Abstract: The influence of position of water table and magnitude of hydraulic gradient on the behaviour of a strip footing resting on a cohesive soil is investigated by carrying out a series of finite element analyses using the software PLAXIS 2D. The results of finite element analyses are compared with those obtained from conventional mathematical models. It is observed that the effect of magnitude of hydraulic gradient is much more pronounced than the effect of position of water table. The results obtained from finite element analyses with respect to position of water table slightly differ from those obtained from conventional analyses.

Keywords: Water Table, Hydraulic Gradient, Finite Element Analysis, Mathematical Model.