Class example 3

A rectangular foundation, 2.5m wide and 3.5m long, is placed at 1.7m below
G.L. in a thick deposit of firm saturated clay. The water table is steady at a
depth of 2.0m. Determine the ultimate bearing capacity and the net safe bearing
capacity for;

a) immediately after construction
[417.5 kN/m
2
;163.5 kN/m
2
]
b) 40 years after construction.
[853.1 kN/m
2
;308.7 kN/m
2
]
Soil parameters : c
u
= 65.0 kN/m
2
;

u
= 0
o
c = 3.0 kN/m
2
;
= 27


= 21.5 kN/m
3


a) Immediately after construction

From Terzaghis equation plus shape factors (s
c,
s
q,
s

);

q
ult
= c N
c
s
c
+ 0.5 B N

s

+ D N
q
s
q


Bearing capacity factors for
u
= 0 are;
N
c
= 5.14
N
q
= 1.0
N = 0.0

q
ult
= c N
c
s
c
+ D N
q
s
q

Shape factors;
s
c
= 1 + (B/L)(N
q
/ N
c
) = 1 + (2.5/3.5)(1.0/5.14) = 1.139
s
q
= 1 + (B/L)tan = 1 + (2.5/3.5)tan0 = 1.0

Ultimate bearing capacity;

q
ult
= 65.0 x 5.14 x 1.139 + 21.5 x 1.7 x 1.0

q
ult
= 380.5 + 36.6 = 417.1 kN/m
2

Net allowable or safe bearing capacity;

q
ult
- D
q
a
=
F
+ D

417.1 (21.5 x 1.7)
q
a
=
3.0
+ (21.5 x 1.7)

q
a
= 163.4 kN/m
2
b) 40 years after construction

Fully drained conditions effective strength parameters apply.

Bearing capacity factors for = 27 are;
N
c
= 23.9
N
q
= 13.2
N = 9.3

Shape factors;
s
c
= 1 + (B/L)(N
q
/ N
c
) = 1 + (2.5/3.5)(13.2/23.9) = 1.395
s
q
= 1 + (B/L)tan = 1 + (2.5/3.5)tan27 = 1.364
s = 1 - (B/L)0.4 = 1 - (2.5/3.5)0.4 = 0.714


sub
=
sat
-
w
= 21.5 9.81 = 11.69 kN/m
3

NOTE: W.T. level is at a depth between D and (D + B) metres
so
sub
applies in middle part of Terzaghi equation;

q
ult
= c N
c
s
c
+ 0.5
sub
B N

s

+ D N
q
s
q


q
ult
= 3.0 x 23.9 x 1.395
+ 0.5 x 2.5 x 11.69 x 9.3 x 0.714
+ 21.5 x 1.7 x 13.2 x 1.364


q
ult
= 100.0 + 97.0 + 656.1

q
ult
= 853.1 kN/m
2

Net allowable or safe bearing capacity;

q
ult
- D
q
a
=
F
+ D

853.1 (21.5 x 1.7)
q
a
=
3.0
+ (21.5 x 1.7)

q
a
= 308.7 kN/m
2


Hence the most critical situation is immediately after construction, because the
long-term stability assessment shows that as the soil consolidates under load
the effective stress shear strength parameters provide for a greater soil carrying
capacity.