HERIOT - WATT UNIVERSITY

School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society

Foundation Engineering
CLASS EXAMPLE
A mass concrete pier of circular cross-section is to carry a design load, including its own weight,
of 2.5MN. The base of the pier is to be located 4.5m below the surface of a deep layer of
saturated clay. The unit weight of the clay is 18.5kN/m 3 and its characteristic undrained shear
strength, cu,k = 50kN/m2. For preliminary design purposes a depth factor of 1.4 can is assumed.
Using partial factor set M1+R1 from Tables below, determine the diameter of the pier to give an
over design factor, , of 2, against foundation failure. Neglect any soil resistance mobilised on
the cylindrical surface of the pier below ground level.
For a strip footing, the bearing resistance/unit area, (R/A) = (2+)cu,d + qo (where symbols have
their usual contextual meaning).
Note: The over design factor, = (Design resistance of soil)/(Design loading)

Table (a): Partial Factors for Soil Parameters (EN 1997-1:2004):

Set
Soil Parameter

M1

M2

Angle of shearing resistance*

1.0

1.25

Effective cohesion

1.0

1.25

Undrained shear strength

1.0

1.4

Weight Density

1.0

1.0

* This factor applied on tan'

Table (b): Partial Resistance Factors (EN 1997-1:2004):

Set
Resistance

R1

R2

R3

Bearing

1.0

1.4

1.0

Sliding

1.0

1.1

1.0

SOLUTION