine improvements in bearing capacity and deformation behaviour. The review also provides a comprehensive understanding of the effects of skirt length, embedment depth, skirt stiffness, skirt inclination, soil strength, slope geometry, and setback distance. Skirted foundations can increase bearing capacity significantly, while also improving serviceability and stability under both static and seismic loading conditions. Numerical studies on skirted foundations, particularly those employing finite element limit analysis, are also discussed to understand stress redistribution, evolving failure-surface shapes and seismic performance degradation within skirted foundations. Recent advances in bio-inspired skirted foundations are also reviewed, highlighting promising opportunities for increasing resilience, constructability, and sustainability. Finally, important gaps in current understanding are identified to guide future research towards the development of rational, performance-based design approaches and construction practices for improved skirted foundation systems under complex ground and loading conditions.