ECE 4213

Foundation Engineering II

Combined Footings

Dedan Kimathi University of Technology

Department of Civil Engineering
Dr. Eng. Thuo J. N.

Definitions

Combined Footings - a footing that supports a line of two or

more columns
Mat Foundation – more than one line of columns is supported
by a concrete slab

2
Combined Footing

Applications

(i) When Areas of isolated pads overlap where space is tight

(ii) When the load to be carried by a column and the soil

bearing capacity are such that the standard spread footing
design will require extension of the column foundation
beyond the property line.
3

Combined Footing

Categories
(i) Rectangular combined footing
(ii) Trapezoidal combined footing
(iii) Strap footing

4
Rectangular Combined Footing

Rectangular Combined Footing

If the net allowable soil pressure is known, the size of the

foundation (B×L) can be determined as follows :

A: Determine the area of the foundation

6
 Rectangular Combined Footing
B: Determine the location of the resultant of the column loads

Taking moment at Q1

C: For a uniform distribution of soil pressure under the

foundation, the resultant of the column loads should pass
through the centroid of the foundation

Rectangular Combined Footing

D: Once the length L is determined, the value of L1 can be
obtained as follows:

Note that the magnitude of L2 will be known and depends on the location of the
property line

E: The width of the foundation is then:

8
 Trapezoidal Combined Footing

Design Procedure:

Trapezoidal Combined Footing

The size of the foundation that will uniformly distribute
pressure on the soil can be obtained in the following manner:

A: If the net allowable soil pressure is known, determine the

area of the foundation:

Where are of Trapezoid:

10
 Trapezoidal Combined Footing
B: Determine the location of the resultant for the column loads:

11

Trapezoidal Combined Footing

C: From the property of a trapezoid:

With known values of A, L, X, and L2, solve Equations for (area in A) and (in C) to
obtain B1 and B2. Note that, for a trapezoid,

12
Cantilever/ Strap Footing

i. Cantilever footing construction uses a strap beam to

connect an eccentrically loaded column foundation to the
foundation of an interior column.

ii. Cantilever footings may be used in place of trapezoidal or

rectangular combined footings when the allowable soil
bearing capacity is high and the distances between the
columns are large.
13

Cantilever/ Strap Footing

14
Example 1:

15

Example 2:

16