Terzaghi's Bearing Capacity Theory (1943)

Ultimate Bearing Capacity-Terzaghi (1943)

General Shear Failure Mode :

1
qu = c' Nc q Nq B N : Continuous or Strip Foundation
2

qu = 1.3c' Nc q Nq 0.4 B N : Square Foundation

qu = 1.3c' Nc q Nq 0.3 B N : Circular Foundation

c' = Cohesion of Soil

= Unit Weight of Soil

q = Effective Stress at the Level of the Bottom of the Foundation

=
s Df

Nc = Nq 1 cot'
3 ' tan ( ')
2
e
4 2
Nq =
2

2 cos 45
'

2

1 K p
N = 1 tan ( ')
2 2
( cos ( ') )

K p = Passive Pressure Coefficient

Figure: Bearing Capacity Failure in Soil under a Rough Rigid Continuous (Strip) Foundation

Shallow Foundation 1 Prepared by: Hang Sopheak

 Table: Terzaghi's Bearing Capacity Factors

Local Shear Failure Mode :

2 1
qu = c' N'c q N'q B N' : Continuous or Strip Foundation
3 2

qu = 0.867 c' N'c q N'q 0.4 B N': Square Foundation

qu = 0.867 c' N'c q N'q 0.3 B N': Circular Foundation

N'c = Nq 1 cot '

2
3
3 ' tan 2 '
2 3
e
4 2
N'q =
2
2
3
'
2 cos 45
2

Shallow Foundation 2 Prepared by: Hang Sopheak

 K p
1 tan '
2
N' =
1
2
2
2 3
cos 3 '

Table: Terzaghi's Modified Bearing Capacity Factor

N'c , N'q and N' Modified bearing capacity factors, can be calculated by using the bearing
capacity factor equations (for Nc , Nq and N , respectively) by replacing ' by
1
'bar = tan tan ( ')
2
3

Modification of Bearing Capacity Equations for Water Table

However, if the water table is close to the foundation, some modifications of the bearing capacity
equations will be nessary.

Case I: 0 D1 Df

q = effective surcharge = D1 D2 ' = D1 D2 sat w

Shallow Foundation 3 Prepared by: Hang Sopheak

 sat = Saturated Unit Weight of Soil

w = Unit Weight of Water

Case II: 0 d B

q = ' ( ') Df
d
B

Case III: d B

In this case, the water will have no effect on the ultimate bearing capacity

Example
kN
Unit Weight of Concrete c 25
3
m
kN
Unit Weight of Soil s 16.5
3
m
d 1.2m
kN
Saturated Unit Weight of Soil sat 18.5
3
m

kN
Unit Weight of Water 9.81
3
or Water Density m
kN
Cohesion of the Underlying Soil c' 90
2
m
Soil Friction Angle for Underlying Soil ' 18deg
Factor of Safety FS 3

Provided Width of Footing B 2m

Provided Length of Footing L 2m

Depth of Footing Df 1.5m

Failure Mode

Calculate the Allowable Bearing Capacity of Soil?

Shallow Foundation 4 Prepared by: Hang Sopheak