Abstract
A half-space of elastic material, the Young's modulus of which increases linearly with depth, has been shown, as the degree of inhomogeneity increases, to respond to surface loading more as predicted by Winkler's subgrade reaction theory and less like a homogeneous isotropic elastic material. The present paper discusses the relationships between degree of inhomogeneity and Poisson's ratio and the corresponding bending moments and displacements in rafts. Detailed consideration is given to the variation of maximum bending moment in a uniformly loaded circular raft of any flexibility, variation of differential displacement in a uniformly loaded very flexible circular raft, and displacement of a rigid raft.
