found in reality, in which stiff layers which are generally deemed favourable for construction purposes may be underlain by looser layers. The layer thicknesses of the soil profile were carefully selected in order to avoid the scenario whereby more deeply embedded soil strata would have no role in influencing structural response. The thicknesses of the two upper layers were therefore kept limited, and in particular that of the uppermost dense layer. Taking into account a characteristic dimension (b) for the width of the prototype footing of 5 m, the layers were poured to thicknesses of 0:5 b, b and 2:2 b using sand pluviation.