392 CAN. GEOTECH. J. VOL.

19, 1982

Bearing capacity of foundations on a weak sand layer overlying a strong deposit

A. M. HANNA
Department of Civil Engineering, Concordia University, Sir George Williams Campus, Montreal, P.Q.,Canada H3G IM8
Received October 17, 1979
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Accepted December 29, 1981

The ultimate bearing capacity of footings resting on subsoils consisting of a weak sand layer overlying a strong deposit has
been investigated. Based on model tests of strip and circular footings in a loose or compact sand layer overlying a dense sand
deposit, the classical equation of bearing capacity of footings on homogeneous sand was extended to cover cases of these footings
in layered sands where the upper layer is the weaker. The theory compared well with the available model test results. Design
charts are presented.

La capacitk porante limite de semelles, reposant sur un sol composk d'une couche supCrieure de sable ldche et d'une couche
inferieure de sable dense, a CtC CtudiCe. BasCe sur des essais de modkles, utilisant des semelles continues et circulaires sur une
couche de sable ldche ou dense recouvrant un dCpBt de sable dense, I'Cquation classique de la capacitk portante, d'une semelle sur
un sable homogkne, a CtC utiliske pour des cas de semelles fondCes sur une couche supkrieure plus Iiiche. La corrClation, entre la
thCorie et les essais sur les modkles, est bonne. Des abaques de dimensions sont prCsentCs.
Can. Geotech. J., 19, 392-396 (1982)

Introduction of footings on homogeneous lower and upper sand

The behaviour of footings in homogeneous weak soils layers for H/B ratios of zero and infinity respectively -
For personal use only.

has been investigated by various researchers and several
design methods have been developed to determine the
ultimate carrying load. However, the case of a weak
layer resting on a strong layer is frequently encountered
in practice. The behaviour of footings in such soil
combinations is a complex soil-structure interaction
problem and difficulties arise in defining the failure
mode of the soil in the footing vicinity and also in
establishingan ultimate load criterion. The study of such
problems, although quite complicated, can be simplified
by conducting model tests. Such tests can provide useful
qualitative and some quantitative data that could later be
supplemented with results from field tests.
Experimental results
Tests were conducted on model strip and circular
(50mm width Or diameter) in a loose Or
compact sand layer overlying a dense sand deposit. The
material used in this investigation Was an air-dried
medium-to-coarse angular silica sand. The angle of
shearing resistance of the sand was determined from
plane-strain test results. Details of the equipment, setup,
and test procedure, and the sand properties were given
by Hanna (1981).
The test results of strip and circular footings are given
in Figs. 1 and 2. These figures show the variation of the
ultimate bearing capacity, q,, with the ratio of the upper
layer thickness below the footing base to the footing
width or diameter, HIB. The observed ultimate bearing
capacity of the layered system showed a rapid decrease
with increased thickness of the upper weak sand layer
below the footing base. It varied between the two limits
0008-3674/82/030392-05$01 .OO/O
01982 National Research Council of Canada/Conseil national de recherches du Canada
AS would be expected, the &served ultimate bearing
capacity increased with increasing ratio of the buried
depth of the footing to the footing base, D/B.
The failure loads were determined from load-set-
tlement curves. The shape of the load-settlement curve
and consequently the mode of failure generally depends
on the size and shape of the footing, the composition of
the supporting soils7 and the rate of loading (Vesic
1973). In addition, in the case of footings on layered
soils, the mode of failure is influenced by the shear
strength of the upper and lower layers, and the upper
layer thickness below the footing base.
In the present investigation it was observed that for
high H/B ratios the load settlement curves did not
exhibit a peak load and the mode of failure was local
shear. ln this case, and christiaens7 criteria
were used to determine the failure point. The degree of
curvature of the load-settlement curve increased with
decreasing H/B ratio, where a peak load could be
found.
Analysis of experimental data
Meyerhof (1974) presented a solution for a weak sand
layer overlying a strong layer by assuming that the lower
layer acted as a rigid base, and employed the theory of
Mandel and Salencon (1972) to determine the modified
bearing capacity factors N,' and N,' . These factors are
dependent upon the angle of shearing resistance, of+,,
the upper sand layer, the ratio HIB, and the footing
roughness (Fig. 2). The ultimate bearing capacity of the
layered system can thus be calculated from the following
equation:
 NOTES
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For personal use only.

I =0o 2.0
0 1.0 2.0 3.0 - a,
I.O 3.0 a

Depth of loose sond below footing base / f o o t i n g width, H/ B

FIG. 1. Test results: ( a ) strip and circular footings in a loose sand layer overlying a dense sand deposit; ( b )strip footing in a
compact sand layer overlying a dense sand deposit.

bearing capacity to the case of a weak sand layer

overlying a strong layer; it therefore offers a simple
solution to the problem stated.
The present test results were analyzed to determine
the modified bearing capacity factors N,' and N q r . A
wok sand comparison between these experimental values and the
compoct sMd
I _I
theoretical ones given by Meyerhof (1974) revealed that
the theory did not quantitatively support the trend of
strong deposit 4 dsme E.d
decreasing values of N,' and Nqr with increasing H / B
rza +2 I
ratio observed from the present experiments. It may be
!
concluded that the theory of Mandel and Salencon is
only valid when the lower layer can be considered very
FIG. 2. Failure of soil below footing on a weak sand layer rigid (i.e., +2 = m).
overlying a strong sand deposit: ( a ) theory; ( b ) tests.
The modified bearing capacity factors, N,' and N,',
deduced from the present investigation, were plotted
against H / B ratios i n ~ i 3~ for
. the cases of a strip
footing in loose sand over dense sand, and compact sand
where yl and y2 are the unit weights of the upper and over dense sand. As can be seen from this figure an
lower layers respectively, B is the footing width, H is the almost linear decrease of N,' and Nql exists for an
depth of the upper layer below the footing base, and D is increasing H / B ratio. The maximum values of N,' and
the buried depth of the footing. Equation [I] can be Nqr correspond to an H / B ratio of zero, whereas the
considered as an extension of the conventional theory of minimum values correspond to H / B ratios of ( H f / B ) ,
 394 CAN. GEOTECH. J. VOL. 19, 1982

and (Hf/B), respectively. For higher values of H/B, N,' suggested by Meyerhof (1974), predicting the ultimate
and Nqf remain essentially constant. These maximum bearing capacity for the case stated.
and minimum values were found to be in good agree- A trial calculation was carried out using [2] and
ment with the theoretical ones given by Meyerhof available experimental data (Commissiong 1968). The
(1955) for homogeneous lower (Ny2, Nq2) and upper case examined consisted of a surface strip footing on a
(NY1,Nql) layers respectively. Thus, the experimental weak sand layer overlying a stiff clay. The equivalent
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trend can be represented by bearing capacity factor NyZ1for the clay layer was
calculated as follows:

and
where Hf, and Hf, are the depth of the failure plane in a
thick bed of sand below the footing base for the weight
and surcharge components, respectively. The theoreti-
cal values of Hf/B were given by Meyerhof (1974) as a
function of the angle of shearing resistance, +.
It should be mentioned that in the above analysis the
footing settlement at failure was added to the initial
buried depth. If this had not been done, however, the
For personal use only.
where c, is the undrained shear strength of the clay
layer, and N, is the bearing capacity factor for cohesive
soil. The experimental modified bearing capacity factors
N,' together with the theoretical values are given in
Table 1. In this experimental study, the angle of internal
friction, +,, of the upper sand layer was 40.5", the
undrained shear strengths of the lower clay layer varied
between 26.9 and 28.9 kPa, and the footing width was
76mm (3 in.). Thus NY1 = 112 and Hf,/B = 1.25
(Meyerhof 1955 and 1974, respectively). From Table 1
it can be concluded that the theoretical values are in good

results would have shown a parabolic relationship for
N,' versus H/B instead of the linear one obtained,
whereas the linear relationship of Nqr with H/B would
have remained unchanged.
In this case, [2] should be replaced by
agreement with the experimental results.
Equation [:I] can be conventionally extended to
predict the ultimate bearing capacity of a circular
footing of diameter B by introducing shape factors s,'
and sq' (Meyerhof 1974). Thus,

This finding confirmed the parabolic relationship where s ~ and

2 Sqz are the shape factors for a homogene-
ous lower sand layer. The test results of a circular
footing in loose sand overlying dense sand were
analyzed to determine the modified bearing capacity
factors sYfN,' and sqtNq', and the shape factors s,' and
sqf.
A reasonable agreement was found between the
experimental shape factor as deduced from the present
test results and the theoretical values proposed by
Meyerhof (1974). The results of this analysis are given
in Table 2.
Design charts
The modified bearing capacity factors as given by [2]
and [3] have maximum and minimum values cone-
sponding to the placement of the footing on homogene-
ous lower or upper layer sands respectively. Between
these two limits, the modified bearing capacity factors
will depend upon the ratio of the upper layer thickness
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 -a
below the footing base to the footing width.
H/B
Equations [2] and [3] were established on the basis of
FIG. 3. Experimental modified bearing capacity factors: relatively small-scale tests; however, the maximum and
-N '; --- N '.
Y q minimum values of the modified bearing capacity
 NOTES

TABLE1. Analysis of Comrnissiong (1968) test results on strip footing on sand overlying
clay

Modified bearing
capacity factor N,'
Ultimate
load qu N ~ 2 Theoretical
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CU
HIB @Pa) (eq. [51) Experimental (eq. [21)

TABLE2. Analysis of circular footing tests on loose sand overlying dense sand

Shape factors

Experimental bearing Theoretical

capacity factors Experimental (Meyerhof 1974)

H/B Sy'NTr Sq'Nqr &I %I &I &I

For personal use only.

FIG.4. Design charts for the determination of the modified bearing capacity factors: (a) N,'; ( b )Nq'

factors ( N y 2 , Nq2 and N Y 1 , N q ! ) of Meyerhof (1955) are
widely used to predict the ultimate bearing capacity of
large-scale foundations on homogenous sands. This
leads the writer to believe that [2] and [3]are valid for
large-scale applications.
For convenience, design charts were prepared to aid
the determination of the modified bearing capacity
factors N,' and N q r . These are given in Fig. 4 where a
numerical example of = 35" and +2 = 45" is
demonstrated.
Use of these design charts together with [l] or [6]
allows the determination of the ultimate bearing capa-
 396 CAN. GEOTECH. J. VOL. 19, 1982

city of strip or circular footings, respectively, on a weak COMMISSIONG, D. M. 1968. The ultimate bearing capacity of
sand layer overlying a strong deposit. surface footings on dry sand overlying saturated clay. M.
Eng. thesis, Nova Scotia Technical College, Halifax, N .S.
Conclusions HANNA, A. M. 1981. Experimental study on footing in layered
The ultimate bearing capacity of footings on a weak soil. Journal of the Geotechnical Division, ASCE,
107(GT8), pp. 1113-1127.
sand layer overlying a strong deposit can be expressed MANDEL, J., and SALENGON, J. 1972. Force portante d'un sol
Can. Geotech. J. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by SAVANNAHRIVNATLABBF on 11/10/14

by the classical equation of homogeneous sand in sur une assise rigide. GCotechnique, 5, p. 77.
conjunction with the modified bearing capacity factors. MEYERHOF, G. G. 1955. Influence of roughness of base and
These factors depend on the relative strength of the ground water conditions on the ultimate bearing capacity of
upper and lower layers and the thickness of the upper foundations. GCotechnique, 5, p. 227.
weak sand layer below the footing base. Design charts 1974. Ultimate bearing capacity of footings on sand
were presented as an aid in design. layer overlying clay. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 11,
pp. 223-229.
Acknowledgement VESIC, A. S. 1973. Analysis of ultimate loads of shallow
The financial support from the National Sciences and foundations. Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations
Division, ASCE, 99(SM1), p. 45.
Engineering Research Council of Canada is acknowl-
edged.

Influence de surcharges concentrees sur la stabilite des talus

For personal use only.

PIERRETENIER
Centre Expe'rimental du Britiment et des Travaux Publics, rue Brancion, Paris, France
ET
PIERREMORLIER
De'partement Ge'nie Civil de I'lnstitut Universitaire de Technologie de Bordeaun, 33405 Talence Cidex, France
R e y le 1 avril 1981
Accept6 le 23 fCvrier 1982

Les surcharges concentrkes, surtout horizontales, sont ma1 prises en compte par les mCthodes simples d'analyse de stabilitk des
talus type Bishop. Nous proposons donc de remplacer, dans les Cquations de Bishop, toute surcharge par une distribution de
contraintes, statiquement kquivalente, sur le cercle de glissement. Cette distribution est, pour des raisons de simplicitC, celle de
Flamant 1Cghement modifike afin d'approcher les distributions calculCes par ClCments finis. Une application est donnke, c'est
l'optimisation de la stabilisation de talus par tirants d'ancrage.

Concentrated loads, in particular when horizontal, are not properly taken into account in the simple methods of slope stability
analysis such as Bishop's method. It is therefore proposed to replace in Bishop's equations any surcharge by a statically
equivalent stress distribution on the failure surface. For reasons of simplicity, this distribution is taken according to Flamant,
slightly modified to fit stress distributions obtained from finite element studies. An application is presented in the form of the
optimization of a slope stabilization by tie-backs.
Can. Geotech. J., 19, 396-400 (1982)
[Journal translation]

I-Modification de la methode de Bishop verticales; chaque tranche i est soumise aux efforts
La mCthode de Bishop (1955) est, parmi toutes les suivants:
mCthodes simples praticables sur mini-ordinateur, la - le poids propre de la tranche, dWi;
plus rCputCe par ses rCsultats, donc la plus utilisCe - la rCaction de la partie fixe du sol, dNi et dTi;
(Fredlund et Krahn 1977). -les forces "intertranches," Hi, Vi, Hi + dHi, Vi +
Aprhs avoir choisi (fig. 1) le centre w et le rayon R dVi;
d'un cercle de glissement C, on dCcompose la partie -la surcharge Cventuelle appliquCe sur le talus, dSi.
mobile du talus en tranches ClCmentaires i parois Afin de simplifier I'exposC, nous supposerons nulles
0008-3674/82/030396-05$01 .OO/O
01982 National Research Council of Canada/Conseil national de recherches du Canada