Example 1:

The plan of a mat foundation with column loads is shown in Fig. below, Calculate the soil pressures at
points A, B, C, D, E and F. The size of the mat is 16.5m ×21.5m. All columns are 0.5m ×0.5m in section.
Given : qa)n = 60 KPa. Determine the soil pressures.

8m 8m

Solution:
400 kN 500 kN 450 kN
𝛴𝑃 𝑀𝑦 𝑥𝑖 𝑀𝑥 𝑦𝑖
𝑞𝑖 = [ ∓ ∓ ]
𝐴 𝐼𝑦 𝐼𝑥 7m

A= Area of the mat = (16.5)(21.5) =354.75 m2

𝐵 𝐿3 16.5 × (21.5)3 1500 kN 1500 kN 1200 kN
𝐼𝑥 = = = 13665 𝑚4
12 12 21.5 m
7m
3 3
𝐿𝐵 21.5 × (16.5)
𝐼𝑦 = = ≈ 8050 𝑚4
12 12
ΣP = Sum of the column loads = 350 + 2(400) 1500 kN 1500 kN 1200 kN

+ 450+ 2(500)+ 2(1200)+ 4(1500)= 11000 KN 7m

𝑀𝑦 = (𝛴𝑃) 𝑒𝑥
400 kN 500 kN 350 kN
𝐵
𝑒𝑥 = [𝑋 ′ − ]
2 16.5 m

′
𝑃1 𝑥1 ′ + 𝑃2 𝑥2 ′ + 𝑃3 𝑥3 ′ + ⋯
𝑋 = y' y
𝛴𝑃
1
= 11000 [(8.25)(500 + 1500 + 1500 + 500) + A G I
B C
(16.25)(350 + 1200 + 1200 + 450) +
400 kN 500 kN 450 kN
(0.25)(400 + 1500 + 1500 + 400)]= 7.814 m
So 7m

𝐵
𝑒𝑥 = [𝑋 ′ − 2 ] = 7.814 - 8.25 = - 0.436 ≈ −0.44𝑚
1500 kN 1500 kN 1200 kN
Hence, the resultant line of action is located to the 0.44 m
left of the center of the mat. So 7m 0.1 m x

𝑀𝑦 `= 11000 × 0.44 = 4840 𝐾𝑁. 𝑚

1500 kN 1500 kN 1200 kN

7m 4.25 m 8m 4.25 m

400 kN 500 kN 350 kN

x'
F H E J D
Fig. 1 8m 8m
Similarly
𝑀𝑥 = (𝛴𝑃) 𝑒𝑦
𝐿
𝑒𝑦 = [𝑌 ′ − ]
2
𝑃1 𝑦1 ′ + 𝑃2 𝑦2 ′ + 𝑃2 𝑦3 ′ +. . . .
𝑌′ =
𝛴𝑃
1
= [(0.25)(400 + 500 + 350) + (7.25)(1500 + 1500 + 1200) + (14.25)(1500 + 1500 + 1200) + (21.25)(400 +
11000
500 + 450)]= 10.85 m
So
𝐿 21.5
𝑒𝑦 = [𝑌 ′ − ] = 10.85 – = 0.1𝑚
2 2

Hence, the resultant line of action is located to up of the center of the mat.. So
𝑀𝑥 = 11000 × 0.1 = 1100 𝐾𝑁. 𝑚
11000 (4840)𝑥 (1100)𝑦
𝑞𝑖 = [ ∓ ∓ ] = 31 ∓ 0.6𝑥 ∓ 0.086𝑦 𝐾𝑁/𝑚2
354.75 8050 13665

Sign Convention
Calculation of Soil Pressure

At A: 𝑞 = 31 + (0.6)(8.25) + (0.08)(10.75) = 36.81 𝐾𝑁/𝑚2

At B: 𝑞 = 31 + (0.6)(0) + (0.08)(10.75) = 36.86 𝐾𝑁/𝑚2

At C: 𝑞 = 31 − (0.6)(8.25) + (0.08)(10.75) = 26.91 𝐾𝑁/𝑚2

At D: 𝑞 = 31 − (0.6)(8.25) − (0.08)(10.75) = 25.19 𝐾𝑁/𝑚2

At E: 𝑞 = 31 + (0.6)(0) − (0.08)(10.75) = 30.14 𝐾𝑁/𝑚2

At F: 𝑞 = 31 + (0.6)(8.25) − (0.08)(10.75) = 35.09 𝐾𝑁/𝑚2

The soil pressure at all points are less than the given value of qa)n = 60 KPa

Example 2:
Devide the mat shown in Fig1. above into three strips, such as AGHF (B1 =4.25m), GIJH (B1 =8m),
and ICDJ (B1 =4.25m). Using the results of example above, determine the reinforcement
requirements in the y direction. Given fć =20.7 Mpa and fy= 413.7 Mpa. Use load factor of 1.7.
Sol:
Determination of shear and moment diagrams for strips.
𝑞(𝑎𝑡 𝐴) + 𝑞(𝑎𝑡 𝐹) 36.81+ 35.09
Strip AGHF Average soil pressure = qav = 2
= 2
= 35.95 𝐾𝑁/𝑚2
Total Soil reaction = qav B1 L = (35.95)(4.25)(21.5) = 3285 kN
Total column loads on this strip = 400 + 1500 + 1500 + 400 = 3800 kN
Average load = (total soil reaction + column loads) / 2 = (3285+3800) / 2 = 3524.5 kN
3542.5 3542.5
So, The Modified average soil pressure qav(modified) = qav = (35.95) = 38.768 𝐾𝑁/𝑚2
3285 3285

3542.5
The column loads can be modified in a similar manner by multiplying factor F = = 0.9322
3800

Fig 2 shows the loading on the strip and the corresponding shear and moment diagrams. Note that the
column loads shown in this Fig. have been multiplied by F = 0.9322. Also, the load per unit length of
the beam is equal to

B1 qav(modified) = (4.25) (38.768) = 164.76 kN/m

372.89 kN 1398.36 kN 1398.36 kN 372.89 kN

0.25 m
7m 7m 7m 0.25 m
A F
164.76 𝑘𝑁/𝑚

821.65
576.7

331.7

41.19
(Shear kN)
41.19

331.7
576.7

821.65

1727.57 1727.57

5.15 718.35 5.15

0 0 B.M.D kN.m

326.55 326.55

Fig. 2: Strip AGHF

Strip GIJH In similar manner
𝑞(𝑎𝑡 𝐵) + 𝑞(𝑎𝑡 𝐸) 31.86+ 30.14
qav = = = 31.0 𝐾𝑁/𝑚2
2 2

Total Soil reaction = qav B1 L = (31)(8)(21.5) = 5332 kN

Total column loads on this strip = 4000 kN
Average load = (total soil reaction + column loads) / 2 = (5332+4000) / 2 = 4666 kN
3542.5 4666
So, The Modified average soil pressure qav(modified) = qav 3285
= (31) 5332 = 27.12 𝐾𝑁/𝑚2
4666
F = 4000 = 1.1665

583.25 kN 1749.75 kN 1749.75 kN 583.25 kN

0.25 m
7m 7m 7m 0.25 m
B E
217 𝑘𝑁/𝑚

990.17
759.58

529

54.256
(Shear kN)
54.256

529
759.5
8
990.17

1620.89 1620.89

6.78 291.62 6.78

0 0 B.M.D kN.m

637.94 637.94

Fig. 3: Strip GIJH

 392.4 kN 1046.44 kN 1046.44 kN 305.2kN
0.25 m
7m 7m 7m 0.25 m
C D
129.8 𝑘𝑁/𝑚

548.65
410.81

272.9
7
32.45
(Shear kN)
32.3

359.9
5 497.7
9
635.63

664.56
360.15

4.06 4.06
0 0 B.M.D kN.m

289.95
495.0 1196.19

Fig. 4: Strip ICDJ

Strip ICDJ In similar manner

Fig. 4 shows the load shear and moment diagrams for this strip.
Determination of the thickness of the mat
The critical section for the punching shear will be at the column carrying 1500kN load at the edge the
mat.
𝑑 𝑑
𝑏𝑜 = (0.5 + 2 ) + (0.5 + 2 ) + (0.5 + 𝑑) = 1.5 +2d 1500 kN
Column Load

𝑅. 𝐹 = [0.34 𝜑√𝑓́𝑐 × 1000] (𝑏𝑜 𝑑)

𝑆. 𝐹 =(1.7) (1500) = 2550 kN

0.5 + d
Edge of mat
2550 = [(0.34)(0.85)√20 × 1000](1.5 + 2𝑑)(𝑑)

(1.5 + 2𝑑)(𝑑) = 1.94 0.5+d/2

d≈ 0.68 m
assume concrete cover = 75mm and use φ = 25 mm , so the total thickness of the mat is:
h = 0.68 + 0.075 + 0.025 ≈ 0.8 𝑚
The thickness of this mat will satisfy the wide beam shear (one way) condition across the three strips
under consideration.
Determination of Reinforcement
From the moment diagrams shown in Fig. 2 , 3 and 4 it can be seen that the maximum positive moment
is located in strip AGHF, and its magnitude is
1727.57 1727.57
𝑀́ = 𝐵 = 4.25 = 406.5 kN.m/m
1

Mu = 1.7 × 406.5 = 691.05 kN.m/m

691.05
Mu 1000
As = a = a
∅ fy (d− ) 0.9× 413.7 (0.68− )
2 2

As f y 413.7A
s
a= 0.85 fc b
= 0.85 ×20.7×1 = 23.51 As

As =2740 mm2/m use bar ∅ = 25 mm Ab = 491 mm2

As)min = 0.0018 bh= 0.0018 × 1000 × 800 = 1440 mm2 / m

Use As = 2740 mm2 / m

As 2740
No. of bar = = =6 25mm diameter bars at 175mm center to center
Ab 491

1000
As)provided = (491) = 2805.7 mm2 / m
175

Similarly, the maximum negative moment is located in strip ICDJ, and its magnitude is 1196.6/B1 =
1196.6/4.25 = 281.5 kN.m/m
Mu = 1.7 × 281.5 = 478.64 kN.m/m
478.64
Mu 1000
As = a = a
∅ fy (d− ) 0.9× 413.7 (0.68− )
2 2

As f y 413.7A
s
a= 0.85 fc b
= 0.85 ×20.7×1 = 23.51 As

As =1913 mm2/m use bar ∅ = 25 mm Ab = 491 mm2

As)min = 0.0018 bh= 0.0018 × 1000 × 800 = 1440 mm2 / m

Use As = 1913mm2 / m
As 1913
No. of bar = Ab
= 491
=4 25mm diameter bars at 250mm center to center

1000
As)provided = (491) 250
= 1964 mm2 / m
Because negative moment occurs at midbay of strip ICDJ, reinforcement should be provided. This
moment is 289.95/4.25 = 68.22 kN.m/m. Hence
Mu = 1.7 × 68.22 = 115.97 kN.m/m
115.97
Mu 1000
As = a = a
∅ fy (d− ) 0.9× 413.7 (0.68− )
2 2

As f y 413.7A
s
a= 0.85 fc b
= 0.85 ×20.7×1 = 23.51 As

As =459 mm2/m use bar ∅ = 25 mm Ab = 491 mm2

As)min = 0.0018 bh= 0.0018 × 1000 × 800 = 1440 mm2 / m

Use As = 1440mm2 / m

Top Steel Bottom Steel Top Steel

Additional Top Steel

in Strip ICDJ