GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN (CE-423)

Lecture # 6
Bearing Capacity Solved Examples on
➢ Terzaghi’s Bearing Capacity Equation
➢ General (Meyerhof) Bearing Capacity Equation
➢ And Effect of Ground Water Table

Youtube Link for this Lecture:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d9cSly3_4Q&list=PLV0z_d5pzXiqh8rtEji7kc0ZZyArwkIS6&index=7

Engr. Hassan Khan

Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering Department, SUIT, Peshawar
Example 1:

➢ Compute the allowable bearing pressure using the Terzaghi equation for the footing
and soil parameters shown in Fig. Use a safety factor of 3 to obtain qa and assume
width of footing (i) B = 1.5m, (ii) B = 3m.

Given Data:
𝜸 = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟑𝟎𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑
∅ = 𝟐𝟎°
𝒄 = 𝟐𝟎𝒌𝑷𝒂
𝑫 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝒎
𝒊 𝑩 = 𝟏. 𝟓𝒎, 𝒊𝒊 𝑩 = 𝟑𝒎
Required Data:
Allowable Bearing Capacity = qa = ?
Solution:

➢ According to Terzaghi ultimate bearing capacity is given by:

𝟏
𝒒𝒖 = 𝒄′𝑵𝒄 𝑺𝒄 + 𝜸𝑫𝑵𝒒 + 𝜸𝑩𝑵𝜸 𝑺𝜸
𝟐
➢ From tables;
𝑵𝒄 = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟔𝟎 , 𝑵𝒒 = 𝟕. 𝟒𝟒, 𝑵𝜸 = 𝟑. 𝟔𝟒, 𝑺𝒄 = 𝟏. 𝟑, 𝑺𝜸 = 𝟎. 𝟖
➢ Putting all values for (i) B = 1.5m (No reduction factor)
𝑞𝑢 = 20 𝑋 17.60 𝑋 1.3 + 17.30 𝑋 1.2 𝑋 7.44 + (0.5 𝑋 17.30 𝑋 1.5 𝑋 3.64 𝑋 0.8)
=> 𝑞𝑢 = 457.60 + 154.45 + (37.71)
=> 𝒒𝒖 = 𝟔𝟒𝟗. 𝟕𝟔𝒌𝑷𝒂
𝒒𝒖 𝟔𝟒𝟗.𝟕𝟔
➢ and we know that; 𝒒𝒂 = => 𝒒𝒂 = => 𝒒𝒂 = 𝟐𝟏𝟔𝒌𝑷𝒂
𝑭𝑶𝑺 𝟑
Solution (Cont.):

➢ For (ii) B = 3m there will be a reduction factor

𝐵
➢ 𝑟𝛾 = 1 − 0.25 log
𝜅
3
➢ 𝑟𝛾 = 1 − 0.25 log => 𝒓𝜸 = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟓
2
➢ So,
𝟏
𝒒𝒖 = 𝒄′𝑵𝒄 𝑺𝒄 + 𝜸𝑫𝑵𝒒 + 𝜸𝑩𝑵𝜸 𝑺𝜸 (𝒓𝜸 )
𝟐
=> 𝑞𝑢 = 20 𝑋 17.60 𝑋 1.3 + 17.30 𝑋 1.2 𝑋 7.44 + (0.5 𝑋 17.30 𝑋 3 𝑋 3.64 𝑋 0.8)(0.95)
=> 𝑞𝑢 = 457.60 + 154.45 + (75.56)(0.95)
=> 𝒒𝒖 = 𝟔𝟖𝟑. 𝟖𝟑𝒌𝑷𝒂
𝒒𝒖 𝟔𝟖𝟑.𝟖𝟑
➢ and we know that; 𝒒𝒂 = => 𝒒𝒂 = => 𝒒𝒂 = 𝟐𝟐𝟖𝒌𝑷𝒂
𝑭𝑶𝑺 𝟑
Example 2:

➢ Compute the allowable bearing pressure using the General (Meyerhof) bearing
capacity equation for the footing and soil parameters shown in Fig. Use a safety
factor of 3 to obtain qa and assume width of footing (i) B = 1.5m, (ii) B = 3m.

Given Data:
𝜸 = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟑𝟎𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑
∅ = 𝟐𝟎°
𝒄 = 𝟐𝟎𝒌𝑷𝒂
𝑫 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝒎
FOS = 3
𝒊 𝑩 = 𝟏. 𝟓𝒎, 𝒊𝒊 𝑩 = 𝟑𝒎
Required Data:
Allowable Bearing Capacity = qa = ?
Solution:

➢ For vertical load the Meyerhof ultimate bearing capacity is given by:
𝟏
𝒒𝒖 = 𝒄′𝑵𝒄 𝒅𝒄 𝑺𝒄 + 𝜸𝑫𝑵𝒒 𝒅𝒒 𝑺𝒒 + 𝜸𝑩𝑵𝜸 𝒅𝜸 𝑺𝜸
𝟐
Solution (Cont.):
➢ For B = 1.5m:
𝑞𝑢 = 20 𝑋 14.83 𝑋 𝟏. 𝟐𝟑 𝑋 1.41 + 17.3 𝑋 1.2 𝑋 6.4 𝑋 𝟏. 𝟏𝟒 𝑋 1.204 + (0.5 𝑋 17.3 𝑋 𝟏. 𝟓 𝑋 7.35 𝑋 𝟏. 𝟏𝟒 𝑋 1.204)
=> 𝑞𝑢 = 514.39 + 182.36 + (130.90)
=> 𝒒𝒖 = 𝟖𝟐𝟕. 𝟔𝟓 𝒌𝑷𝒂
𝒒𝒖 𝟖𝟐𝟕.𝟔𝟓
=> 𝒒𝒂 = => 𝒒𝒂 = => 𝒒𝒂 = 𝟐𝟕𝟔𝒌𝑷𝒂
𝑭𝑶𝑺 𝟑

➢ Similarly for B = 3m
𝑞𝑢 = 20 𝑋 14.83 𝑋 𝟏. 𝟏 𝑋 1.41 + 17.3 𝑋 1.2 𝑋 6.4 𝑋 𝟏. 𝟎𝟔 𝑋 1.204 + (0.5 𝑋 17.3 𝑋 𝟑 𝑋 7.35 𝑋 𝟏. 𝟎𝟔 𝑋 1.204)(𝟎. 𝟗𝟓)
=> 𝑞𝑢 = 460.03 + 169.56 + (231.25)
=> 𝒒𝒖 = 𝟖𝟔𝟏 𝒌𝑷𝒂
𝒒𝒖 𝟖𝟔𝟏
=> 𝒒𝒂 = => 𝒒𝒂 = => 𝒒𝒂 = 𝟐𝟖𝟕𝒌𝑷𝒂
𝑭𝑶𝑺 𝟑
Effects of Water Table on Bearing Capacity of Soil

➢ The presence of water table can effect the unit weight of the soil in 2nd and 3rd term of Bearing
Capacity equation.
➢ In case of water table the effective unit weight 𝜸′ will be used in respective terms of the
bearing capacity equation.

Case I: Water table at ground surface (both terms effected)

𝜸′ = 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 − 𝜸𝒘 …..... for both 2nd and 3rd term

Case II: Water table at footing level (Only 3rd term effects)

𝜸′ = 𝜸 ........... for 2nd term

𝜸′ = 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 − 𝜸𝒘 …........ for 3rd term
Effects of Water Table on Bearing Capacity of Soil

Case III: Water table well below foundation level or below failure wedge (none of the two terms effects)

𝜸′ = 𝜸 …..... for both 2nd and 3rd term

Case IV: Water table between ground surface and base of footing
(3rd term will be fully affected, 2nd term will be partially affected)

𝒅𝟏 𝜸+𝒅𝟐 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 −𝜸𝒘

𝜸′ = ….............. for 2nd term
𝑫
𝜸′ = 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 − 𝜸𝒘 ….............. for 3rd term

Case V: Water table in the failure wedge (only 3rd term effects)
𝜸′ = 𝜸 ….............. for 2nd term
𝒅
𝜸′ = 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 − 𝜸𝒘 + 𝜸 − 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 + 𝜸𝒘 ….. for 3rd term
𝑩
Example 3:

➢ Compute the ultimate bearing pressure using Tertzaghi bearing capacity equation
for the footing and soil parameters shown in Fig.

Given Data:
𝜸 = 𝟏𝟖. 𝟏𝟎 𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑
𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 = 𝟐𝟎. 𝟏𝟐 𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑
∅ = 𝟑𝟓°
𝒄 = 𝟎 𝒌𝑷𝒂
𝑫 = 𝟏. 𝟏 𝒎
𝑩 = 𝟐. 𝟓 𝒎
Required Data:
Ultimate bearing capacity for all 5 positions of water table = qu = ?
Solution:

➢ For B = 2.5 m there will be a reduction factor

𝐵
➢ 𝑟𝛾 = 1 − 0.25 log
𝜅
2.5
➢ 𝑟𝛾 = 1 − 0.25 log => 𝒓𝜸 = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟕
2
➢ And for ∅ = 𝟑𝟓°;
𝑵𝒄 = 𝟓𝟕. 𝟕𝟓, 𝑵𝒒 = 𝟒𝟏. 𝟒𝟒, 𝑵𝜸 = 𝟒𝟓. 𝟒, 𝑺𝒄 = 𝟏. 𝟑, 𝑺𝜸 = 𝟎. 𝟖
➢ According to Terzaghi
𝟏
𝒒𝒖 = 𝒄′𝑵𝒄 𝑺𝒄 + 𝜸𝑫𝑵𝒒 + 𝜸𝑩𝑵𝜸 𝑺𝜸 (𝒓𝜸 )
𝟐
➢ Since c = o so,
𝟏
𝒒𝒖 = 𝟎 + 𝜸𝑫𝑵𝒒 + 𝜸𝑩𝑵𝜸 𝑺𝜸 𝒓𝜸 … … … … (A)
𝟐
Case I: water table at ground surface
𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 − 𝜸𝒘 = 𝟐𝟎. 𝟏𝟐 − 𝟗. 𝟖𝟏 = 𝟏𝟎. 𝟑𝟏𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑
𝟏
𝒒𝒖 = 𝟎 + 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 − 𝜸𝒘 𝑫𝑵𝒒 + 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 − 𝜸𝒘 𝑩𝑵𝜸 𝑺𝜸 (𝒓𝜸 )
𝟐
=> 𝑞𝑢 = 0 + 10.31 𝑋 1.1 𝑋 41.44 + (0.5 𝑋 10.31 𝑋 2.5 𝑋 45.4 𝑋 0.8)(0.97)
=> 𝑞𝑢 = 0 + 469.97 + (454.03)
 𝒒𝒖 = 𝟗𝟐𝟒 𝒌𝑷𝒂

Case II: water table at the base of footing

𝟏
𝒒𝒖 = 𝟎 + 𝜸𝑫𝑵𝒒 + 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 − 𝜸𝒘 𝑩𝑵𝜸 𝑺𝜸 (𝒓𝜸 )
𝟐
=> 𝑞𝑢 = 0 + 18.10 𝑋 1.1 𝑋 41.44 + (0.5 𝑋 10.31 𝑋 2.5 𝑋 45.4 𝑋 0.8)(0.97)
=> 𝑞𝑢 = 0 + 825.07 + (454.03)
=> 𝒒𝒖 = 𝟏𝟐𝟕𝟗 𝒌𝑷𝒂
Case III: water table well below foundation level
𝟏
𝒒𝒖 = 𝟎 + 𝜸𝑫𝑵𝒒 + 𝜸𝑩𝑵𝜸 𝑺𝜸 (𝒓𝜸 )
𝟐
=> 𝑞𝑢 = 0 + 18.10 𝑋 1.1 𝑋 41.44 + (0.5 𝑋 18.10 𝑋 2.5 𝑋 45.4 𝑋 0.8)(0.97)
=> 𝑞𝑢 = 0 + 825.07 + (797.09)
 𝒒𝒖 = 𝟏𝟔𝟐𝟐 𝒌𝑷𝒂

Case IV: water table between ground surface and base of footing
𝒅𝟏 𝜸 + 𝒅𝟐 (𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 − 𝜸𝒘 ) 𝟏
𝒒𝒖 = 𝟎 + 𝑫𝑵𝒒 + 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 − 𝜸𝒘 𝑩𝑵𝜸 𝑺𝜸 (𝒓𝜸 )
𝑫 𝟐

=> 𝑞𝑢 = 0 + ( 0.6 𝑋18.10 + 0.5 𝑋 10.31 𝑋41.44) + (0.5 𝑋 10.31 𝑋 2.5 𝑋 45.4 𝑋 0.8)(0.97)
=> 𝑞𝑢 = 0 + 663.66 + (454.03)
=> 𝒒𝒖 = 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟖 𝒌𝑷𝒂
Case IV: water table in the failure wedge and below the base
𝟏 𝒅
𝒒𝒖 = 𝟎 + 𝜸𝑫𝑵𝒒 + 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 − 𝜸𝒘 + 𝜸 − 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 − 𝜸𝒘 𝑩𝑵𝜸 𝑺𝜸 (𝒓𝜸 )
𝟐 𝑩

=> 𝑞𝑢 = 0 + (18.10 𝑋 1.1 𝑋 41.44) + (0.5 𝑋 10.31 + 1ൗ2.5 18.10 − 10.31 𝑋 2.5 𝑋 45.4 𝑋 0.8)(0.97)
=> 𝑞𝑢 = 0 + 825.07 + (591.25)
=> 𝒒𝒖 = 𝟏𝟒𝟏𝟔 𝒌𝑷𝒂
 Thank You
Engr. Hassan Khan
Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering Department, SUIT, Peshawar
Email: hassan.civil@suit.edu.pk