• SUB GRADE MODULUS AND RELATION TO BEARING CAPACITY OF SOIL

• SUPPORT ASSIGNMENT FOR RAFT FOUNDATION IN DESIGN

The modulus of sub grade reaction is a conceptual relationship between soil pressure and deflection.

Recall from the plate load test being done during geotechnical engineering subject and available in
almost all soil reports.

The modulus of sub grade reaction k is slope of P vs. Delta graph. Where, P = load applied (kN/sqm)
and Delta = deformation (m).

Hence, unit of k is (kN/sqm)/(m). This is nothing but the stiffness of soil (Pressure required for unit
deformation) Many people give unit as kN/cu.m. which many times confuses. Hence, using k in
stiffness term always helps better understanding.

Though, modulus of sub grade reaction and bearing pressure is related to each other, there is no
definite relationship between them. The reason, soil and its properties vary from place to place,
there is significant effect on the type of soil in layers below etc.

However, J E Bowles has attempted to give a relationship which is k = 40 x FOS x Qa, where FOS is
factor of safety considered in Bearing pressure calculation and Qa is allowable bearing pressure.

In fact it is provided as Sub grade Modulus or Ks (stiffness of the soil) This Ks is given by SBC by
Settlement, in which settlement is calculated by the plate load Test

MODULUS OF SUBGRADE REACTION (Ks)

The Modulus of sub-grade reaction is a conceptual relationship between soil pressure and deflection
that is widely used in the structural analysis of foundation members.

It is used for continuous footings, mats, and various types of pilings. The basic equation for Ks when
using the plate load test data is given by

Ks = q / d

The plot of q versus d from load tests shows non-linear variation. If this plot of curve is used to
obtain Ks, the value of Ks depends on whether it is a tangent or secant modulus and location of the
coordinates of q and d.

However, the other earliest method suggested by Terzaghi (1955) to evaluate the Ks for full sized
footings from plate load tests for different types of soil are

1) For footings on clay: Ks = k1 B 2) For footing on sand (including size effects): Ks = k1

[(B+1)/2B]2 3) For a rectangular footing on sand of dimensions B x mB: Ks = k1
[(m+0.5m)/1.5m] Where, Ks = desired value for full-sized footings and k1 = value from a 1 x 1
ft. square plate load test.

Vesic (1961) proposed that the Modulus of sub-grade reaction could be computed using the stress
strain modulus Es as,
Ks = Es / [B (1-m2)]

Comprehensive accounts of the evaluation of Modulus of sub-grade reaction from plate load tests
are given by Terzaghi (1955), Bowles (1977) and summarized by Nair (1974).

It is observed that k’s is not a unique property of the soil medium and the following factors can
affect the determination of K’s from a plate loading test.

a) Size of plate b) Shape of plate c) Embedded depth of plate

Vesic and Johnson (1963) have suggested an expression for the evaluation of k’s in terms of
Modulus of Elasticity Es and Poisson’s ratio ms as

k’s = [0.65Es / B(1- ms2)] [EsB4 / EIf]1/12

However, it has been found that the bending moments and the computed soil pressure are not very
sensitive to what is used for Ks. This is because the structural member stiffness is usually 10 or more
times as great as the soil stiffness as measured by Ks.

Recognizing this, based on the suggestion given by Bowles (1977), the following method is
presented on the assumption that the allowable soil pressure is based on some maximum amount of
deformation (Si) including on a factor of safety (Fs).

Thus, the Modulus of subgrade reaction is K’s = [(Fs)qa]/SI

For a settlement of 0.254m and factor of safety 3, Ks can be taken as Ks = 120 qa kN/m3

Over the contract area, the value of Ks’ can be assumed to constant. The use of constant value of Ks’
beneath mats and other footings (spread and combined) is usually adequate owing to the effect of
superstructure rigidity contributing to the foundation element and the fact that the element Flexural
rigidity (EI) decidedly predominates.

For some foundations such as those of oil and water tanks resting on ground the foundation rigidity
is often very low and it may be necessary to vary the ks’ values over the contract area to obtain
results consistent with field measurements (Bowles 1977).

In Paranchak School Raft

There are Plate Sizes i) 0.305 m x 0.28 m So Ka = 40x 3 x 77 x 0.305 x 0.28 = 789 KN/m2/m [ for
Support mark as S-2 in STAAD model]

ii) 0.300 m x 0.28 m So Kb = 40x 3 x 77 x 0.30 x 0.28 = 776 KN/m2/m

[ for Supports mark as S-3 & S-4 in STAAD model ]

iii) 0.250 m x 0.28 m So Kc = 40x 3 x 77 x 0.25 x 0.28 = 646 KN/m2/m

[ for Support mark as S-5 in STAAD model ]

Where SBC is 77 KN/Sq m as per Soil Test Report

Cross Checking from Table -4 of IS2911 (Part –I/Sec-I) 2010

For Clay Soil Range 0f K0.3 =4.5 to 9.0 KN/m3 x 1000 = 4500 – 9000 KN/m2/m

Ks = K0.3 [(0.3)/B] for clayey soil

=(7500 x 0.3)/2.8 = 803 KN/m2/m Assume : K0.3= 7500 KN/m2/m

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