UNIT 16 DESIGN OF STRIP AND SPREAD

FOOTINGS

Structure
16.1 Introduction
Objectives

16.2 General Design Considerations

16.3 Design Principles and Procedures
16.4 Summary
16.5 Answers to SAQs

16.1 INTRODUCTION
Foundation is provided to transmit the forces and moments on a structure - mainly due to
self-weight, other dead weights, overlying fill, live load, wind and seismic forces on the
structure - to the soil. The transmission of load is either through shear resistance of bearing
strata-generally called bearing capacity of soil - or through frictional resistance developed
between the foundation unit and soil or by combination of both. Depending upon the depth
of bearing and type of transference of forces, all foundations can be categorized either a
Shallow Foundation or a Deep Foundation

Shallow foundations are those where transmission of loads are only through shear resistance
and normally laid at less than 3m depth; whereas deep foundation - such as piles, cassions,
diaphragm walls, well foundation etc. - are those which are themselves more than 3m deep
and transmit the loads to the soil strata through friction or through bearing at greater depth
on stronger strata or through combination of both.

Strip and spread foundations are shallow foundation type. A strip foundation, such as
foundation below a wall or a beam is a continuous longitudinal bearing; whereas a pad or
~ ~ r e a k f o u n d a t i omay
n be provided to transmit loads through bearing of an isolated column
or of two &more columns in a line.

After studying this unit you should be able to

a design strip footing provided under a wall, and
a design spread footing provided under a single column.

16.2 GENERAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Loads: Generally a column is designed for the following load cases
i) Dead Load + Live Load
ii) Dead Load + Live Load + Wind or Earthquake Load
Bearing Capacity of Soil : The bearing capacity shall be based (a) on shearing strength
capacity of soil as well as (b) on the permissible settlement of foundation. These informations
for a particular site shall be based on site investigations and experimental results. In the
absence of such data the safe bearing capacity of some of the types of soil may be taken as
given in Tahle 16.1 for rough guidance.
 Table 16.1,: Safe Bearing Capacity of Different Soils
-
Types of Soil Safe Bearing Capacity
(kN/m2)
T) Kodks
(i) Hard Rocks without defect with lamination 3240
(ii) Rocks with lamination 1620
(iii) Residual deposits of shattered and broken bed rock,
hard shell, cemented material eic. 880
(iv) Soft rock 440
11) Non Cohesive Soils
(i) Gravel, sand and gravel, compact and offering high
resistance to penetration when excavated 440
(ii) Coarse sand, compact and dry 440
(iii) Medium sand, compact anti dry 245
(iv) Fine sand, silt (dry lump easily pulverized by fingers) 150
(v) Loose gravel or sand, gravel mixture, loose coarse to
medium sand, dry 245
(vi) Fine sand, loose and dry 100
nT) Cohesive Soils
(i) Soft shale, hard or stiff clay in deep bed, dry - 400
(ii) Medium clay readily i n d e ~ ~ t ewith
d thumb nail 245
(iii) Moist clay and sand clay mixture which can be indented
with strong thumb pressure 150
(iv) Very soft clay indented with moderate thumb pressure 100
(v) Very soft clay which can be penetrated several
centimeter with thumb 50
Depth of Foundation : The depth of foundation below the ground level shall be at least
0.5 m except in case of stable rock available at ground level. The variation in depth may
be due to

(i) availability of adequate bearing capacity,

(ii) effect of shrinkage and swelling of clayey soils,
(iii) effect of frost and temperature changes in silty and sandy soil,
(iv) depth of scour, proximity to pond, ditches and filled up ground,
Iv) mass movement of soil to sloping ground, etc.

(i) Differentiate between shallow foundation and deep foundation.

(ii) Define strip footing and spread footing.
(iii) Define Bearing capacity. Enumerate the factors to be considered fordetermination
of depth of footing.

1 6 3 DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES

Fixing Base Size: Superimposed loads transferred through a wall or colulnn is added with self-
weight of footing to obtain total load to be transferred to the soil. This total load is divided by
the safe bearing capacity of soil to deterlnine area of footing. In case of wall, the breadth of
f ~ < ~ r l lisl gequal to the calculated area, because the length for desrgn purposes is taken as
unltj The hase size of a rectangular footing is obtained by fixing one of its dimensions
~ l c r ~ gort h breadth) and the other is determined from the calculated area. For square or circular
footing, [lie dimension of side or rad~usis determined from the calculated area in the usual
way.
Uetcr71z~rznr~on
of Depth

(i) From Bending Moment Consideration

The bending moment of any section is determined by passing through the section a
vertical plane extending conzpletely across the footing and computing the moment of the
forces acting over the entire area of the footing on one side of the said plane.
For calculating the greatest bending moment the section is to be located at the face of
concrete wall, column or pedestal. But this section may be taken to be located at halfway
between the centre line and edge in case of masonry wall. The fa* of round or octagonal
column may be taken as the side of a square inscribed within the perimeter of the round or
octagonal column or pedestal.

bn:
~d of Wall Footmg
I

(b) Plan of Wall Footlng

(c) Net Bearing Pressure Diagmm

I
I
I

(d) Bending Moment Diagram

Figure 16.1: Design B. M. for a Footing of Concrete WaIl
K.C.C. Slr uciurei.1 For strip fooling (Figure 16.1! I ?
1' =Load on w:rll / a m i t ,en@, and
P' = S ~ l weight
f of footing i on^& ienpth,

then required area of footi,~g

where, p = Hearing capacity of soi!, and

B = width of footing.
The net upward reaction on footing ji.c. liet bear~ngcapacity of soil) ccfiumg bentling moment
and shear force,

P P -P
*PO =-=-----
A Uxl R

'The design B.M. ar the face of wall,

Therefore, from bending moulenl consideration effective depth

For spread or isolated R.C. rectangular footi~lgunder a single column (Figure 26.2)

Tile net upward reaction on footing causing bending moment and shearing force

p =-Y = ----
P
0 A LxB

The design R.M. at one of the faces of column i.e., say,at ,y-y section

* The self-weight of footing is considered uniformly distributed which is deducted while taking net
upward pressure.
I
I Similarly dcsi:n 13.hl. a1 1-1 scc!lon,

(a) Sectional Elevation

of Column Footing
Sections at which maximum
B.M. are calculated

(b) Plan of Cohunn Footmg

(c) Net Bearing I'ressurc Diagram

(d) Bending Moment Diagram

F i g u r e 16.2: Design U. h1. [or a I~oolirrgof C o l u n ~ n

(ii) From Shear Force Consideration

a) The critical section for determination of shear force is taken to be located at distance ( I
from the Pace oC wall, column or pedestal acmss the full width o f f o o ~ i t ~(Figure
g 16.3).
This shear force is similar to S.F. in a flexural member (a beam or slab) and is termed as
'wide bean? action' or 'one way action'.
 concrete wall

(a) Sectional Elevation

of Wall Footing

(b) Plan of Wall Footmg

(c) Net Bearing Pressure Diagram

I

(4 Shear Force Diagram

Figure 16.3: Design S. F. for Footing of Concrete Wall

For strip footing design, shear force

.'.7, =-
v
<kc
lxd

Effective depth d is determined from Equation 16.4.

 Dcsigi~of Strip
and Spread Footings

I
(a) Sectional Elevation
of Coxmete Wall Fodmg

(b) Plan of Column Footing

(d) Shear Force Diagram

Figure 16.4: Design S. F. for F o o t i ~ ~of
g Colu~rll~

For spread or isolated footing (Figure 16.4) from 'widc beam action' tlie shear force say at
section v-y

Similarly S.F. at x-x' sectior!

 I11eeffective clepth d is determined f r o ~ nEquation 16.6 and 16.8 and larger of the two value5
is adoptcd.

b) A column may punch through its Sooting due to ~ l l e a rdiagonal cracks formed aiong [he
xurraie> of a truncated pyramid or cone (Fig111.r: 16 5).

Figure 16.5: Two-way Action along the Surfzace of Truncated P~rartiidor Cone

The critical section for such punching shear action shall he a distance d/2 from the periphery
of a c o l u ~ n nshown in Figure 16.6.

00%

(a) Sectional Elevation

of Column Fcotiug

FigureLb.(t: Critical Scction for Two-way S. F. for Colur~inFooting

I In this c a;::, Slle:lr Porrc Debig~iol Strip
S11rvotI Frrcrtingc

I wherc,h, = Periphery of the critical scctiou.

and T,--: 0.16 t

G

From Equation (16.10) d may be determined.

The, determinat~onof effective depth d f r o n ~consideration> of R.M. and S.F. for strip footing
uiidcr lnaconry wall and for othcr types of iselated footitrg shall be explained through
cxarnples.
The greatest villuz nf d 30 cakulaterl is taken for evaluadrtn of total design depth, D,of the
I footing.
Terrsile Reinfi~sceanerrt:Maln rrlnforcement is provided along thc wic!th anrl tl~srribultion
bars o; minim11111specifled reinforcement along thc lenpth of .rtrip"fortnduc~cm.

TI! i s o l ~ t c dfooting under a single colurnn, rnaia reinforcements art: pro\. ided in both
or il~ngonaidirections ill tlrc form of a mesh. 111rct.tangular f,~oting,however, retnforcement
parallel to l o n ~ c :sitle
r arc distri'outed uniforinly; whereas out of total reinforccment, parallel
to ~ h shorter
r \id?, a portion of it is placed in cerlernl band of width eqnal to shorter side.
The above mentionrcl pnrriolz or rrrtio of total reinforcement may be obtnlned from equation
Keintorct:ment in cental band 2
=
7oial reinforccment in short direction (3 1- 1
L
wherc rJ = ratin of' long side to hhort side - -
B
'-

The remaining portion is distributed equally on outer parts of the footing.

Development Length : A21 main tensile reinforcement beyond the critical section shall extend
at least equal to development length on either sides,
Control c?f Rrarina Pressure on Base q f u Colwmrt or Pedestal
The compressive hr-arii~gstress at the base of a coluxrln (i.e. at the top of supporting pedestal
or footing) shorlld not exceed the permissible bearing pressure i11 direct cotnpre!;sion of

0.25/:, incrc;isod by iI coefficient equal to

A, = (;I) For supporting area of unlforrn ihickrtess (i.e. sapportixlg area geometrically
similar lo and concentric with the loaded area. A,) is equal to area of footing.

(b) In case of sloped or steppedfoottng, it is the area of the lower base of tlne
largest frustrum of a pyramid or cone contained wholly within the footing and
having for its upper babe, the area actually loitded and having side slope 6s
one vertical to two horizontal, and

A, = Loaded area of footing

The maximuin value of is 2.11
 Side slope of lvertical to 2 horizontal 1

Figure 16.7: Defining A , & A, for Permissible Bearing Stress

If the permissible bearing stress is exceeded either in concrete of column or its supporting
member (pedestal or footing), the excess forces may. be transmitted from column to its
supporting member either by extending the longitudinal bars into the supporting member
or by dowels.
The code specifies the following criteria to be complied with for extended longitudinal
bars or dowels:

(a) The development length of extended longitudinal bars or of dowel should be

sufficient to transfer compression or tension to the supporting member.
(b) Extended longitudinal bars or dowels shall have at least an area of 0.5% of the cross
sectional area of column or pedestal.
(c) A minimum of four bars shall be provided
(d) The diameter of dowels bar shall not have a diameter greater by 3 mm than those of
column. and
(e) If the diameter of column bar is more than 36 mm, the dowel bars shall have
smaller diameter for necessary steel area. The development length on either side
of the junction shall be in accordance with the reinforcement diameter provided.
Example 16.1
Design a R.C. footing for a concrete wall of 400 mm width for a super-imposed load of
800 kN/m. The safe bearing capacity, p, of soil is 200 kN/mZ.Use M 15 concrete and
Fe 415 steel.
Solution
Design Constants
 I*'i\'itz,y I(u,se Si:e
Consitlcring I ln length of footing
Super-imposctl loatl, P = 800 kNIm
Sell'-'iveighl, P' (assuming it to hc 10% of P = XO kNhn

I
'I'otaI load (P + P') = 880 kN/m

(P + P') 880
Area of foolinplm Icngh; A = = -= 4.4 1 1 1 ~per 111 w~cI[II of I o ~ l i ~ l g
P 200

Y 800
Nct upward pressure, Po = - = -- - - 181.81 kN/1n2= 1Xl.Xl x 10-'N/lnln2
A 4.4~1
:. Provitle 4 . 4 in widtll strip rooting.

I L~o/errni~zt~~ron
(i)
of Deplh

l'ron~ I l e ~ ~ d i nhIoment
g Conside~-ation

i I)c\;ign 13.M. (vide Eq. 16.1) :mcl Figure 16.8.

(h) Plan (?I' Wall F(r)Llnp

Figure 16.8: Design B. M . POI. \.Val1 I - o t l l i ~ ~ g

(ii) From Shear Farce ('onsideration
Distance oT cr1tic:ll section x-x at the e d ~ dcf t h e footing (J'igur:: 16.9)

1
111111y111 Po

(b) Net Rearing Resm

I

( c ) Shear Ferce h g r a m

Figure 16.9: Design S. F. for Wall Fotiti~lg

181.81 x ( 2 - d )
7,.= -- ---
Lxd lxd

For M 15 concrete p, = 0.72 % for which T~ = 0.334 N/lnmz and for L)>300 (assumed) k = 1,
per~nissibleshear stress k~~ = 1 x 0.334 N/lnmz
. get
Equating T~ 2nd T ~ we

181.81~10-~(2-d)
= 0.334 (in lnln units)
1000 x d
or tl = 704.04 > 650 lnrn
1Jsinp $22 bars and a clear cover of 40

Hence provided C = 760 mm total depth

 t
Use 22$ 1x11-s16 @ 45 c/c
I1istriI)ution R e i ~ i f o r c e ~ n e ~ ~ t

n:
I --x 1 2 x~1000
I sp;lcing ior g 16 bars = - 09.20 ~nln
-
1140

Hence probided 9 12 @ 100 clc

, Check lor Ilevc~lopr~!en/
Length

1
= 9% - 22 x 140 - 1283 nun
.-

droll 4 x 0.6

Pl~ovicllng60 l n ~ noC end cover length ol'bar beyond the lace of w:~ll(i.c. crillcal hection lor
1 1
bcntling) = - (H - h ) - 60 = - (4400 - 400) - 60 = 1940 > 1283 ~ n l n Hence O.K.
2 2

7'he details 01' looting is bhown in Figure 16.10.

liigure 6.10: 1)etails ol' Wall l ' o o l i ~ ~ g

1)esign a sc]u:~ret'ooting for a column ol'cross- section 400 x 400 m m which transl'ers a load
o l XOO kN i n c l r ~ s i ~ ~sell'-wciglit
eof of footing. 'l'he safe beal.ing capacity of boil is 245 kN/m2.
1Jsc M 20 concrete aod Fe 250 stecl.

Solution
FixingBase Size
Total Load, (P + P'j = SOfl kN

Side of square footing, R = 6= 1.81 In

Hence provided 1.85 x 1.85 m footing.

301)
Self-weight of footing = -- - -72.7 kN
. li
(assuming self-weight = lOC.'7
01 superimposed load)

Net upward pressure, po =T= = 212.51 kNlm2

:.P5 x 1.85
Determinarion of Depth
(i) From Bending Moment Consideration
D2sign B.M. (vide Eq 16.2(a)and Figure 16.1 1).

Figure 16.11: B. M. Diagram for Column Footing

I (ii) L'rorn Shear Force Consideration Design of Strip
I SpreacI P o o t i l ~ g ~
4 Distance of critical section from face of column for o.ze wuy shear = d
(a)

Figure 16 1 r S. K Diagram for Colulnl~Foutil~g

Breadth of loaded area frorn edge,

V = p , Bn, = 21251 x 1.850 x (0.725 - d) = 393.1435 (0.725 - d)

For M 15 concrete p, - 0,985 5%

(ii)

Assuming d > 300, k = 1

:. Permissible shear slress = k.tc = 1 x 11.3 874 N / m m 2 = 0 . 3 8 7 61~O3 kN/mZ (ii)
Equating .tVand .tc

or, d = 256.73 > 215.91mm

(b) Critical section for t ~ v uway shear is at d l 2 from the face of the column
(Figure 14.13) Perimeter of critical section
 H.C.C. Structure.$-I

Figure 16.13: Critical Section for Two-way Shear

Permissible shear stress = ks7,

Hence ks = 1

Equating and ks T~

(-212.51xd2 -170.008d+603.313)
= l ~ 0 . 7 1 5x 1000
4(0.4 + d) x d
or d2 + 0.4276d - 0.2255 = 0
or d = 0.30698 m = 306.98 mm
Providiilg $16 bars and 40 m ~ nclear cover to bottom layer of reinforcement,

16
D= 306.96 + -+ 16 + 40 = 370.76 mm
2
Hence provided D = 375 mm
Effective Depth for upper layer of reinforcement

16
d U = 3 7 5 - --16-40=311mm
2
Effective depth for bottom layer of reinforcement
62 db=311+16=327mm
 7it!.\!ic,Iir.r't~/orc~et~!e/~l
oi'upper layer
!<ci~i!'ol-c.c,tnent

Spacing for $1 6 bars = 4 -- 170.22

2730.7 1

Hence provided $ 16 0 135 clc

12c1nforccmcntof Bottom layer

Hence provrded $ 1 6 @ 140 clc

Check,for Developitwnt lctlgth

Prov~tP~ug40 1n1n ccl:e covcr, le~igthavailable bcyo~iLItlae clllical srclion tor bending (1.c.
I
t
beyond the lace of ~olurnn)

Provi(Ptng 40' belid at ends, additio~iallength available = 89 = 8 x I b = 128

:. Total av:~il:lble length inclntling 90" belid at end5 of bars = 6x5 + 128 = X I 3 > 700 mrn
Hence O.K.
Clieck,foi-Bdul-ing Stress

:. Multiplication factor to bearing strcss in direct coinpression(oCb,)

h z z -= 4.75 > 2 Hence, adopt factor = 2

16x10'

Ilencr permissible bearing stress = Eeo-br = 2 x (0,25f,J = 2 x (0.25 x 20) = 10Nl1nm'

Actual Bearing Slfess = Super-imposed load

Loaded area of column bar

800x
=-- lo' -. -- 5 Nlmmf < 10 N/mm3 Hence O.K.
400 x 409
.I.h e detniling o C the rooting has h e c ~ shown
i in Figure 16.14.

1)r.sign a r e c l ~ u ~ g u lI'ooting
i~r (or a rec1angul;kr coiulnn of 300 x 400 rnrn cairyllig ;i load or
500 kN. 'The safe he:iring capacity ol',\oil is 150 kN/m3. Use M 30 coi~crctei111d lze 250 steel.
Solution

Flxirlg Huse Size

Super-imposetl l,oatl, P = 5 0 0 kN

Scll-wciglil 01 l'oot~nga,P'
(Aasuining I O1;i 01' hupcrilnposed load = 50 kN
l'o~allioacl ( P + P ' ) = 550 kN

P + P' -
550
Area of looling = - 3.67 in'
1) 150

I,
Ahsunling - ratio of footiiig same as that for column
B
 sigu Strip
I I ~

:utl Iiootings

L Hence provided A = L x B = 2.25 m x 1.75 m size rectangular footing

Nct upward soil pressure on footing,

I)e(rrrrzination of Depth
(i) From Bencling Moment Consideration

i DeLyisn
a) Design B .M. at y-y vide Equation 16.23 and Figure 16.15

Figure 16.15: Critical Section for B. M.

Similarly, Design B.M. at x-x vide Equation 16.2(b)

(ii) From Shear Force Consideration

a) Distance of critical section for one way shear = d (Figure 16.16)

 Critical
~ [ I section

I'igltrr 16.16: Critical S c c t i o ~ lfor One-way S.E

Rreadlh of loaded area 1ro111edge parallel to H ,

(2.25 - 0.4
-d
)
)
Then from Equation 16.5

For M 20 concrele n ~ i dFe 250 r c i ~ ~ f o r c e r n pr ~, ~=t 1.0% a n d c o r r e ~ p o n t l ~ n ~ l y

T, = 0.39 N/inm2. Ahhum~ngdepth of loot~ngto bt: grsntt'r ~ h a n300, /i = 1.

0.1?69Xi0.925 - d )
= 0.39
d

or d, = 277.197mm
S~milnrly,
Breadth of loaded area parallel to L

Tl~enlrom Equation 16.7