Chapter Four Reinforced Concrete Design II

Footings Subjected to Axial Loads and Moments

Moment transfer from columns to footings depends on how
the column–footing connection is constructed. Many
designers treat the connection between columns and footings
as a pinned connection. Others treat it as fixed, and still
others treat it as somewhere in between.
To provide continuity at the column–footing interface, the
reinforcing steel would have to be continued into the footing.
This is normally accomplished by embedding hooked bars into
the footing and having them extend into the air where the
columns will be located. The length they extend into the air
must be at least the lap splice length; sometimes this can be a Pin connection Embedding hooked
significant length. These bars are then lap spliced or bars
mechanically spliced with the column bars, providing continuity
of tension force in the reinforcing steel.

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 Chapter Four Reinforced Concrete Design II

Footings Subjected to Axial Loads and Moments

If there is a moment transfer from the column to the
footing, the resultant force will not coincide with the
centroid of the footing. Of course, if the moment is
constant in magnitude and direction, it will be possible
to place the center of the footing under the resultant
load and avoid the eccentricity, but lateral forces such as
wind and earthquake can come from any direction, and
symmetrical footings will be needed.
The effect of the moment is to produce a linearly
varying soil pressure, which can be determined at any
point with the expression:

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 Chapter Four Reinforced Concrete Design II

Footings Subjected to Axial Loads and Moments

When the resultant force strikes the footing base, the value of + Mc/I will at some points be
larger than −P/A, and there will be uplift or tension. The soil–footing interface cannot resist
tension, and the pressure variation will be as shown in Figure (c).
For this case, the method described for calculating soil pressures is not
correct. To compute the pressure for such a situation, it is necessary to
realize that the centroid of the upward pressure must for equilibrium
coincide with the centroid of the vertical component of the downward
load. As shown in the Figure, it is assumed that the distance to this point
from the right edge of the footing is a. Since the centroid of a triangle is
located at one-third of its base, the soil pressure will be spread over the
distance 3a as shown. For a rectangular footing with dimensions L × b,
the total upward soil pressure is equated to the downward load, and the (c)
resulting expression is solved for qmax as follows: For a rectangular footing, this occurs when
the eccentricity exceeds

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 Chapter Four Reinforced Concrete Design II

Footings Subjected to Axial Loads and Moments

Example I: Determine the width needed for a wall footing
to support loads: D = 18 k/ft and L = 12 k/ft. In addition, a
moment of 39 ft-k must be transferred from the column to
the footing. Assume the footing is 18 in. thick, its base is 4
ft below the final grade, and qa = 4 ksf. Assume the soil
weight is 100 lb/ft3.

First Trial

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 Chapter Four Reinforced Concrete Design II

Footings Subjected to Axial Loads and Moments

Second Trial Note that in both trials, the sign for qmin is negative,
meaning that the soil–footing interface is in compression.
Had the value been positive, the equations used to
calculate stress would not have been valid. Instead, the
designer would have to use the equation:

Continue for calculation of Vu and Mu: as described before

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 Chapter Four Reinforced Concrete Design II

Footings Subjected to Axial Loads and Moments

Example II (Almanseer): A 12×24−in. column of an
unsymmetrical shed shown is subjected to an axial load
PD =220K and a moment MD =180K⋅ft due to dead load
and an axial load PL =165K and a moment ML =140K⋅ft
due to live load. The base of the footing is 5 ft below
final grade, and the allowable soil bearing pressure is 5
ksf. Design the footing using f′ c = 4 ksi and fy =60 ksi.

Method 1: Move the center of the footing a distance

e=10in. from the center of the column. In this case, the
soil pressure will be considered uniformly distributed
under the footing .

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 Chapter Four
Footings Subjected to Axial Loads and Moments
For the first method, assume a footing depth of 20in.
(d=16.5in.) and assume the weight of soil is 100pcf.
Net upward pressure is
Assume a footing width of 9ft; then the footing
length is 87.1/9=9.7ft, say, 10ft. Choose a footing
9×10 ft and place the column eccentrically, as
shown. The center of the footing is 10 in. away from
the center of the column.
Dr. Faris Matalkah
Reinforced Concrete Design II
The design procedure now is similar to that for a single footing.
Check the depth for two-way and one-way shear action. Determine
the bending moment at the face of the column for the longitudinal
and transverse directions. Due to the eccentricity of the footing, the
critical section will be on the left face of the column in. The distance
to the end of footing is (5×12)−2=58in.=4.833ft.
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 Chapter Four Reinforced Concrete Design II

Footings Subjected to Axial Loads and Moments

For the second method, calculate the area of the footing
in the same way as explained in the first method; then
calculate the maximum soil pressure and compare it with
that allowable using actual loads

Method 2: The footing is placed concentric with the The footing is not safe. Try a footing 9.25×13ft (area=120.25ft2).
center of the column. In this case, the soil pressure
will be trapezoidal or triangular, and the maximum
and minimum values can be calculated as shown
Calculate the factored upward pressure using factored loads; then
calculate moments and shears, as explained in previous examples

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 Chapter Four Reinforced Concrete Design II

Footings Subjected to Axial Loads and Moments

Example: For a footing has a width of 10 ft. Assume Estimate footing length and depth. Estimate the overall
it will be supporting a 16 in. by 16 in. column that is thickness, t, of the footing to be between 1.5 and 2.0 times the
carrying the following loads. The length and depth size of the column, so select h = 26 in
of the footing are to be determined. The
geotechnical report indicates that for shallow
foundations, the allowable soil bearing pressure is
4000 psf. Design the footing assuming = 3500 psi
(normal-weight concrete) and fy = 60 ksi
Select a footing length of 12 ft.
PD = 180 kips and PL = 120 kips
MD = 80 k-ft and ML = 60 k-ft
Calculate factored soil pressures

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 Chapter Four Reinforced Concrete Design II

Footings Subjected to Axial Loads and Moments

The critical shear perimeter is located d/2 away from each column
face, Assume the average effective depth for the footing is:
Check footing thickness for two-way shear

Thus, each side of the critical shear perimeter has a length of 38 in.
Using the average factored shear stress inside the critical perimeter
(qu(avg) = 3.40 ksf), the net factored shear to be transferred across
the critical perimeter is:

Critical perimeter for two-way shear

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 Chapter Four Reinforced Concrete Design II

Footings Subjected to Axial Loads and Moments

Check for one-way shear
The critical section for checking one-way shear strength as
shown. To simplify this check, it is conservative to assume that
the maximum factored soil pressure of 4.20 ksf acts on the
entire shaded region. Thus, the factored shear force to be
resisted at the critical section is:

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 Chapter Four Reinforced Concrete Design II

Footings Subjected to Axial Loads and Moments

Design flexural reinforcement for long direction
The critical section for flexural design and the variation of
factored soil pressure to be used are given in the Figure. The
factored design moment at the critical section is:

Assuming a moment arm, jd, equal to 0.95d, and using the required
area of bottom flexural reinforcement in the long direction is:

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