TECHNICAL REPORT : Plate Load & Soil Bearing Capacity Evaluation

PROJECT : 4-5 STOREY COMMERCIAL BUILDING

OWNER : Engr. & Mrs. Cesar M. Hipona, Jr.
LOCATION : Pabayo Street, Cagayan de Oro City
DATE OF TEST : May 6 7, 2013


I. OBJ ECTIVE OF THE TEST:

a. To evaluate the probable soil capacity of the site
b. And to enable to predict the probable foundation settlement

II. INTRODUCTION:

The primary responsibility of an engineer is to design a foundation system
that performs satisfactorily to suit the intended use and structural durability of
the structure.

As in many cases the structural preference shall satisfy two specific criteria:

a. There must be an adequate factor of safety against failure
b. Deformations must be within the tolerable limits according to approved
codes

By SHEAR FAILURE means, stresses in a soil system exceed the strength of
the soil, and this generally results in a collapse of the system. Whenever
failure occur as a result on increasing the stresses along the failure plane or
of decreasing the strength of the soil along the same plane. With this,
stresses can be increased from an external load or from a change in the
stress distribution by some means, such as making a cut at the base of a
natural slope. Thereby the strength of the soil is often subject to allowable
loading condition.

It must be a reminder that, any excessive deformation of a foundation can
make a structure unusable or unstable. This amount of settlement that can be
considered tolerable depends on the function of the structure. Taking note
that, any undesirable deformations are caused by both expansion and
compression of soil. Generally, for a clay soil, it will expand if the water
content increases, and this can cause foundations to deform excessively. In
this case its not applicable due to the nature of actual soil condition of the
site.

However, when a foundation is not adequately designed, excessive
settlement of the structure may occur as a result of compression on the
underlying soil. This compression can occur due to the weight of the structure,
by lowering the level of the groundwater table (in this case the probability is
very low), or by vibrations from machines (also not applicable for this
structure) and large earthquake magnitudes.

It is common knowledge that the evaluation of the soil bearing capacity has
long been intriguing for a designer to consider. Of which, the plate load
method is not usually reliable unless the plate size is comparable with the
actual footing size, thus it is size and loading become expensive to perform
and procure. Recent development in Geotechnical Engineering enables
engineers to determine soil bearing capacity using the known soil properties
such as its shear strength (unit cohesion or internal friction) and
compressibility characteristics. One most commonly used method in
determining these soil properties is the SPT or Standard Penetration Test.
However, in this particular project, the PLATE LOAD TEST is employed due
to agency specification and for economic consideration being allowable by
codes or any implementing rules and regulations, whatsoever.

III. THE TEST SITE:

The project site is located within the vicinity of Pabayo Street, Cagayan de
Oro City. The property is owned by the undersigned and propsed to be
utilized for a 4-Storey commercial building with roof deck. Soil foundation of
the lot is considered to be flat soil that is going parallel to the existing street
level. The area is located along the street of Pabayo road. Dranage disposal
system of the building is to be using the existing canal system along the area.

IV. METHODOLOGY:

a. A test pit is excavated to the depth the footing is to be placed. The test pit
shall be at least four times as wide as the plate used.
b. A platform which will serve as the loading board will be constructed
supported by a single column with a plate that will transmit the load to the
soil.
c. Only one size of plate in a single hole will be used for obtaining the soil
bearing capacity of the site for a given settlement S. This actual soil
bearing capacity will be adapted.
d. Applications of load will be done using an approximate of 40kg bag of
sand bagging with a load increment approximately 1/5 of the estimated
bearing capacity of the soil or as determined by the engineer conducting
the test. Time intervals of loading shall not be less the one (1) hour and
shall be approximately of the same duration for all load increments.
e. The test shall be continued until a load settlement of 25mm is obtained, or
until the capacity of the testing apparatus is reached.
f. For failure of the testing apparatus or related incidents, linear projection is
derived to meet the 25mm failure for the loadings.
g. A single test pit as set up shall be treated as minimum loading
requirement.

V. TEST RESULTS & OBSERVATIONS:

Excavation for the single 1.0m x 1.0m x 2.0m hole was done manually for
about two (2) hours. By any standard the soil at the excavated layer is
naturally silt soil with a presumptive bearing pressure from available building
code that stipulates a value between 1.5 to 3 tons/ft
2
(145 to 388 kPa) as
allowable soil bearing pressures for this type of soil. (see table 7.7
Allowable Bearing Pressures for Soil).

However, from the test holes, an actual determination of soil bearing capacity was
gathered from the data and will be used in solving the allowable soil bearing capacity
applicable to the site or structure.




VI. COMPUTATION:

HOLE No. 1
Load Trial No. 1
Plate Size : 25 cm x 25 cm; Plate Area =625 sq.cm.

Qu =1911 x 98.07 / 625 =299.86 kPa


HOLE No. 2
Load Trial No. 2
Plate Size : 25 cm x 25 cm; Plate Area =625 sq.cm.

Qu =2015 x 98.07 / 625 =316.18 kPa

Average Qu = 308.02 kPa


VII. FACTOR OF SAFETY:

Maximally a factor of safety of 2 is applied to the ultimate soil bearing capacity
to arrive at the allowable soil bearing capacity. This assumption is not
considered to be too conservative. In nature, soils are not homogeneous and
isotropic; a great deal of uncertainty is involved in evaluating the basic shear
strength parameters of soil.

For the purpose, the customary safety factors for footings in shear failure
mode specified is as stated below, will be considered in the considered in this
presentation;

Spread Footing - 2 to 3
Mat Foundation - 1.7 to 2.5

From the above given safety factors, the average factor of 2.0 will be
taken as the factor of safety of our allowable bearing capacity to be
used in the design of this building.

Thus: Allowable Qu = 308.02 / 2 = 154 kPa


VIII. RECOMMENDATIONS:

Soil foundation within this property predominantly Silt Soil within the 150
meters circumference as physically determined during site investigation.
Water table is evaluated to be present within 3 to 5 meters below reckoned
from the highway road level. Because of these factors, liquefaction is
considered to occur some how for this lot area, thus foundation needs to
incorporate tie beams to properly hold the foundation footings and column
together.

Allowable soil bearing capacity of the site can be as high as 154 kPa if
excessive settlement is tolerated and without considering the risk of
liquefaction. However, to avoid excessive settlement, the factor of safety of
2.0 is introduced, consequently, the allowable soil bearing capacity
recommended is Qu
(Allowable)
=154 kPa maximum.

Isolated footing with tie beam is also recommended to secure the ill effects
of uneven settlement and movement of the building. Footings with large depth
shall be applicable to sustain unlikeable ground movement.








Prepared by:


ENGR. CESAR M. HIPONA, JR.
Civil Engineer








REFERENCES:

McCarthy, David 1984, Essentials of Soil Mechanics and Foundations, 3
rd

Edition, Reston Publishing Company, NJ , U.S.A.

Bowles, J .E. 1982, Foundation Analysis and Design, 3
rd
Edition, McGraw-Hill
International Bool Company, NY, U.S.A.

Tomlinson, M.J ., Boorma, R. 1986, Foundation Design and Construction, 5
th

Edition, Longman Group UK Limited