Shallow Foundations

Bearing Capacity

Shallow Foundations
Depth usually less than 3-4 times width

Types
Footings
Spread (isolated)
Strip (length >> width)
Grid (grade beams)
Mat (raft)

Design Considerations
Must satisfy all for successful performance
1.

Must not settle excessively.

2.

Must be placed at depth sufficient to prevent damage from

surface environmental effects (frost, swelling and shrinkage, erosion and scour).

3.

Must not cause failure of supporting soil.

Bearing Capacity

Ultimate Bearing Capacity, qult

qult = the stress or pressure applied at the contact between the footing
and underlying soil that will just initiate failure in the soil. Called Pult in your notes.

qq = surcharge
c,?,?

Df

General form of ultimate bearing capacity equation

(only for strip footings)

qult = cNc + ( qq + Df ) Nq + 12 BN
Where N c, N q, and N? are bearing capacity factors that depend on ?

Basedon:

Nq = tan2 45 + 2 e tan
Nc = ( Nq 1 )cot

N = 2 (N q + 1) tan

Note how rapidly the B.C. factors

increase as ? increases

Nc
N
Nq

Example:
Consider a 5-ft-wide strip footing resting on
the surface of a soft clay deposit with
c = 1000 psf
? =0
?sat = 100 pcf
Calculate the ultimate bearing capacity
5 feet

qult = cNc + ( qq + D f ) Nq + 12 BN
for = 0

Nc = 514
.
Nq = 1 .0 0
N = 0

qult = cNc + ( q q + D f )

= (1000psf )( 5.1 4) + ( 0 + (100pcf )( 0 ))

= 5140psf

Example:
Consider a 5-ft-wide strip footing resting on
the surface of a soft clay deposit with
c = 0 psf
? = 40
?d= 110 pcf
Calculate the ultimate bearing capacity
5 feet

q ult = cNc + ( qq + Df ) Nq + 12 B N
for = 40

Nc = 7531
.
Nq = 6420
.
N = 10941
.

qult = ( 0) (7531
. ) + ( 0 + (110)( 0) ) ( 6420
. ) + 12 (5ft )(110pcf )(10941
. )
= 30088
,
psf

General form of bearing capacity equation was developed for:

Strip footing (L/B = inf)
Footing on ground surface
Vertical footing load
Deviations from these conditions are common and are accounted for by the
use of Bearing capacity correction factors. With correction factors, the
bearing capacity equation becomes

qult = c Nc FcsFcdFci + ( qq + D f ) Nq Fqs FqdFqi + 12 BN Fs FdFi

Shape correction
factors

Depth correction
factors

Inclination correction
factors

Fcs

Fcd

Fci

Fqs

Fqd

Fqi

F?s

F?d

F?i

Need to assume one or the other

then check accuracy of assumption
at end

Net Bearing Capacity

qnet = the net pressure that can be applied to the footing
by external loads that will just initiate failure in the underlying soil.
Equal to ultimate bearing capacity minus the stress due to the weight of
the footing and any soil or surcharge directly above it.

Assuming the density of the footing (concrete)

And soil are close enough to be considered equal, then

qnet = qult Df
qnet

Df

Example:
Consider a 5-ft-wide strip footing at a depth of 3 feet below the
surface of a dense sand deposit with
c= 0
= 42

= 125 pcf

Calculate the net bearing capacity

Nc = 9371
.

c= 0

3 feet

= 42

= 125 pcf

Nq = 8538
.
N = 15555
.

First, calculate
qult = c Nc Fcd + ( q s + Df ) NqFq d + 12 B N Fd

= 0 + (0 + (125 pcf )(3 ')(8 5.3 8)(1 1. 1 8 ) + 12 (125)(5 )(15555

. ))

= 84405
,
psf

3
Fqd = 1+ 2tan( 4 2)(1 sin( 42)) 2 = 1118
.
5

qnet = qult Df

= 84405
,
(125 )(3 )
= 84030
,
psf

Allowable Bearing Pressure

Both ultimate bearing capacity and net bearing capacity determine loads that will bring
footing to point of incipient failure. Due to uncertainty regarding loads, soil properties, soil
and foundation geometries, and bearing capacity theory, lower loads must be used for
design. Design is usually specified in terms of an allowable bearing pressure.
Reduction depends on amount of uncertainty and potential effects of failure. Bearing
capacity failures often have catastrophic effect on structure, s o allowable bearing pressure
is usually considerably smaller than bearing capacity.

Allowable bearing pressure can be determined by

qall =

qnet
FS

A factor of safety of 3 is commonly used for foundation design purposes.

Example
A square footing located at a depth of 4 feet must support a load of 60 kips.
The load is inclined at an angle of 20 to the vertical. Determine the size of
the footing required to support the load with a factor of safety of 3.
20

60 k

c= 0

4 feet

= 30

= 105 pcf

B
Firstcalculateqult forc = 0,

cNc = 0

qult = (q q + D f )N qFq sFq dFq i + 12 B N F sFdFi

for = 30o, Nq = 1 8. 4
N = 2 2. 4

shape

depth

Correction Factors
Fqs = 1 + BL tan =1+ 0577
.
= 1577
.
Fs = 1 0.4 BL = 0 .6
Fqd = 1 + 2 tan ( 1 sin )

Df
(0.2 8 9) (0.7 ) = 1 + . 202
= 1+
B
B
B

Based on Df/B<1

Fd = 1

inclination

.
( ) = 1( ) = 0605
= (1 ) = (1 ) = 011
.

Fqi = 1 90o
Fi

20 2
90

20 2
90

Then
q ult = 0 + (4 ' ) (105pct ) (1 8.4 ) (1 . 577 ) (1 + 0.2B0 2 ) (0605
.
)
1
+ B (105pcf )( 2 2. 4 )( 0.6 ) (1 ) (0 . 11)
2
1489
= 7373 +
+ 7 7. 6 B
B
So
q net = qult Df
1489
+ 7 7.6 B (4 ') (105pf )
B
1489
= 6953 +
+ 7 7.6 B
B
and
= 7373 +

q net 6953 + 1489

B + 7 7. 6 B
=
FS
3
496
= 2318+
+ 2 5. 9B
B
Since
q all =

Q 60000
,
496
=
= 2318+
+ 2 5. 9B
B2
B2
B
iscubicinB.solvebytrialanderrortoget
B 4.9 ft useB = 5ft
q all =

Df / B < 1 asassumedforFqd & Fd

Effect of Water Level

If groundwater level is above bottom of footing, (qq+?D f ) (surcharge) term in bearing

capacity equation must reflect effective stress at level of bott om of footing.
If groundwater level is more than one footing width below bottom of footing, it will not
affect bearing capacity.
If groundwater level is within one footing width of bottom of f ooting, replace ? in last term
of bearing capacity equation by

eq = sub +

d
( sub )
B m

where d is the distance between the bottom of the footing and the groundwater level.

Footings Subjected to Overturning Moments

Vertical load and moment replaced by eccentrically applied vertical load
P

P
e

e=

M
P

Bearing pressure varies across bottom of footing

B

qmin

qmax

Maximum and minimum pressures given by

P 6e
qmax =
1+
BL
B
P 6e
qmin =
1

BL
B
Need to check qmax- should be less than qall
qmin- should try to keep >0
(if not, recalculate pressures using B' = B - 2e)

Allowable Settlement of Footings on Sand

For moderately high ? , bearing capacity factors become quite large
As a result, bearing capacities become very large
For sands, however, vertical displacement required to mobilize bearing capacity
may be excessive (several inches or more)
Must also check allowable bearing pressure based on settlement considerations
Criteria usually based on SPT and 1 allowable settlement