FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

Rectangular Combined Footing

Design a rectangular combined footing that has to carry two columns at a distance of 4.6m
c-c using the following data

Column 1 Column 2
Dimensions 30cm × 30 cm 38cm × 38 cm
Loads DL = 267 kN DL = 493 kN
LL = 267 kN LL = 403 kN

Materials: fc '= 21 MPa, fy = 414 MPa

Soil: c = 30 kPa, φ = 10°, γ = 17 kN/m3, qa = 96 kPa

B 1 2

4.6 m

Column 1 Column 2

Foundation Engineering / Chapter 5

1 of 9 Rectangular Combined Footing / Example
Dr. Adnan A. Basma
SOLUTION:

STEP 1: CONVERT THE LOADS INTO ULTIMATE

Allowable load P = P 1 + P 2 = 267 + 267 + 493 + 403 = 1430 kN
Ultimate load Pu = [1.4DL1 + 1.7LL1] + [1.4DL2 + 1.7LL2]
= [1.4(267)+1.7(267)] + [1.4(493)+1.7(403)] = 2203

Ultimate ratio ru = Pu/P = 2203/1430 = 1.54

Ultimate applied pressure qu = 96 × 1.54 = 147.9 kPa

STEP 2: DIMENSION FOOTING

The dimension L is calculated so that the soil pressure is uniform. Therefore, the
resultant R = Pu is at L/2 as shown below

P1 P2

CL

L/2 R = P 1 + P2

ΣMco1 1 = 0

L l 
Pu  − 1  − Pu 2 × s = 0
2 2

L 0.3 
2230  −  − 1375. 3 × 4. 6 = 0
2 2 

Solving we get L = 6.04 m

Foundation Engineering / Chapter 5

2 of 9 Rectangular Combined Footing / Example
Dr. Adnan A. Basma
qu (applied) = Pu Therefore,
BxL

2203
B= = 2.47m
147.9x6.04

Check Bearing Capacity

Bearing Capacity Factors

φ = 10°, from tables, Nq = 2.47, Nc = 8.35, Nγ = 1.22

Shape Factors
sc = 1 + (2.47/6.04)(2.47/8.35) = 1.12
sq = 1 + (2.47/6.04)tan10 = 1.03
sγ = 1 - 0.4(2.47/6.04) = 0.84

Depth factors, Df /B < 1

dc = 1 + 0.4 (2.0/2.47) = 1.32
dq = 1 + 2 tan10 [1 - sin10]2 (2.0/2.47) = 1.20
dγ 1

qult(net) = 30×8.35×1.12×1.32 + (2.0×17)×(2.47 - 1)×1.03×1.20

+ (1/2)×17×2.47×1.22×0.84

= 370.3 + 61.8 + 210.2 = 453.3

qu (BC) 453.3
Design SF for B.C. = = = 3.06 > 2.5 ∴ Safe for B.C.
qu (applied) 147.9

STEP 3. CONCRETE THICKNESS D'

a) Wide beam
b) Punching shear column 1
c) Punching shear column 2

Foundation Engineering / Chapter 5

3 of 9 Rectangular Combined Footing / Example
Dr. Adnan A. Basma
a) Wide Beam L

l 1 + d'/2 l 2 + d'

Wide Beam
b1 + d'

b2 + d'
B 1 2

0.30 m d' 0.38 1.07 m

Pu2 = Vc + Fs thus Pu2 = Bv c d′ + qu x

1375.3 = 2.47x660.8 xd′ + 147.9(1.07 + 0.38 + d′)

3
v c = 4.56 21x 10 = 660.8 kPa

Solving we get d' = 0.65m or 65 cm.

(b) Punching shear Column 1: Check shear stress vs. shear strength using d'= 0.65m

3
v c = 8.87 21x 10 = 1285.4 kPa Shear strength

Pu1 = Vc + Fs or Vc = P u1 - Fs ⇒ Pu1 = 827.7 kN

 0.65  
Fs = qu x A s = 147.9  0.3 + x(0.3 + 0.65)  = 87.8 kN
 2  

Vc = 827.7 - 87.8 = 739.9 kN

The ultimate shear stress in concrete vu is

739.9
vc = = 517.4 kPa < 1285.4kPa ⇒ OK
  0.65  
2x 0.3 + 2  + (0.3 + 0.65)  x0.65
   

Foundation Engineering / Chapter 5

4 of 9 Rectangular Combined Footing / Example
Dr. Adnan A. Basma
(c) Punching shear Column 2:

Pu2 = Vc + Fs or Vc = P u2 - Fs

Pu2 = 1375.3 kN

[ ]2
Fs = qu x A s = 147.9 (0.3 + 0.65 ) = 133.5 kN

Vc = 1375.3 - 133.5 = 1241.8 kN

The ultimate shear stress in concrete vu is

1241.8
vc = = 502.3 kPa < 1285.4kPa ⇒ OK
[4x(0.3 + 0.65) ]x0.65
Since the punching shear is safe for both columns 1 and 2, use d' = 0.65 m or 65 cm

STEP 4: MAXIMUM ULTIMATE MOMENTS

L-direction

qu,L = qu × B = 147.9 × 2.47 = 363.3 kN/m

From the shear and bending moment diagrams (next page), the following are
obtained

Maximum shear: Column 1: 716.2 kN

Column 2: 830.4 kN

Maximum moments: Column 1: 109.1 kN.m with tension at the top

Column 2: 214.8 kN.m with tension at the bottom
Between columns: 810.2 kN.m with tension at the top

For the maximum moments per meter run divide all values by B or 2.47m, therefore

Mu(max)/m: Column 1: 44.2 kN.m/m with tension at the top

Column 2: 87.0 kN.m/m with tension at the bottom
Between columns: 328.0 kN.m/m with tension at the

Foundation Engineering / Chapter 5

5 of 9 Rectangular Combined Footing / Example
Dr. Adnan A. Basma
ULTIMATE SHEAR AND MOMENT IN L - DIRECTION

qu,L = qu × B = 147.9 × 2.47 = 363.3 kN/m

6.04 m
4.6 m
0.3 m 4.29 m 0.38 m 1.07 m
827.7 kN 1375.3 kN

363.3 kN/ m

830.4

55.6
V (kN)

396.5

716.2

Use for top steel

between columns
810.2

109.1

M (kN.m)
4.17 132.2
214.8
Use for bottom steel
under both columns

Foundation Engineering / Chapter 5

6 of 9 Rectangular Combined Footing / Example
Dr. Adnan A. Basma
ULTIMATE MOMENT IN B - DIRECTION

The moment in the B-direction is calculated based on the equivalent beam width as shown
in the figure below. This is done for each column separately. The calculations follow.

Equivalent Beam L

Equivalent Beam
B 1 2

0.3 m 0.75 d' 0.75 d' 0.38 m 0.75 d'

Column 1: B1 = 0.3 + 0.75×0.65 = 0.79m

L' = (2.47 - 0.3)/2 = 1.1 m
qu1 = P u1/A1 = 827.7/(0.79×2.47) = 424.2 kPa

qu1 x L′2 424.2x(1.1 )2

Mu = = = 256.4 kN.m/m
2 2

Column 2: B2 = 0.38 + 1.5×0.65 = 1.36m

L' = (2.47 - 0.38)/2 = 1.05 m
qu1 = P u1/A1 = 1375.3/(1.36×2.47) = 409.4 kPa

qu2 x L′2 409.4x(1. 05 ) 2

Mu2 = = = 225.7 kN.m/m
2 2

Foundation Engineering / Chapter 5

7 of 9 Rectangular Combined Footing / Example
Dr. Adnan A. Basma
Reinforcement
Using fc '= 21 MPa, fy = 414 MPa and d' = 65 cm the following percent steel were obtained
from the tables and listed below. Additionally, this table shows the number of bars and
their spacing when using φ26 (Ab = 5.30 cm2)

No. of
Mu, pmin, Required Bars Spacing, Provided,
Steel Location kN.m/m p% % As , cm 2/m nb/m cm cm 2/m
Col. 1 (Top) 109.1 0.07 0.34 22.1 5 25.0 26.5
L-direction

Col. 2 (bottom) 214.8 0.14 0.34 22.1 5 25.0 26.5

Between Columns 810.2 0.55 0.34 35.8 7 16.7* 37.1
(top)
Col. 1 (bottom) 256.4 0.16 0.34 22.1 5 25.0 26.5
B-dir.

Col. 2 (bottom) 225.7 0.14 0.34 22.1 5 25.0 26.5

* This distance will be used as 15 cm

The figure on the next page shows the final design sketch.

Foundation Engineering / Chapter 5

8 of 9 Rectangular Combined Footing / Example
Dr. Adnan A. Basma
 Column 1 Column 2
30 cm × 30 cm 38 cm × 38 cm

4.26 m 1.16 m

φ26@15cm c-c

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

φ26@25cm c-c
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

2.50 m × 6.10 m

Foundation Engineering / Chapter 5

9 of 9 Rectangular Combined Footing / Example
Dr. Adnan A. Basma