SEM 2 SESSION 2023/2024 3/5/2024

FOUNDATION ENGINEERING (KIA 3006)

- Chapter 1 : Shallow Foundation-

(Soil Bearing Capacity)

AP. Ir. Dr. Meldi bin Suhatril

Department of Civil Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya.

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

Introduction
• Foundations are the lowest portion of a
structure which exists below the earth surface.

• Civil engineer have to analyse it properly,

provide satisfactory and economical support to
the structure.

• The foundation is very important structural

element because if it is deficient in design or
construction, the entire building is at risk.

• Leaning tower of Pisa, Italy is a classical example.

“Foundations are designed To transfer load of the structure

safely to the strata/soil layers on which it is resting”
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Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

Foundation Design Criteria

Bearing Capacity : There must be no failure within the surrounding soil;
soil failure would jeopardize the integrity of the
foundation. (Stability against shear failure)

Settlement : The settlement must be within tolerable limits.

Types of Foundations
Foundations are of two types: shallow and deep foundations

Type of foundation depends on the nature of sub- soil strata and type of
superstructure. 3

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

Shallow Foundations
A shallow foundation is generally placed within the soil at a depth less
than the width of the foundation.
Combined Footing

Df / B ≤ 1.0

ASSOC PROF. IR. DR. MELDI BIN SUHATRIL 2

SEM 2 SESSION 2023/2024 3/5/2024

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

General Shear Failure q

dense sand
stiff clay

• The soil on the both sides of the foundation bulges.

• The slip surface extends to the ground surface.
• Bearing capacity failure occurs.
• The footing undergoes a very large settlement.
• GSF is accompanied by low strain (<5%) in a soil with considerable φ
(φ>36) & large N (N>30) having high relative density (ID >70%).
• Footings in Dense sands (Dr > 67%) - general shear failure.

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

Punching Shear Failure q

medium dense sand /

Soft clay

• Failure surface extend to the ground surface

• Slight bulging of soil around the footing is observed.
• LSF is accompanied by large strain (>10 to 20%) in a soil with
considerably by low φ (φ<28) and low N (N<5) having low relative
density (ID >20%).
• Footings in Loose to Medium dense (30%< Dr < 67%) - Local Shear
failure.

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SEM 2 SESSION 2023/2024 3/5/2024

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

Punching Shear Failure
q

loose sand
soft clay

• In the case of punching shear failure, foundations penetrate into the

soil without any bulging of the surface.
• Very large displacement
• Relative loose sands with relative density is less than 35%.
• Footings in Very Loose Sand (Dr < 30%) - punching shear failure.

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

Mode of failure Model Tests by Vesic (1973)

emax = soil void ratio in

loosest condition

emin = soil void ratio in

densest condition

emax  e
Dr 
emax  emin

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SEM 2 SESSION 2023/2024 3/5/2024

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

Terzaghi’s Bearing Capacity Theory

• Terzaghi (1943) was the first to present a comprehensive theory for

the ultimate bearing capacity
• Footing base is rough
• General shear failure
• Weight of soil above the base of footing may be replaced by a uniform
surcharge.

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SEM 2 SESSION 2023/2024 3/5/2024

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

Terzaghi’s Bearing Capacity Theory

• Zone I – Wedge ABJ –Elastic Zone.

• Zone II – Wedges AJE and BJD
- Radial shear zones.
• Zone III – Wedges AEG and BDF.
- Rankine’s passive zone
• JD and JE are arcs of logarithmic spirals
• DF and EG are straight lines
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Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

• Let us imagine that AJ and BJ are two walls that are pushing the soil wedges
AJEG and BJDF, respectively, to cause passive failure.

• Pp should be inclined at an angle δ, wall friction, to the perpendicular drawn

to the wedge faces.

• In this case, δ = φ.

• As AJ and BJ are inclined at φ to horizontal, Pp should be vertical.

• Considering equilibrium of wedge ABJ, per unit length.

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Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

• Thus,

or

• The passive pressure (Pp) in the above equation is the sum of the
contribution of the weight of soil γ, cohesion c, and surcharge qu.

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Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

a) Contribution of soil Weight , γ

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Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

b) Contribution of Cohesion, c

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Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

c) Contribution of surcharge, qo

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SEM 2 SESSION 2023/2024 3/5/2024

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

• Thus, we can write

where Kγ, Kc, and Kq are earth pressure coefficients that are functions of
the soil friction angle, φ.

• Combining both Equations, we obtain

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Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

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SEM 2 SESSION 2023/2024 3/5/2024

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Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

GENERAL BEARING CAPACITY

Once the ultimate bearing capacity of a foundation is computed, it is necessary to

determine the allowable bearing capacity (qall

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SEM 2 SESSION 2023/2024 3/5/2024

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

Terzaghi’s Bearing capacity Factors

• In the case of local shear failure, we may assume that

c’ = (2/3) c and tan φ’ = (2/3) tanφ

• The bearing capacity factors Nc, Nq, and Nγ, may be read from table.

• There is no bearing capacity equation available to account for transition

from general shear failure to local shear failure i.e 28° ≤ φ ≤ 38°. Local
shear failure (φ < 28°) and General shear failure (φ > 38°).

• Peck et al. (1974) have given the curves for Nq, and Nγ which
automatically account for the mixed state of local and general shear
failure.

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Bearing capacity Factors

Transition from local to

general shear failure in sand
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SEM 2 SESSION 2023/2024 3/5/2024

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

GENERAL BEARING CAPACITY

• Several investigators refined the solution suggested by Terzaghi

including Meyerhof (1951),Mortenson (1953), and Balla (1962).

• Solutions suggest that bearing capacity factors Nc and Nq do not

change much. However, Nγ vary widely due to the assumption of the
wedge shape located directly below the footing.

• The Terzaghi bearing capacity equation has been modified for other
shapes of foundations by introducing the shape factors.

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Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

GENERAL BEARING CAPACITY

Meyerhof (1963) presented a general bearing capacity equation which
takes into account the shape and the inclination of load. The general
form of equation suggested by Meyerhof for bearing capacity is

c = unit cohesion
q’o = effective overburden pressure at base level of the foundation = γDf
γ’ = effective unit weight above base level of foundation
γ = effective unit weight of soil below foundation base
Df = depth of foundation
Sc, Sq, Sγ = shape factors
dc, dq, dγ = depth factors
ic, iq, iγ = load inclination factors
B = width of foundation
Nc, Nq, Nγ = bearing capacity factors 24

ASSOC PROF. IR. DR. MELDI BIN SUHATRIL 12

SEM 2 SESSION 2023/2024 3/5/2024

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

GENERAL BEARING CAPACITY

-Hansen (1970) extended the work of Meyerhof by including
two additional factors to take care of base tilt and foundations
on slopes.
-Vesic (1973) used the same form of equation suggested by
Hansen.
However the equations used by them for computing the
values of Nc, Nq and Nγ are,
Nq = e (πtanφ) Nφ
Nφ = tan2 (45⁰ + φ /2)
Nc = (Nq – 1) cot φ
Nγ = (Nq -1) tan (1.4 φ) – (Meyerhof)
Nγ = 1.5(Nq -1) tan φ – (Hansen)
Nγ = 2.0(Nq -1) tan φ – (Vesic) 25

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

Shape factors

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Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

Depth factors

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

Load inclination factors

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SEM 2 SESSION 2023/2024 3/5/2024

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

Validity of the Bearing Capacity Equations

-There has been little experimental verification of any of the
methods except by using model footings.

-Terzaghi’s equation, being the first proposed, has been quite

popular with designers.

- Both Meyerhof and Hansen methods are widely used.

-The Vesic method has not been much used.

- It is good practice to use at least two methods and compare

the computed values of qult

- If the two values do not compare well, use a third method.

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

EXAMPLE 1
A strip footing of width 3m is founded at a depth of 2m below
ground surface in soil strata having unit cohesion c =
30 𝑘𝑁/𝑚 and angle of shearing resistance 𝜑 = 35°. The
water table is at a depth of 5m below ground level. The unit
weight of soil above water table is 17.25 𝑘𝑁/𝑚 .

Determine:
a) The ultimate bearing capacity of soil
b) The net ultimate bearing capacity and
c) The safe bearing capacity for a factor of safety of 3.
Use general shear failure criterion of Terzaghi

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Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

For 𝜑 = 35°, 𝑁 = 57.8, 𝑁 = 41.4, and 𝑁 = 42.4

From Terzaghi’s Eqn.

𝑞 = 𝑐𝑁 + 𝛾𝐷 𝑁 + 0.5 𝛾𝐵𝑁

= 30 ∗ 57.8 + 17.25 ∗ 2 ∗ 41.4 + (0.5 ∗ 17.25 ∗ 3 ∗ 42.4)

= 4259 𝑘𝑁/𝑚
𝑞 =𝑞 − 𝛾𝐷
= 4259 − 17.25 ∗ 2
≈ 4225 𝑘𝑁/𝑚
𝑞 =𝑞 + 𝛾𝐷
𝑞 = 𝑞 /𝐹
= 1408 + 17.25 ∗ 2
= 4225/3
≈ 1408 𝑘𝑁/𝑚 ≈ 1443 𝑘𝑁/𝑚

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

EXAMPLE 2
If the soil in example 1 fails by local shear failure criteria,
determine the net safe earing capacity. All other data given
example 1 remain the same
SOLUTION :
For local shear failure:
𝜑 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 0.67 tan 35° = 25°,
𝑐 = 0.67𝑐 = 0.67 ∗ 30
= 20 𝑘𝑁/𝑚
From the table, for 𝜑 = 25°,
𝑁 = 25.1, 𝑁 = 12.7, and 𝑁 = 9.7

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SEM 2 SESSION 2023/2024 3/5/2024

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

From Terzaghi’s Eqn.,

𝑞 = 20 ∗ 25.1 + 17.25 ∗ 2 ∗ 12.7 + 0.5 ∗ 17.25 ∗ 3 ∗ 9.7
= 1191.0 𝑘𝑁/𝑚
𝑞 = 𝑞 − 𝛾𝐷
= 1191 − 17.25 ∗ 2
= 1156.5 𝑘𝑁/𝑚

𝑞 = 𝑞 /𝐹
= 1156.5/3
= 385.5 𝑘𝑁/𝑚
𝑞 = 𝑞 + 𝛾𝐷
= 385.5 + 17.25 ∗ 2
= 420.0 𝑘𝑁/𝑚

Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

Example 3

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Introduction I Mode of Failures I Terzaghi BC I Others BC I Examples

Example 4

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