CV-ASMFE - Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundation

CV 316
ASM&FE- Bearing Capacity of

Shallow Foundation
Prof. (R) M. S. Khatri

mskhatri@ssuet.edu.pk
Civil Engineering Department

Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundation
Introduction
▪ The lowest part of a structure generally is referred to as the foundation.
▪ Its function is to transfer the load of the structure to the soil on which it is resting.
▪ A properly designed foundation transfers the load throughout the soil without
overstressing the soil. Overstressing the soil can result in either excessive
settlement or shear failure of the soil, both of which cause damage to the
structure.
▪ Thus, geotechnical and structural engineers who design foundations must evaluate
the bearing capacity of soils.
▪ Depending on the structure and soil encountered, various types of

foundations are used.
▪ Figure 16.1 shows the most common types of foundations. A spread footing
is simply an enlargement of a load-bearing wall or column that makes it
possible to spread the load of the structure over a larger area of the soil.
▪ In soil with low load-bearing capacity, the size of the spread footings required
is impracticably large.
▪ In that case, it is more economical to construct the entire structure over a

concrete pad. This is called a mat foundation.
▪ Pile and drilled shaft foundations are used for heavier structures when larger depth
is required for supporting the load.
▪ Piles are structural members made of timber, concrete, or steel that transmit the load
of the superstructure to the lower layers of the soil.
▪ According to how they transmit their load into the subsoil, piles can be divided into
two categories: friction piles and end-bearing piles.
▪ In the case of friction piles, the superstructure load is resisted by the shear stresses
generated along the surface of the pile.
▪ In the end-bearing pile, the load carried by the pile is transmitted at its tip to a firm
stratum.
▪ Spread footings and mat foundations generally are referred to as shallow

foundations.
▪ Pile and drilled-shaft foundations are classified as deep foundations.
▪ Shallow foundations are foundations that have a depth of- embedment-to-width

ratio of approximately less than four ,( Df /B < 4). When the depth-of
embedment-to-width ratio of a foundation is greater than four, ( Df /B > 4) it may
be classified as a deep foundation.
For a foundation to function properly, (1) the settlement of soil caused by the
load must be within the tolerable limit, and (2) shear failure of the soil
supporting the foundation must not occur.
Shallow Deep
Foundations Foundations
(Df/B ≤ 4) (Df/B>4)
Spread Mat Drilled

Footings Foundations Piles Shafts/Piers caissons
Basic Definitions :
1) Ultimate Bearing Capacity (qu) :
The ultimate bearing capacity is the gross pressure at the base of the foundation at which soil fails
in shear
2) Net ultimate Bearing Capacity (qnu) :

It is the net increase in pressure at the base of foundation that cause shear failure of the soil.
Thus,
qnu = qu –  Df (overburden pressure)
3) Net Safe Bearing Capacity (qns) :
It is the net soil pressure which can be safely applied to the soil considering only shear failure.
Thus,
qns = qnu /FOS - Factor of safety usually taken as 2 -3
4) Gross Safe Bearing Capacity (qs) :
It is the maximum pressure which the soil can carry safely without shear
failure. qs = qnu / FOS +  Df
5) Net Allowable Bearing Pressure (qna ):
It is the net bearing pressure which can be used for design of foundation.
Modes of shear Failure :

Vesic (1973) classified shear failure of soil under a foundation base into three categories depending on
the type of soil & location of foundation.
1) General Shear failure.

2) Local Shear failure.
3) Punching Shear failure
General Shear Failure

The load - Settlement curve in case of footing
resting on surface of dense sand or stiff clays
shows pronounced peak, and failure occurs
at very small strain. A loaded base on such
soils sinks or tilts suddenly in to the ground
showing a surface heave of adjoining soil .
The shearing strength is fully mobilized all
along the slip surface & hence failure planes
are well defined. The failure occurs at very
small vertical strains accompanied by large
lateral strains. RD > 65%
Local Shear Failure

The foundation movement is accompanied by
sudden jerks. The failure surface gradually
extend out wards from the foundation The
failure starts at localized spot beneath the
foundation & migrates out ward part by part
gradually leading to ultimate failure. The shear
strength of soil is not fully mobilized along
planes & hence failure planes are not defined
clearly. The failure occurs at large vertical
strain & very small lateral strains. RD(%) = 15-
65 , N = 10 to 30 ,  < 30o, e > 0.75
Punching Shear Failure

The loaded base sinks into soil like a
punch. The failure surface do not
extend up to the ground surface. No
heave is observed. Large vertical
strains are involved with practically no
lateral deformation. Failure planes are
difficult to locate.
Terzaghi’s Bearing Capacity Analysis
Terzaghi (1943) analyzed a shallow continuous footing by making some assumptions:
❑ The failure occurs when the down ward pressure exerted by loads on the soil adjoining
the inclined surfaces on soil wedge is equal to upward pressure.
❑ Downward forces are due to the load ( = qu × B) & the weight of soil wedge
(1/4 B2 tan)
❑ Upward forces are the vertical components of resultant passive pressure (Pp) & the
cohesion (c’) acting along the inclined surfaces.
❑ The failure zones do not extend above the horizontal plane passing through base of
footing.
FIGURE 2.1 Failure surface in soil at ultimate load for a continuous rough
rigid foundation as assumed by Terzaghi.
The ultimate bearing capacity q of the foundation can be determined if

u
we consider faces ac and bc of the triangular wedge abc and obtain the
passive force on each face required to cause failure. Note that the
passive force P will be a function of the surcharge q = D , cohesion c,
p f
unit weight , and angle of friction of the soil . So, referring to Figure
2.2, the passive force P on the face bc per unit length of the
p
foundation at a right angle to the cross section is
P=P +P +P
p pq pc p
where
Ppq, Ppc, and Ppγ = passive force contributions of q,
c, and , respectively
FIGURE 2.2 Passive force on the face bc of wedge abc shown in Figure 2.1
Considering the stability of the elastic wedge abc under the foundation as
shown in Figure 2.3b
FIGURE 2.3 Determination of P (ϕ ≠ 0,  =

pq
0, q ≠ 0, c = 0): (a) forces per unit length of

wedge bcfj; (b) stability of elastic wedge
abc.
Figure 2.4 shows the free body diagram for the wedge bcfj (also
refer to Figure 2.2). As in the case of P , the center of the arc of the
pq
log spiral will be located at point b.

The forces on the wedge, which are due to cohesion c, are also
shown in Figure 2.4, and they are
1. Passive force P pc
2. Cohesive force C = c(bc 1)

3. Rankine passive force due to cohesion
FIGURE 2.4 Determination of Ppc (ϕ ≠ 0,  = 0, q

= 0, c ≠ 0): (a) forces per unit length of wedge
bcfj;
(b) stability of elastic wedge abc.
4. Cohesive force per unit area c along arc cf Taking the moment of all the
forces about point b:
Considering the equilibrium of the soil wedge abc (Figure 2.4b):

Figure 2.5a shows the free body diagram of wedge bcfj. Unlike
the free body diagrams shown in Figures 2.3 and 2.4, the center
of the log spiral of which bf is an arc is at a point O along line bf
and not at b. This is because the minimum value of P has to be
pγ
determined by several trials. Point O is only one trial center. The

forces per unit length of the wedge that need to be considered
are
FIGURE 2.5 Determination of P ( ≠ 0, 

pγ
≠ 0, q = 0, c = 0): (a) forces per unit

length of wedge bcfj; (b) stability of
elastic wedge abc.
1. Passive force P pγ
2. The weight W of wedge bcfj

3. The resultant of the frictional resisting force F acting along arc cf
4. The Rankine passive force P p(3)
The Rankine passive force P can be given by the relation

p(3)
Also note that the line of action of force F will pass through O. Taking the
moment of all forces about O:
If a number of trials of this type are made by changing the

location of the center of the log spiral O along line bf, then the
minimum value of P can be determined.
pγ
Considering the stability of wedge abc as shown in Figure

2.5, we can write that
After analyzing the wedge abc

𝑄𝑢 1
For strip foundation 𝑞𝑢 = = 𝑐𝑁𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾
𝐵 2
Qu= ultimate load per unit length of footing
c = unit cohesion
 = the effective unit weight of soil
B = width of footing
Df = depth of foundation
Nc , Nq, N = Bearing capacity factors , which are function of 
Nc = ( Nq -1) cot 
𝒂𝟐𝜽
𝑵𝒒 = 𝝓 Where 𝑎𝜃 = 𝑒 𝜂𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜙 , 𝜂 =( 0.75 −/2)
𝟐𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝟒𝟓𝒐 +
𝟐
𝟏 𝑲𝒑𝜸
𝑵𝜸 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝟐
−𝟏
𝟐 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝝓
Where 𝐾𝑝𝛾 = 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡

For Square foundation 𝑞𝑢 = 1.3𝑐𝑁𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 0.4𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾

For circular foundation 𝑞𝑢 = 1.3𝑐𝑁𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 0.3𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾
𝐵 𝐵
For rectangular foundation 𝑞𝑢 = 𝑐𝑁𝑐 1 + 0.3 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 0.3𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾 1 − 0.2 ×
𝐿 𝐿
B = Width or diameter
L = length of footing
o Nc Nq N
0 5.7 1.0 0.0
5 7.3 1.6 0.14
10 9.6 2.7 1.2
15 12.9 4.4 1.8
20 17.7 7.4 5.0
25 25.1 12.7 9.7
30 37.2 22.5 19.7
35 57.8 41.4 42.4
40 95.7 81.3 100.4
45 172.3 173.3 360.0
50 347.5 415.1 1072.8
Table 12.1 Bearing capacity factors of Terzaghi
For local shear failure, c and  factors are reduced.

c = 0.67 c and tan = 0.67tan  or  = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 0.67𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜙
1
Strip footing: 𝑞𝑢 = 0.67𝑐𝑁𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾
2
Square footing: 𝑞𝑢 = 0.867𝑐𝑁𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 0.4𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾

Circular footing: 𝑞𝑢 = 0.867𝑐𝑁𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 0.3𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾
𝐵
Rectangular footing∶ 𝑞𝑢 = 0.67𝑐𝑁𝑐 1 + 0.3 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 +
𝐿
1 𝐵
𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾 1 − 0.2 ×
2 𝐿
The equations for purely cohesive soil ( = 0) and cohesionless soil (c = 0)
Strip footing: For c = 0 qu =  Df Nq+ 0.5 B N
For  = 0 qu = 5.7 c + Df
For Square foundation: For c = 0 𝒒𝒖 = 𝜸𝑫𝒇 𝑵𝒒 + 𝟎. 𝟒𝜸𝑩𝑵𝜸
For  = 0 qu = 7.4 c + Df
For circular foundation:
For c = 0 qu = Df Nq+ 0.3 B N
For  = 0 qu = 7.4 c + Df
𝑩
For rectangular foundation: For c = 0 𝒒𝒖 = 𝜸𝑫𝒇 𝑵𝒒 + 𝟎. 𝟓𝜸𝑩𝑵𝜸 𝟏 − 𝟎. 𝟐 ×
𝑳
𝑩
For  = 0 𝒒𝒖 = 𝟓. 𝟕 𝒄 𝟏 + 𝟎. 𝟑 × + 𝜸𝑫𝒇 𝑵𝒒
𝑳
Effect of Groundwater Table

Case I (Figure 16.6a) If the groundwater table is located at a distance D

above the bottom of the footing, the magnitude of q in the second term of the
bearing capacity equation should be calculated as
where = sat − w effective unit weight of soil. Also, the unit weight of
soil, , that appears in the third term of the bearing-capacity equations
should be replaced by .
Case II (Figure 16.6b) If the groundwater table coincides with the

bottom of the footing, the magnitude of q is equal to Df . However, the
unit weight, . , in the third term of the bearing capacity equations should
be replaced by .
Case III (Figure 16.6c) When the groundwater table is at a depth D below the
bottom of the footing, q =  Df . The magnitude of  in the third term of the bearing
capacity equations should be replaced by av
Factor of Safety
Generally, a factor of safety, F s , of about 3 or more is applied to the ultimate
soil-bearing capacity to arrive at the value of the allowable bearing capacity. An
F of 3 or more is not considered too conservative. In nature, soils are neither
homogeneous nor isotropic. Much uncertainty is involved in evaluating the
basic shear strength parameters of soil.
There are two basic definitions of the allowable bearing capacity of shallow
footings. They are gross allowable bearing capacity, and net allowable bearing
capacity. The gross allowable bearing capacity can be calculated as
qall is the allowable load per unit area to which the soil under the footing
should be subjected to avoid any chance of bearing capacity failure.
The net allowable bearing capacity is the allowable load per unit
area of the footing in excess of the existing vertical effective stress
at the level of the footing. The vertical effective stress at the footing
level is equal to q =  Df. So, the net ultimate load is
If we assume that the weight of the soil and the weight of the
concrete from which the footing is made are approximately the
same, then
General Bearing Capacity Equation
where qc, qq, and qare the contributions of cohesion, surcharge, and unit
weight of soil, respectively.
Combining Eqs. (16.23), (16.24), (16.26), and (16.28), we obtain
This equation is in the same general form as that given by Terzaghi [Eq.
(16.11)]; however, the values of the bearing capacity factors are not the
same. The values of N q , N c , and N , defined by Eqs. (16.25), (16.27),
and (16.29), are given in Table 16.2.
The soil-bearing capacity equation for a strip footing given by Eq. (16.30) can
be modified for general use by incorporating the following factors:
Depth factor: To account for the shearing resistance developed along the
failure surface in soil above the base of the footing
Shape factor: To determine the bearing capacity of rectangular and
circular footings
Inclination factor: To determine the bearing capacity of a footing on which the
direction of load application is inclined at a certain angle to
the vertical
Shape factors The equations for the shape factors cs, qs, and s were
recommended by De Beer (1970) and are
where L = length of the foundation (L > B). The shape factors are empirical relations
based on extensive laboratory tests.
Depth factors Hansen (1970) proposed the following equations for the
depth factors:
Equations (16.35) and (16.36) are valid for Df /B ≤ 1. For a depth-of-

embedment-to footing width ratio greater than unity (Df /B > 1), the
equations have to be modified to
Inclination factors Meyerhof (1963) suggested the following

inclination factors for use in Eq. (16.31):
Here,  = inclination of the load on the foundation with respect to the
vertical. For undrained condition, if the footing is subjected to vertical
loading (that is,  = 0o), then
Ultimate Load for Shallow Footings Under
Eccentric Load (One-Way Eccentricity)
Figure 16.11, in which a footing of length L and width B is
subjected to an eccentric load, Q . If Q is the ultimate load on the
u u
footing, it may be approximated as follows:

1. Referring to Figures 16.11b and 16.11c, calculate the
effective dimensions of the footing. If the eccentricity (e) is in
the x direction (Figure 16.11b), the effective dimensions are
X = B - 2e
and
Y=L
However, if the eccentricity is in the y direction (Figure 16.11c), the effective

dimensions are
Y = L- 2e
and
X=B
2. The lower of the two effective dimensions calculated in step 1 is the effective
width (B ) and the other is the effective length (L ). Thus,
B = X or Y, whichever is smaller
L = X or Y, whichever is larger
3. So the effective area is equal to B times L. Now, using the effective width,
we can rewrite Eq. (16.31) as
Note that the preceding equation is obtained by substituting B for B in

Eq. (16.31). While computing the shape and depth factors, one should use
B for B and L for L.
4. Once the value of qu is calculated from Eq. (16.44), we can obtain the
total gross ultimate load as follows:
Bearing
BearingCapacity
Capacityof
ofShallow
ShallowFoundation
Foundation
Problems
Example # 1
A square footing is 1.5 m  1.5 m in plan. The soil supporting the foundation has a
friction angle = 20°, and c = 15.2 kN/m2. The unit weight of soil, , is17.8 kN/m3.
Determine the allowable gross load on the footing with a factor of safety (F s ) of 4.
Assume that the depth of the foundation (Df) is 1 meter and that general shear failure
occurs in soil.
Bearing
BearingCapacity
Capacityof
ofShallow
ShallowFoundation
Foundation
Terzaghi’s Equation
Bearing
BearingCapacity
Capacityof
ofShallow
ShallowFoundation
Foundation
General Bearing Capacity Equation

• For local shear failure, c and  factors are reduced.
• c = 0.67 c
• tan = 0.67tan  or  = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 0.67𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜙

Example # 02
Refer to Example # 01. Other quantities remaining the same, if
the ground water table is located 1 m below the bottom of the
footing, determine the allowable gross load per unit area with F s
= 3. Assume sat 19 kN/m3.
Example # 03
A square footing is shown in Figure 16.8. The footing will carry a gross mass of
30,000 kg. Using a factor of safety of 3, determine the size of the footing—that is,
the size of B. Use Eq. (16.12).
Example # 04
Example # 5
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CV 316

ASM&FE- Bearing Capacity of

Prof. (R) M. S. Khatri

Civil Engineering Department

▪ Depending on the structure and soil encountered, various types of

▪ In that case, it is more economical to construct the entire structure over a

▪ Spread footings and mat foundations generally are referred to as shallow

▪ Pile and drilled-shaft foundations are classified as deep foundations.

▪ Shallow foundations are foundations that have a depth of- embedment-to-width

Spread Mat Drilled

2) Net ultimate Bearing Capacity (qnu) :

Modes of shear Failure :

1) General Shear failure.

General Shear Failure

Local Shear Failure

Punching Shear Failure

The ultimate bearing capacity q of the foundation can be determined if

foundation at a right angle to the cross section is

FIGURE 2.3 Determination of P (ϕ ≠ 0,  =

0, q ≠ 0, c = 0): (a) forces per unit length of

log spiral will be located at point b.

2. Cohesive force C = c(bc 1)

FIGURE 2.4 Determination of Ppc (ϕ ≠ 0,  = 0, q

Considering the equilibrium of the soil wedge abc (Figure 2.4b):

determined by several trials. Point O is only one trial center. The

FIGURE 2.5 Determination of P ( ≠ 0, 

≠ 0, q = 0, c = 0): (a) forces per unit

2. The weight W of wedge bcfj

The Rankine passive force P can be given by the relation

If a number of trials of this type are made by changing the

Considering the stability of wedge abc as shown in Figure

After analyzing the wedge abc

Where 𝐾𝑝𝛾 = 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡

For Square foundation 𝑞𝑢 = 1.3𝑐𝑁𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 0.4𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾

For local shear failure, c and  factors are reduced.

Square footing: 𝑞𝑢 = 0.867𝑐𝑁𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 0.4𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾

Effect of Groundwater Table

Case I (Figure 16.6a) If the groundwater table is located at a distance D

Case II (Figure 16.6b) If the groundwater table coincides with the

General Bearing Capacity Equation

Combining Eqs. (16.23), (16.24), (16.26), and (16.28), we obtain

Equations (16.35) and (16.36) are valid for Df /B ≤ 1. For a depth-of-

Inclination factors Meyerhof (1963) suggested the following

footing, it may be approximated as follows:

However, if the eccentricity is in the y direction (Figure 16.11c), the effective

Note that the preceding equation is obtained by substituting B for B in

General Bearing Capacity Equation

• For local shear failure, c and  factors are reduced.

• tan = 0.67tan  or  = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 0.67𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜙

• Attendance is important Minimum 80%

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