Birzeit University - Faculty of Engineering

Department of Civil Engineering

Foundation Design CE 432

Course Outline
Instructor: Eng. Saheem Murshid

1st Semester 2015/2016

Text Book:
Principles of Foundation Engineering, Braja M. Das
References:
1- Bowels: J.E., Foundation analysis and Design, 5th Ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, N.Y.
2- John M.C., Foundation Design.
3- David F.Mc. Carthy, Essential of Soil Mechanics and Foundations.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):

To be able to determine the allowable bearing capacity of soil, using different equation,
based on lab test results (C & ).
To understand how to calculate the bearing capacity of soil at the site (SPT, plate bearing
test).
To be able to calculate the elastic settlement of the footing.
To understand the theoretical aspects of foundation engineering analyses and design. To
be able to select most suitable footing type, and be able to make Structural design for
different type of footing (isolated, combined, cantilever, mat foundation.
To be able to calculate the forces acting on a retaining wall and check the stability of the
wall.
To have an idea about deep foundation (pile foundation).
To have and idea about site investigation, which aim to get information about the soil
and rock strata.

Topics:
1. Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations:
Ultimate bearing and allowable bearing capacity, types of shear failure, depth of foundation,
terzaghi equation, general bearing capacity eq, bearing capacity of eccentrically loaded
foundations, bearing capacity of layered soils, bearing capacity from (spt) test, plate load test,
Housel procedure for determining bearing capacity, bearing capacity of footings on slopes.
2. Foundation Settlement.
Types of settlements, strain influence factor method, bowels procedure to calculate
immediate settlement, immediate settlement of eccentrically loaded foundation.

3. Spread Footing Design.

One way shear and two way shear failure, critical section for shear and moment, general
procedure for design.
Design of square footing, rectangular footing.
Design of eccentrically load footing.
Design of wall footing.
4. Special Foundations.
Design of rectangular combined footing.
Midterm Exam
Design of trapezoidal footing.
Design of strap footing.
5. Mat Foundation.
Bearing capacity of mat foundation, compensated foundations, structural design of mat using
conventional rigid method.
6. Lateral Earth pressure.
Earth pressure at rest, ran kines theory of active and passive case.
Tensile cracks, stability of retaining walls (sliding, overturning, bearing capacity).
7. Introduction to Deep Foundation.
8. Site investigation.
Grading System:
Midterm Exam
Quizzes
Project
Final Exam
Total

30%
15%
10%
45%
100%