Abstract
A variational method is developed to analytically study the interaction between a circular raft of finite flexibility and a cross-anisotropic elastic soil deposit of infinite extent. The raft rests smoothly on the soil surface and undergoes flexural deformations under the action of uniformly or parabolically distributed axisymmetric external loads and the ensuing soil reactions. Soil anisotropy is treated rigorously and particular emphasis is accorded to the sensitivity of total and differential undrained raft settlements on assumed realistic values of the anisotropic soil parameters.
