Module 9a

Spread Footing with Eccentric Loading

(Non-Uniform Pressure at the Bottom of Footing)

Problem No.1

In the figure, a 1.80m by 1.25m footing is loaded with a resultant force P=889.6kN
applied on the x-axis. Determine the soil pressure distribution at the base if the
eccentricity is:

a. 150mm to the right of the centroid of footing; and:

b. 380mm of the right of the centroid of the footing

P=889.6kN

1.25 m
P = 889.6 kN

1.80 m

Solution:

a. If the eccentricity is 150mm

1) check the value of “e”

ℎ 1.80(1000)
𝑒 = = = 300𝑚𝑚
6 6
ℎ
𝑒 = 150𝑚𝑚 < = 300𝑚𝑚
6

hence, direct bending stress can be imposed

𝑃 𝑀𝑐
𝑞= − ±
𝐴 𝐼

2) for the soil pressures:

𝐴 = 1.25 𝑥 1.80 = 2.25 𝑚𝑚2

𝑀 = 𝑃 𝑥 𝑒 = 889.6 𝑥 0.15 = 133.44 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
 1.8
𝑐= = 0.90 𝑚
2
1
𝐼 = 12 (1.25)(1.803 ) = 0.6075𝑚4

𝑃 𝑀𝑐
𝑞= − ±
𝐴 𝐼

889.6 (133.44)(0.90)
𝑞𝑚𝑖𝑛 = − ±
2.25 0.6075

889.6 (133.44)(0.90)
𝑞𝑚𝑖𝑛 = − +
2.25 0.6075

𝑞𝑚𝑖𝑛 = −395.38 + 197.69

𝑞𝑚𝑖𝑛 = −197.69 𝑘𝑃𝑎

889.6 (133.44)(0.90)
𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥 = − −
2.25 0.6075

𝑞𝑚𝑖𝑛 = −395.38 − 197.69

𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥 = − 593.07 kPa

Illustration:
P = 889.6 kN
e =150 mm

𝑞𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥
c

b. If the eccentricity is 380mm

1) check the value of 𝑒

ℎ 1.80(1000)
𝑒 = = = 300𝑚𝑚
6 6
ℎ
𝑒 = 380𝑚𝑚 > = 300𝑚𝑚
6

Hence, the soil pressure acts over a length “3a”

2𝑃
𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
3𝑎𝑏

𝑏 1.80
𝑎 = −𝑒 = − 0.38 = 0.52 𝑚
2 2
 2(889.6)
𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
3(0.52)(1.25)

𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 912.4 𝑘𝑃𝑎

P = 889.6 kN

0.90 m 𝑒 𝑎

𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥

3𝑎 = 3(0.52) = 1.56𝑚