Tutorial: Shallow Foundation

1)
a) A surface strip footing of width B carrying a uniformly distributed stress of q per unit
area is resting on the surface of saturated clay. Assume that the unit weight and
undrained shear strength of the clay is kN/m3 and Cu kN/m2 respectively. Evaluate
the ultimate bearing stress per square metre that can be carried by the footing for the
probable failure mechanisms as shown in the FIGURE Q1A and FIGURE Q1B
respectively. Critically compare your answer with that one obtained from Terzaghis
bearing capacity equation.
b) A 3m square footing is to be founded at a depth of 3m below ground surface. It is
loaded with an axial load of 6MN and Mxx = 600 kNm; Myy = 1200 kNm. A borehole
shows that the water table is at the ground level. The saturated unit weight of the sand
is 20kN/m3 and effective angle of friction, is 30. Calculate the factor of safety
against bearing capacity failure.

0
2

FIGURE Q1A
(NOT TO SCALE)

B
30

30
60

60

FIGURE Q1B
(NOT TO SCALE)

Dr Eric Loh

Tutorial: Shallow Foundation

2)
a) A surface strip footing of width B carrying a uniformly distributed stress of q per unit
area rests on the surface of a saturated clay. Assume that the unit weight and
undrained shear strength of the clay is kN/m3 and Cu kN/m2 respectively. Evaluate
the ultimate bearing stress per square metre that can be carried by the footing for the
probable failure mechanism shown in the FIGURE Q2A. Critically compare your
answer with the one obtained from Terzaghis bearing capacity equation.
b) A cylindrical reservoir (gross self-weight = 15MN) has a diameter of 17m is to be
constructed at a depth of 2m below ground surface. The soil profile at the site consists
of a thick layer of CLAY which is underlying by 2.5m GRAVEL fill. A borehole shows
that the water table is 1.5m below the ground surface. The geotechnical properties of
the soil are as given in the table below.

GRAVEL

CLAY

Dry Unit Weight (kN/m3)

20

18

Saturated Unit Weight (kN/m3)

21

19

Undrained Shear Strength (kN/m2)

50

Effective Cohesion (kN/m2)

32

Geotechnical Properties

Angle of Effective Friction ()

Investigate the safe depth of water that can be stored in the reservoir if the factor of
safety on bearing capacity is to be 2.5.

B
45

45

45

45

FIGURE Q2A
(NOT TO SCALE)
Dr Eric Loh

Tutorial: Shallow Foundation

3)
a) A 2m wide strip footing is founded on the top of a 60 stiff clay slope as shown in
FIGURE Q3A. The saturated unit weight of the clay is 20 kN/m3 and the undrained
cohesion is 120 kN/m2. What is the value of Qult1, the ultimate load per meter of the
footing as evaluated from the equation derived in the lecture.
b) Use the design table in FIGURE Q3B to obtain the value of Qult1 and Qult2, the
ultimate load per meter of the other footing, which is founded on the face of the same
60 stiff clay slope. Compare and discuss the difference in the values of Qult1 and
Qult2.

Qult - 1

Qult - 2

2m wide
strip

SATURATED STIFF CLAY

Cu = 120 kN/m2
Unit weight = 20 kN/m3
3m

60

2m wide
strip

FIGURE Q3A
(NOT TO SCALE)

Dr Eric Loh

Tutorial: Shallow Foundation

b
D

B
D

D/B = 0

b/B = 0

D/B = 0.75

b/B = 0

D/B = 1.50

b/B = 0

=0

10

20

30

40

10

20

30

40

10

20

30

40

N cs = 5.14
N qs = 1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

30.14
18.40

75.31
64.20

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

18.43
6.40

30.14
18.40

75.31
64.20

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

30.14
18.40

75.31
64.20

10

4.89
1.00

7.80
2.47

13.37
6.40

26.80
18.40

64.42
64.20

5.14
0.92

8.35
1.95

14.83
4.43

30.14
11.16

75.31
33.94

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
5.85

30.14
14.13

75.31
40.81

20

4.63
1.00

7.28
2.47

12.39
6.40

23.78
18.40

55.01
64.20

5.14
0.94

8.35
1.90

14.83
4.11

30.14
9.84

66.81
28.21

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
5.65

30.14
12.93

75.31
35.14

25

4.51
1.00

7.02
2.47

11.82
6.40

22.38
18.40

50.80
64.20

5.14
0.92

8.35
1.82

14.83
3.85

28.76
9.00

62.18
25.09

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

4.83
5.39

30.14
12.04

73.57
31.80

30

4.38
1.00

6.77
2.47

11.28
6.40

21.05
18.40

46.88
64.20

5.14
0.88

8.35
1.71

14.83
3.54

27.14
8.08

57.76
21.91

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
5.04

30.14
10.99

68.64
28.33

60

3.62
1.00

5.33
2.47

8.33
6.40

14.34
18.40

28.56
64.20

4.70
0.37

6.83
0.63

10.55
1.17

17.85
2.36

34.84
5.52

5.14
0.62

8.34
1.04

2.76
1.83

21.37
3.52

41.12
7.80

D/B = 0

b/B = 0.75

D/B = 0.75

b/B = 0.75

D/B = 1.50

b/B = 0.75

10

5.14
1.00

8.33
2.47

14.34
6.40

28.02
18.40

66.60
64.20

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.34

14.83
5.34

30.14
13.47

75.31
40.83

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

30.14
15.79

75.31
45.45

20

5.14
1.00

8.31
2.47

13.90
6.40

26.19
18.40

59.31
64.20

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.04

30.14
14.39

71.11
40.88

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

30.14
16.31

75.31
43.93

25

5.14
1.00

8.29
2.47

13.69
6.40

25.36
18.40

56.11
64.20

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.27

30.14
14.56

67.49
40.06

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

30.14
16.20

75.31
42.35

30

5.14
1.00

8.27
2.47

13.49
6.40

24.57
18.40

53.16
64.20

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

30.14
14.52

64.04
38.72

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

30.14
15.85

74.92
40.23

60

5.14
1.00

7.94
2.47

12.17
6.40

20.43
18.40

39.44
64.20

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.38
5.14

23.94
10.05

45.72
22.56

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
4.97

27.46
9.41

52.00
20.30

D/B = 0

b/B =1.50

D/B = 0.75

b/B = 1.50

D/B = 1.50

b/B = 1.50

10

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

29.24
18.40

68.78
64.20

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.01

30.14
15.39

75.31
47.09

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

30.14
17.26

75.31
49.77

20

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

28.59
18.40

63.60
64.20

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

30.14
18.40

75.31
53.21

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

30.14
18.40

75.31
52.58

25

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

28.33
18.40

61.41
64.20

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

30.14
18.40

72.80
55.20

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

30.14
18.40

75.31
52.97

30

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

28.09
18.40

59.44
64.20

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

30.14
18.40

70.32
56.41

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

30.14
18.40

75.31
52.63

60

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

26.52
18.40

50.32
64.20

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

30.14
18.40

56.60
46.18

5.14
1.00

8.35
2.47

14.83
6.40

30.14
16.72

62.88
36.17

FIGURE Q3B
Bearing capacity Ncs, Nqs & Ns for footing on or adjacent to a slope
(modified from Bowles, 1997)

Dr Eric Loh

Tutorial: Shallow Foundation

4)
FIGURE Q4A shows a 3m square footing to be founded at a depth of 3m below ground
surface. The water table is at a depth of 1m from the ground surface. A piezometer
installed at a depth of 5m gave a standing water level of 2.0m above the ground level. The
geotechnical properties of the clay are as follows:
Bulk Unit Weight
Saturated Unit Weight
Undrained Shear Strength
Effective Cohesion
Angle of Effective Friction

= 18kN/m3
= 19kN/m3
= 50 kN/m2
= 7 kN/m2
= 9

Calculate and critically comment on the factor of safety against bearing capacity failure, if
the footing is loaded with an axial load of 5MN and Mxx = 500 kNm; Myy = 1000 kNm.
[17 marks]

2m

Ground Level
WT

1m

3m
5m

CLAY

3m x 3m

CHALK
FIGURE Q4A

Dr Eric Loh