SoFA

version 1.0

Quick Guide
Konstantinos Nikolaou
Dimitris Pitilakis

ShallOw Foundation Analysis Software

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki 2012

SoFA
version.1.0

Quick guide
Konstantinos Nikolaou
Dimitris Pitilakis

ShallOw Foundation Analysis Software

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki 2012

SoFA Quickguide

Shallow Foundation Analysis Software

Contents
Contents .................................................................................................................................................... 2
1.

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 3

2.

Install SoFA ...................................................................................................................................... 5

3.

How to perform a static bearing capacity check ............................................................................... 7

4.

How to perform earthquake bearing capacity check ....................................................................... 10

5.

How to perform a settlement calculation ........................................................................................ 12

6.

Feedback ......................................................................................................................................... 15

SoFA Quickguide

Shallow Foundation Analysis Software

1. Introduction
About the software
SoFA is a newly-developed simple program based on Matlab, for the calculation of bearing
capacity and settlements of shallow foundations. Correct calculation of ultimate bearing
capacity and foundation settlement is the most crucial step in the design of shallow
foundations. Analytical solutions are preferred to numerical methods (i.e. complex finite
element models) in engineering practice, mainly because of their inherent simplicity. In this
stand-alone program, safety factors are calculated for the ultimate bearing capacity using
several well-known formulas from the literature. Short-term components of settlements are
calculated using the adjusted elasticity method, and confined one-dimensional deformation
of the soil is assumed for the consolidation. The newly-developed software provides
solutions for all three design approaches implemented in Eurocode 7, as well as in
Eurocode 8 for earthquake loading. Cohesive and cohesionless soils, static and dynamic
loads, drained and undrained conditions are examined. Our program has a simple userfriendly graphical interface. It is freely distributed and well documented in order to attract
engineers to exploit its capabilities.

About this QuickGuide

This Quickguide contains all required information (briefly) to install and run SoFA. For an
advanced description of the algorithms and formulas used, consult the analytical users manual.

SoFA Quickguide

Shallow Foundation Analysis Software

Licensing information
This program is copyrighted ( K. Nikolaou) under the GNU General Public License as
published by the Free Software Foundation, version 2. In short, you can employ them freely
(assuming you cite the original source and the relevant publication) but if you want to build
upon, extend or re-distribute it, then the derivative software products will also have to be covered
under the GPL (i.e., be free software).

NO WARRANTY
THE PROGRAM IS DISTRIBUTED IN THE HOPE THAT IT WILL BE USEFUL, BUT
WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY. IT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY
KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE
PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME
THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.
IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW THE AUTHOR WILL BE
LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL
OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE
THE PROGRAM (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING
RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A
FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER PROGRAMS), EVEN IF
THE AUTHOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

SoFA Quickguide

Shallow Foundation Analysis Software

2. Install SoFA
Download SoFAv1_FULL_pkg.exe
1. Run SoFAv1_FULL_pkg.exe

Matlab Compiler Runtime (MCR) will automatically be installed.

*If you have MCR already installed, move on to step 3

SoFA Quickguide

Shallow Foundation Analysis Software

2. You will find in the directory of SoFAv1_FULL_pkg the

SoFAv1_FULL.exe
MCRInstaller.exe
Readme.txt

3. Run SoFAv1_FULL.exe

SoFA Quickguide

Shallow Foundation Analysis Software

3. How to perform a static bearing capacity check

1. Open SoFA

Figure 1 - main form

2. Input your problem data

Geometry of the problem

o select a rectangular or strip foundation
o footing dimensions
o depth of foundation
o depth of water level (you are allowed to set it infinite)
o footing base inclination
o soil inclination
Soil properties

SoFA Quickguide
o
o
o
o
o
o

Shallow Foundation Analysis Software

select a cohesive or cohesionless soil

select drained or undrained loading conditions
angle of friction ()
cohesion or undrained shear strength of soil
soil unit weight ()
saturated soil unit weigth ( )

Loads (only static loads are used for a static bearing capacity check)
o Vertical, horizontal loads and moments
o Additional surface loads
o Select the appropriate Design Approach, default is DA2 (DAs are described
in Eurocode 7)
o You may modify the partial safety factors at will
o Leave Earthquake Design at NO

3. Press Bearing Capacity Button (for graphical results) or View Report (for textual results)
The horizontal dashed line shows the appropriate Design Approach safety factor

Figure 2 - Static load case safety factors

SoFA Quickguide

Shallow Foundation Analysis Software

Figure 3 - Ultimate bearing capacities

If you press View Report, a text like fig.4 will pop up. Also a .txt file will appear in the folder
you are running SoFA.

Figure 4 - Textual report

SoFA Quickguide

Shallow Foundation Analysis Software

4. How to perform earthquake bearing capacity check

1. Repeat steps 1,2 as described in chapter How to perform static bearing capacity check
o Change Earthquake Design to YES
o Complete Earthquake Load Case with loads

2. At Eurocode 8-5 Annex F panel press Calculate. SoFA will calculate all the required
parameters.
3. Press Bearing Capacity Button (for graphical results) or View Report (for textual results)
Except from the static load case figures, a figure like Fig.5 will appear.

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SoFA Quickguide

Shallow Foundation Analysis Software

Figure 5 - Earthquake load case safety factors

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SoFA Quickguide

Shallow Foundation Analysis Software

5. How to perform a settlement calculation

1. Open SoFA

Figure 6 - main form

2. Input your problem data

Geometry of the problem

o select a rectangular or strip foundation
o footing dimensions
o depth of foundation
o depth of water level (you are allowed to set it infinite)

Soil properties
o select a cohesive or cohesionless soil

Loads (only static loads are used for settlement calculation)

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SoFA Quickguide

Shallow Foundation Analysis Software

o Vertical load applied

Settlement data
o Modulus of elasticity (E)
o Poisons ratio (n)
o Stratum thickness (H)
For cohesive soils, the following are also required
o Over consolidation ratio (OCR)
o Void ratio (eo)
o Cc factor

3. Press Settlements Button (for graphical results) or View Report (for textual results)

Figure 7 - Immediate, due to consolidation and total settlements

If you press View Report, a text like fig.8 will pop up. Also a .txt file will appear in the folder
you are running SoFA.

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SoFA Quickguide

Shallow Foundation Analysis Software

Figure 8 - Settlements Report

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SoFA Quickguide

Shallow Foundation Analysis Software

6. Feedback
Feel free to contact us for any comments, regarding SoFA. You can directly contact us by email
(sofa.eng@gmail.com) or use our comment form in our website.
If you discover what you think is a bug, report it here. Please try to include all SoFA reports.

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