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Effect of Water Table On Allowable Bearing Capacity
Effect of Water Table On Allowable Bearing Capacity
The position of ground water has a significant effect on the bearing capacity of soil.
Presence of water table at a depth less than the width of the foundation from the
foundation bottom will reduce the bearing capacity of the soil.
The bearing capacity equation incorporating the ground water table correction factors is
given below.
Let,
Zw1 = Depth of water table below ground level
a = Height of water table above base of the footing
Df = Depth of foundation.
B = Width of foundation
sub = Submerged unit weight of soil
= Soil unit weight
RW1 = Correction factor for depth term
RW2 = Correction factor for width term
If the water table is at a depth ZW1 such that 0 < ZW1 < Df then, the bearing capacity equation is
written as:
Qult = cNc + [ZW1 + (Df ZW1) sub]Nq + sub B N
Qult = cNc + Df Nq RW1 + sub B N - (1)
Where RW1 can be obtained from:
[ Dw + (Df ZW1)sub] = Df RW1
[ Zw1 + (Df ZW1)sub]/ = Df RW1
ZW1 + (Df ZW1) = Df RW1
ZW1 + Df = Df RW1
DfRf1 = ZW1 + Df
RW1 = ZW1/Df + Df/Df
RW1 = (1 + ZW1/Df) - (2)
When the water table at base, ZW2 = 0 and RW2 = 0.5 and when ZW2 = B, RW2 = 1. This means when
water table is at base the weight term in the bearing capacity equation is reduced by half and when
water table at great depth ( i.e. greater than width of foundation below the base of foundation) water
table will have no influence in the bearing capacity.