BEARING CAPACITY OF SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

Terzaghi's Bearing Capacity Theory

Bearing capacity failure under a rigid continuous footing

Terzaghi expressed the ultimate bearing capacity in the following forms

Strip Foundation: q = c N + q N + 1 γ B Nγ
u c q 2

Square Foundation: q = 1. 3 c N + q N + 0.4 γ B Nγ

u c q

Circular Foundation: q = 1. 3 c N + q N + 0.4 γ B Nγ

u c q

Where: qu = Ultinate bearing capacity

q = Effective stress at the bottom of the footing = γ Df
Nc , Nq, Nγ = Bearing Capacity Factors

Meyerhof and Hansen modified Terzaghi equations and produced a more

comprehensive equation. (see Bearing Capacity Equations)

2 of 6 Foundation Engineering / Chapter 2

Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations
Dr. Adnan A. Basma