Southwest Jiaotong University

Department of Geotechnical Engineering

Foundation Engineering

Jun Feng, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
1
Ch8. Spread Footings—Geotechnical Design

2
Contents
8.1 Design for Concentric Downward Loads
8.2 Design for Eccentric or Moment Loads
8.3 Design for Shear Loads
8.4 Design for Wind or Seismic Loads
8.5 Lightly Loaded Footings
8.6 Footing on or Near Slopes
8.7 Footings on Frozen Soils
8.8 Footings on Soils Prone to Scour
8.9 Footings on Rock
3
Introduction

Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Bearing
Settlement
Capacity
Analysis
Analysis

Chapter 8:
Design of Shallow Foundations to meet both
bearing capacity and settlement requirements

4
8.1 Design for Concentric Downward Loads

8.1.1 Footing Depth

⚫ The depth of embedment, D, must be at least large enough to
accommodate the required footing thickness, T, although footings are
usually placed somewhat deeper.
⚫ The depth is measured from the lowest adjacent ground surface to the
bottom of the footing. In the case of footings overlain by a basement or
slab-on-grade floor, D is measured from the subgrade below the slab.

5
◆ Minimum Depth-Square & ◆ Minimum Depth-Continuous
Rectangular Footings Footings

6
◆ Other Considerations; Minimum Depth

⚫ Depth to “competent” soil

⚫ Depth of frost penetration

⚫ Potential for scour

⚫ Possibility of a shallow landslide

7
◆ Other Considerations; Maximum Depth

⚫ Potential undermining existing foundations, utility lines etc.

⚫ Desire to avoid ground water table

⚫ Desire to avoid the need for excavation shoring

8
8.1.2 Footing Width

⚫ Allowable Bearing Pressure Method

➢ (qa)bc to satisfy bearing capacity
requirements
➢ (qa)s to satisfy settlement requirements
➢ (qa)design is the lower of (qa)bc and (qa)s
B
⚫ Design Chart Method
9
(1) Allowable Bearing Pressure Method
⚫ Allowable bearing pressure, qa is the
largest bearing pressure that satisfies
both bearing capacity and settlement
criteria.
⚫ Select depth of embedment, D
⚫ Determine the allowable bearing
pressure based on bearing capacity
analysis using the smallest applied
load
⚫ Determine the allowable bearing
pressure based on settlement analysis Two footings are loaded to the same bearing stress, q,
using the largest applied load but each has a different width and a correspondingly
different column load, P. The larger footing induces
⚫ Select qa as the lower value of the two stress to a greater depth in the soil, so it settles more
allowable bearing pressures. than the smaller footing.
10
⚫ Footing Width Computation

11
Example 8.1

12
13
14
15
16
17
(2) Design Chart Method

⚫ The steps involved in the design chart method is as follows:

 Step 1: Construct Pall versus Footing Width, B based on
bearing capacity considerations
 Step 2: Select an allowable settlement, all (say all =1.0in)
and then plot Pall versus Footing Width, B
 Step 3: Repeat step 2 for various other values of all (e.g.
all =0.75in, 1.25in, 1.50in, 200in)
⚫ The design chart will be similar to one shown in Fig 8.4 (see
next slide)

18
A typical design chart for spread footings

19
Example 8.2

20
21
22
Thanks!

23