Design a concentrically loaded base to carry the following

characteristic loads:

Dead Load: 300 kN

Imposed Load: 400 kN

Column size is 300mm x 300mm

The SAFE GROUND BEARING PRESSURE is 175 kN/m2

Design parameters (general)

Reinforcement yield strength fy = 500 N/mm2

(reminder fd = fy/1.15 = 0.87fy = 435 N/mm2

Concrete strength C30/35 fck = 30 N/mm2

The above parameters are both decided by the Design Engineer,

although fy is generally standard.

fck would be the same thoughout the job

There are then specific parameters for this foundation:

Foundation cover (if required) 75mm

Cover depends upon location

Reinforcement diameter 25mm (estimated, may change)

Bar diameter depends upon member
at this stage.
Foundation Size

Use the A2 partial safety factors to calculate a suitable base size to

prevent soil failure under the base:

Design Load = 1.0 DL + 1.3 LL = 1.0 x 300 + 1.3 x 400

= 820kN

2 (safe GBP)

Required Area = 820/175 = 4.68 m2

Use (square) base 2.2m x 2.2m.

Note that usually square bases are the most efficient in this situation
(concentrically loaded pad), but sometimes there may be other factors
that necessitate a rectangular base (such a a site boundary)
Foundation Design

Two possibilities:

1. Mass Concrete base

2. Reinforced Concrete base

Consider a mass concrete base:

45
To maintain a 45 line from the column Required
depth =
face, the base needs to be 950mm deep. 950mm

(950 + 300 + 950 = base width, 2200) 950mm 950mm

300mm
Alternatively, consider a Reinforced Concrete Base

Try h = 500mm

d = 500 75 25/2 = 412.5mm

Analysis
In this case the analysis is very simple.
The base acts as two
inverted cantilevers:

BM Wx2/2
Diagram x

SF Wx
Diagram

950mm 950mm

300mm
We first need to recalculate the applied load using the A1 partial safety
factors:

Design Load = 1.35 DL + 1.5 LL = 1.35 x 300 + 1.5 x 400

= 1005kN

Note: Pressure under base = Load/Area = 1005/2.22 = 208 kN/m2

(this exceeds the safe GBP, but we are now checking the concrete,
NOT the soil (which has already been checked))
Analysis

Mmax = WL2/2 = 208 x 0.952/2 = 94 kNm/m width (at the column face)

Vmax = WL = 208 x 0.95 = 197.6 kN/m width

Design

Where: (work in N and mm)

Try h = 300; d = 300 75 25/2 = 212.5

Therefore in this case z = 0.93d = 197mm

The tension reinforcement required can now be calculated from:

This is the required reinforcement, Asreq

Use T-20 at 250 centres Asprov = 314 x 1000/250 = 1256 mm2/m

This reinforcement arrangement is required in BOTH directions. Strictly

speaking in one direction the effective depth is:
d=h cover diameter/2 -diameter
This completes the design for the required reinforcement.
Shear

Consider face shear at a distance

Critical
position
Shear Force (to left) = 208 x 0.738 =

154kN/m (width)
W = 208 kN/m2

738mm 212 950mm

300mm
Shear Design

Applied shear stress:

Resistance:

Where:

= 1.97
The applied shear stress (0.724 N/mm2) exceeds both these values so
the base FAILS in shear.

The ONLY alternative is to use a deeper base.

A base 400mm deep was tried and STILL FAILED

Try a base 500mm deep d = 500 75 25/2 = 412.5mm:

We must recalculate the bending reinforcement:

Therefore in this case z = 0.95d = 392mm

The tension reinforcement required can now be calculated from:

This is the required reinforcement, Asreq

Use T-16 at 250 centres Asprov = 201 x 1000/250 = 804 mm2/m

This completes the design for the required reinforcement. We can now
re-check shear:
Shear

Consider face shear at a distance Critical

position

Shear Force (to left) = 208 x 0.538 =

W = 208 kN/m2

112kN/m (width)
538mm 412 950mm

300mm
Applied shear stress:

Resistance:

Where:

= 1.7
The applied shear stress (0.271 N/mm2) is now LESS than the greater of
these values so the base PASSES in shear. (in fact it is greater than both)
We now need to check PUNCHING SHEAR

There are a few awkward calculations to 2d

carry out related to the figure shown.

We require the loaded area OUTSIDE the

failure perimeter (the dotted line) to
calculate the applied shear force.

We also require the length of the perimeter (dotted line) to convert the
applied shear force to a shear stress.
Putting dimensions on the figure and
drawing it a little more accurately it
can be seen that the area inside the
825mm
dotted line consists of:

A square 300mm x 300mm

4 rectangles each 825mm x 300mm

950mm 950mm
300mm
4 quarter circles each with a radius of
825mm (4 quarter circles, of course, add up to one complete circle)
The length of the perimeter is:

4 straight line each 300mm 825mm

4 quarter circles each with a radius of

825mm (4 quarter circles, of course,
add up to one complete circle)

950mm 950mm
The perimeter is therefore: 300mm
The shear stress on the perimeter is therefore (working in N and mm)

337 x 103 /(6380 x 412.5) = 0.128 N/mm2

The allowable stress has already been calculated when dealing with
the face shear 0.425 N/mm2

Therefore the base passes the punching shear check.

This completes the Foundation Design