Example 10.

1
Pad footing on dry sand
Verification of strength (limit state GEO)

Design situation
Consider a rectangular pad footing of length L = 2.5m, breadth B = 1.5m, and
depth d = 0.5m, which is required to carry an imposed permanent action
VGk = 800kN and an imposed variable action VQk = 450kN, both of which

are applied at the centre of the foundation. The footing is founded on dry
sandn with characteristic angle of shearing resistance φk = 35°, effective
kN
cohesion c'k = 0kPa, and weight density γk = 18 . The weight density of
3
m
kN
the reinforced concrete is γck = 25 (as per EN 1991-1-1 Table A.1).
3
m

Design Approach 1
Actions and effects
Characteristic self-weight of footing is WGk = γck × L × B × d = 46.9 kN

⎛1.35 ⎞ ⎛1.5 ⎞
Partial factors from sets A1 and A2: γG = ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
and γQ =
⎝ 1 ⎠ ⎝1.3 ⎠
⎛1818.3 ⎞
(
Design vertical action: Vd = γG × WGk + VGk ) + γQ × VQk = ⎜ ⎟ kN
⎝1431.9 ⎠
2
Area of base: Ab = L × B = 3.75 m

Vd ⎛484.9 ⎞
Design bearing pressure: qEd = =⎜ ⎟ kPa
Ab ⎝381.8 ⎠

Material properties and resistance

⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
Partial factors from sets M1 and M2: γφ = ⎜ ⎟ and γc = ⎜ ⎟
⎝1.25 ⎠ ⎝1.25 ⎠

Design angle of shearing resistance is φd = tan

−1⎜
⎛ tan ( φk) ⎟⎞ ⎛ 35 ⎞
⎜ ⎟
=⎜ ⎟°
⎝
γφ
⎠ ⎝29.3 ⎠
c'k ⎛0 ⎞
Design cohesion is c'd = = ⎜ ⎟ kPa
γc ⎝0 ⎠
Verification of bearing resistance
qEd ⎛54 ⎞
Utilization factor ΛGEO,1 = = ⎜ ⎟% q
qRd ⎝97 ⎠

Design is unacceptable if utilization factor is > 100%

Design Approach 2

Actions and effects

Partial factors from set A1: γG = 1.35 and γQ = 1.5

( )
Design action is Vd = γG × WGk + VGk + γQ × VQk = 1818.3 kN

Vd
Design bearing pressure is qEd = = 484.9 kPa
Ab

Material properties and resistance

Partial factors from set M1: γφ = 1.0 and γc = 1.0

Design angle of shearing resistance is φd = tan

−1⎜
⎛ tan ( φk) ⎟⎞ = 35 °
⎜ γφ ⎟
⎝ ⎠
c'k
Design cohesion is c'd = = 0 kPa
γc

Bearing capacity factors

2
( π×tan( φd) ) ⎛⎜tan ⎛⎜45° + φd ⎟⎞⎟⎞
For overburden: N q = e ⎜ ⎜ ⎟⎟ = 33.3
⎝ ⎝ 2 ⎠⎠
( )
For cohesion: N c = N q − 1 × cot φd = 46.1 ( )
( )
For self-weight: N γ = 2 N q − 1 × tan φd = 45.2 ( )
Shape factors
⎛ B⎞
For overburden: sq = 1 + ⎜ ⎟ × sin φd = 1.34
L ⎝ ⎠
( )
sq × N q − 1
For cohesion: sc = = 1.35
Nq − 1

⎛ B⎞
For self-weight: sγ = 1 − 0.3 × ⎜ ⎟ = 0.82
L ⎝ ⎠
Bearing resistance
Partial factor from set R2: γRv = 1.4 r
From overburden qult = N q × sq × σ' vk,b = 402.8 kPa
1
From cohesion qult = N c × sc × c'd = 0 kPa
2
B
From self-weight qult = N γ × sγ × γk × = 500.7 kPa
3 2

Total resistance qult =

∑ qult = 903.5 kPa
qult
Design resistance is qRd = = 645.3 kPa
γRv

Verification of bearing resistance

qEd
Utilization factor ΛGEO,2 = = 75 % s
qRd

Design is unacceptable if utilization factor is > 100%

Design Approach 3

Actions and effects

Partial factors on structural actions from set A1: γG = 1.35 and γQ = 1.5

( )
Design vertical action Vd = γG × WGk + VGk + γQ × VQk = 1818.3 kN

Vd
Design bearing pressure qEd = = 484.9 kPa
Ab

Material properties and resistance

Partial factors from set M1: γφ = 1.25 and γc = 1.25 t
Design angle of shearing resistance is φd = tan
⎛ tan φk
−1⎜ ( ) ⎟⎞ = 29.3 °
⎜ γφ ⎟
⎝ ⎠
c'k
Design cohesion is c'd = = 0 kPa
γc

Bearing capacity factors