De La Salle University -Manila

Department of Civil and Engineering

FOUNDEN
Shallow Foundations-Synthesis

Jonathan Rivera Dungca, D.Eng.

Associate Professor
Foundation Depth
Minimum Depth
Square & Rectangular Footings
Minimum Depth-Continuous
Footings
Other Considerations; Minimum
Depth

 Depth to “competent” soil

 Depth of frost penetration (Figure 8.15)
 Presence of expansive soils
 Potential for scour
 Possibility of a shallow landslide
Considerations; Maximum Depth

 Potential undermining existing

foundations, utility lines etc.
 Desire to avoid ground water table
 Desire to avoid the need for excavation
shoring
Allowable Bearing Pressure Method

Allowable bearing pressure, qa is the

largest bearing pressure that satisfies
both bearing capacity and settlement
criteria.
 Select depth of embedment, D
 Determine the allowable bearing
pressure based on bearing capacity
analysis using the smallest applied load
Allowable Bearing Pressure Method

 Determine the allowable bearing

pressure based on settlement analysis
using the largest applied load
 Select qa as the lower value of the two
allowable bearing pressures.