Bearing Capacity of Shallow

Foundations
Function
To transmit building loads to the underlying soil at a
shallow depth.
Types of Shallow Foundations
Isolated, individual (square, circular, rectangular)
Combined (two or more columns)
Strip (continuous walls)
Raft (covers the entire site)

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Column/wall loads at the ground surface

Dead, Live, Wind, earthquake.

Snow accumulation.
Repeated, Impact, Cyclic, Harmonic.
Maximum, Minimum.
Vertical, Inclined, Horizontal, Eccentric.
Compression, Uplift.

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Foundation on homogeneous soil

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Idealized failure plan

q = load / area

Surcharge q0

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Strip Footing B
qu
qs = γD

A E α F x D
ϕ
= 45 −
I II 2
σh1 σh2
Z = B tan α
Z ϕ
xα α = 45 +
2
B C
At failure:
When the foundation load is qu:
CF in zone I Active
the soil in zone ABCD is in failure condition
CF in zone II Passive
zone I is in the Rankine active condition
zone II is in the Rankine Passive condition

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 Bearing Capacity Theory

qu Ka = tan2 (45-φ/2)
Kp = tan2 (45+φ/2)
Df

qs = γDf α = 45 + φ/2

α Rankine’s 90 - α
Active zone Z/2 Rankine’s Passive
zone
σh 1 σh 2
Z = B tan α

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GENERAL BEARING CAPACITY THEORY
Assumptions
Failure mechanism consists of two zones:
Rankine active zone “I” under the ultimate load qu
Rankine passive zone “II” under the surcharge load qs

According to limit equilibrium method of analysis,

σ h1 = σ h 2

σv1.K a − 2c K a = σv2 K P + 2c K P

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Strip Footing
 B tan α  1 1  B tan α  2
 qu + γ  2
− 2c =  q s + γ . tan α + 2c tan α
 2  tan α tan α  2 

qu γB 2c 2 γB 3
+ − = γD tan α + tan α + 2c tan α
tan 2 α 2 tan α tan α 2

qu  1  2 1  3 1 
= 2c  tan α +  + γD tan α + γB  tan α − 
tan 2 α  tan α  2  tan α 
1
( ) (
qu = 2c tan 3 α + tan α + γD tan 4 α + γB tan 5 α − tan α
2
)
1 Nq Nγ
Nc
2

1
qu = cN c + γDN q + γBN γ
2

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GENERAL BEARING CAPACITY EQUATION

qult = cN C + qN q + 1 / 2.γBN γ

Where
N C & N q & Nγ
are the bearing capacity factors, which are function
of the angle of shearing resistance Φ

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Prandtl’s theory (1920)

Assumptions
Continuous footing, smooth, soil having c and φ

Failure mechanism consists of three zones

I- Active zone, P is one of the principal stresses
II- Transition zone, must be in equilibrium, made of
Logarithmic spiral curve
III- Passive zone, Surcharge q is one of the minor stresses

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Prandtl’s Theory (Cont.)

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 Prandtl’s Theory (Cont.)

Applying limit equilibrium method of analysis and developing

series of differential equations, the following equation was
produced:

qult = cN C + qN q + 1 / 2.γBN γ

Where N C & N q & Nγ

are Prandtl’s bearing capacity factors, which are function of

the angle of shearing resistance Φ

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 Strip footing, Vertical load, homogeneous soil

(1943)
Terzaghi’s Theory

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 Terzaghi’s theory (1943)

Assumptions
Modified Prandl’s equation
Rigid, rough continuous footings, subjected to vertical
load.
Soils (c and φ) obey Mohr-Coulomb constitutive law
General shear failure
Failure plane consisted of Log-spiral and plane
Overburden soil is regarded as surcharge (i.e. ignore
shear strength)
Terzaghi developed similar equation of Brandtl with
different values for the coefficients Nc, Nq and Nγ

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Meyerhof’s theory (1952)

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 Meyerhof’s Theory (Cont.)

Applying limit equilibrium method of analysis and developing

series of differential equations, the following equation was
produced:

qult = cN C + qN q + 1 / 2.γBN γ

Where N C & N q & Nγ

are Meyerhof’s bearing capacity factors, which are function of

the angle of shearing resistance Φ

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Other BC theories
Balla’s Theory, 1962
Lundgren and morgenson 1953
Hansan 1970
Vesic 1973 , 1974

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 BEARING CAPACITY FACTORS FOR GENERAL SHEAR

Terzaghi’s Theory

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FOOTINGS ON CLAY
Use the undrained condition for bearing capacity:
Φ=0 (N γ =0 & Nq =1and Nc 5.14 = 2 π )
Use drained condition for settlement calculation
qu = Sc ic C Nc + Sq iq γD
Nq = 1
Nc = 2 π

FOOTINGS ON SAND
qu = Sq iq γD Nq + Sγ iγ ½ B Nγ

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EFFECT OF angle of shearing resistance Φ

Nγ is very sensitive to any change of Φ

For Φ = 40 Nγ = 100.39

For Φ = 45 Nγ = 294.50

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EFFECT OF the foundation width

Sc ic C Nc is the cohesion contribution

Sq iq γD Nq is the overburden contribution
Sγ iγ ½ B Nγ is the friction contribution

In these terms:
The overburden contribution increases with the increase of D
The friction contribution increases with the increase of B
Furthermore Qu=increase with “B” as
Qu = qu x A
Qu = qu x (Bx1)
BEARING CAPACITY EQUATION
Meyerhof’s theory (1952) (Cont.)

EFFECT OF GROUNDWATER TABLE

submerged unit weight = ½ saturated unit weight

Thus
qu (submerged) ≈ 1/2 qu (saturated)

Design for the worst condition

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Meyerhof’s Shape Factors

Footing Sc Sq Sγ

Strip 1 1 1

Square 1.3 1 0.8

Circle 1.3 1 0.6

Rectangular 1+0.3B/L 1 1-0.2B/L

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BEARING CAPACITY EQUATION
Meyerhof’s theory (1952) (Cont.)

INCLINATION FACTORS

ic , iq are function of (α)

and iγ is function α and Φ
α = 0o (vertical load) &
α = 90o (sliding / Retaining wall)
Meyerhof (1963) proposed the following inclination
factors values:
2
 α
ic = iq = 1− 
 90
2
 α 
iγ =  1 − 
 φ 
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Meyerhof’s Theory (1952) (Cont.)

NET BEARING CAPACITY

Bearing Capacity to support the building;

i.e. qu(net) = qu(gross) - γD

qa(net) = qa(gross) - γD
qu ( net )
Factor of safety (FS) =
qa ( net )
For Shallow Foundation FS ≅ 3

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Meyerhof’s theory (1952) (Cont.)

Eccentricity in one Y
direction

ex

X L

B=2C
N MC
σ max = ±
min A I 26
I. Eccentricity in one direction

N MC
σ max = ±
min A I
N N .e.B / 2 N N .e.6
= ± = ±
A L.B 3 / 12 A L.B 2

N 6e 
=  (1 ± ) 
A B 

For σ = 0 6e B
1= 6e = B e=
B 6
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Eccentricity in two direction

Y
ex

ey
X L

B
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II. Eccentricity in Two Directions

N M xC y M yC x
σ max = ± ±
min A Ix Iy

N 6e y 6ex 
σ max =  (1 ± ± ) 
min A L B 

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Meyerhof’s theory (1952) (Cont.)

ECCENTRIC LOADING

N  6e x 6e y 
σmax = 1 + + 
B  B L 

σmin = N  6e 6ey 
1 − − 
B B L 

σmax ≤ qa
σmin > 0 (to avoid loss of contact with soil)
Meyerhof proposed the concept of using equivalent footing
A’=(B’x L’) only for calculating the BC
i.e. B’ = B – 2 ex & L’ = L – 2 ey

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Eccentricity
Eliminate eccentricity
Minimize eccentricity
Live with eccentricity

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General, local and pushing shear failure

Meyerhof theory is based on the assumption that the failure

mechanism extends to the ground surface, (General shear
failure) as the overburden soil contributes to bearing capacity.

This is valid only for strong soils, (i.e. φ> 36. 0o )

LOCAL SHEAR FAILURE

φ≤36o case of local shear failure
Terzaghi proposed to reduce shear strength in order to use the
General BC equation

C’ = 2/3 C
tan φ’ = 2/3 tan φ

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 Modes of Failure

(a) General Shear Failure

(b) Local Shear Failure

(c) Punching Failure

Bearing capacity failures (Redrawn after Vesic, 1973)

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Modes of Failure

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 Uplift Capacity of Shallow Foundations
Qup

W3 W2 F
Square Footing
γ P
W1

B*B γDK O

tan δ = 1/2 2/3 tan Φ

Ca =1/2 2/3 C
P = γD2KO/2 F = P tan δ + Ca
Qup=WC+WS+ F*4B
Bearing Capacity Based on
Plate Load Test Results

Determine qu for a 12” plate

For clay; qu (plate) = qu (footing)

B( footing)
For sand; qu (footing) = qu ( plate)
B( plate)

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Bearing Capacity Based on
Plate Load Test Results

Determine qu for a 12” plate

For clay; qu (plate) = qu (footing)

B( footing)
For sand; qu (footing) = qu ( plate)
B( plate)

37
Bearing Capacity Based on SPT
Test Results

Cohessioless soils

N values Relative Φ Strength

density %
0-5 0-5 26-30 Loose

5-10 5-30 30-35 Medium

10-30 30-60 35-42 Dense

30-50 60-95 42-46 Very

dense

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Bearing Capacity Based on SPT
Test Results
Weight of hammer = 140 Ibs
Drop = 30 inches
N = number of blows /12 inches
Cohesive Soils
N values Consistency qu (t/ft2)

0 Liquid 0
2 Very soft 0.25
4 Soft 0.5

8 Medium 1.0
16 Stiff 2.0
32 Very stiff 4.0
>32 Hard >4.0
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FACTOR OF SAFETEY
Reliability of soil data
Accuracy of soil parameters
Confident or lack of it in design theory
Limitation of design theories
Uncertainties, Requirements
Cost of construction
Damage and loss of life, lawsuits
No constitutive laws are applicable
Change of soil parameters due to new construction, weather, flooding etc

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Lack of adequate design

Understand the terms and conditions of the BC equation

Vertical load
Strip footing (continuous footing)
Homogenous soil
Ignore eccentricity
Ignore mode of failure
Ignore water table fluctuation

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