The bearing capacity factors for a rough strip footing placed on rock media, which is subjected to pseudo-static horizontal earthquake body forces, have been determined using the lower bound finite element limit analysis in conjunction with the power cone programming (PCP). The rock mass is assumed to follow the generalized Hoek-Brown (GHB) yield criterion. No assumption needs to be made to smoothen the GHB yield criterion and the convergence is found to achieve quite rapidly while performing the optimization with the usage of the PCP. While incorporating the variation in horizontal earthquake acceleration coefficient (kh), the effect of changes in unit weight of rock mass (γ), ground surcharge pressure (q0) and the associated GHB material shear strength parameters (geological strength index (GSI), yield parameter (mi), uniaxial compressive strength (σci)) on the bearing capacity factors has been thoroughly assessed. Non-dimensional charts have been developed for design purpose. The accuracy of the present analysis has been duly checked by comparing the obtained results with the different solutions reported in the literature. The failure patterns have also been examined in detail.

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Keywords: Earthquake loads, Limit analysis, Lower bound, Power cone programming (PCP), Rock mass, Strip footing