Design of Trapezoid-shaped Footings

s
w1/2

b + a
1 c.g./c.p 2
2(x+w1/2) < s

x' Rectangular footing

is too short to reach
column 2.

A combined footing will be trapezoid-shaped if the column which has too limited space for a
spread footing carries the larger load. In this case the resultant of the column loads (including
moments) will be closer to the larger column load and doubling the centroid distance as done for
the rectangular footing will not provide sufficient length to reach the interior column. The
footing geometry necessary for a trapezoid-shape footing is illustrated in the Figure above from
which we obtain:

ab
A L 1
2

L 2a  b
x  2
3 ab

From Eq. 2 and the Figure, it can be seen that the solution for a = 0 is a triangle and if a = b, we
have a rectangle. Therefore, it follows that a trapezoid solution exists only for L/3 < x < L/2
with minimum value of L as out-to-out of the column faces. The value of L must be known and
P  Pu
the area A will be based on the soil pressure and column loads ( A  or ). The forming
qa qult
and reinforcing steel for a trapezoid shape footing is somewhat awkward to place. For these
reasons, it may be preferable to use a strap footing where possible, since essentially the same
goal of producing a computed uniform soil pressure is obtained.
Example: Proportion a trapezoidal footing using factored loads (i.e. USD).

DL = 1200 kN DL = 900 kN
Solution: LL = 816 kN LL = 660 kN
Q1 = 2016 kN Q2 = 1560 kN
Qu1 = 1.41200 + 1.7816 = 3067.2 kN

Qu2 = 1.4  900 + 1.7660 = 2382.0 kN

1 2
5.48 m
 Qu = 3067.2 + 2382.0 = 5449.2 kN 0.46 x 0.46 0.46 x 0.46

Property line
and Q = 2016 + 1560 = 3576 kN

Pseudo bearing capacity (ultimate), x

qa = 190 kPa
x' R
Qu 5449.2
qu  qa   190  289.53 kPa
Q 3576
Taking moment about column 1:
b + a
5449.2  x = 5.48  2382  c.p

x = 2.395 m

0.46
 x  x   2.395  0.23  2.625 m (i)
2
Lmin. = 5.48 + 0.46 = 5.94 m
L L
Since  x   we have a trapezoid for which
2 3
L 2a  b
x   or
3 ab
5.94 2a  b 2a  b
x    2.625 or  1.326 (ii)
3 ab ab
ab Qu  a  b 
For a trapezoid, A  L Also A     5.94
 2  qu  2 
5449.2
or  a  b   2.97  (a + b) = 6.337 (iii)
289.53
From (ii) 2a + b = 1.326  6.337 = 8.403 (iv)
Using equations (iii) and (iv), a = 2.065 m b = 4.273 m
Example: Proportion the combined footing where Q1 and Q2 are the net loads.

Solution:
Q1 = 100 k Q2 = 180 k

Taking moment about column 2

280  x  100  10  x  3.57' 1 2
10'
and
1'x1' 1.5'x1.5'
x   x  0.75  2.0  3.57  2.75  6.32' 2'

Length from Figure,

Property line
L = 10 + 0.5 + 0.75 + 2 = 13.25 ft x
qa (net) = 2.8 ksf R
x'

L L
Since  x   we have a trapezoid for which
2 3
L 2a  b  13.25  2a  b 
x      (i)
3 a  b  3  a  b 
a b Qn 280
Also A   L    100 ft 2
 2  q a ( net ) 2.8

a  b   13.25  100 or (a + b) = 15.09 (ii)

2
From (i) 2a + b = 21.59 (iii)
From (ii) and (iii)
a = 6.5 ft and b = 8.59 ft

6.5' 8.59'

13.25'
 ULTIMATE STRENGTH DESIGN (USD) METHOD

Working loads are converted to ultimate loads through the use of load factors as:

Qu  1.4 D  1.7 L
 0.75(1.4 D  1.7 L  1.7W )
 0.9 D  1.3W (alternative with wind )

For earthquake loading substitute E for W as applicable.