Bearing Capacity

Shallow Foundations (Spread Footings)

- Bearing Capacity
- Settlement
Deep Foundations
- Load Capacity
- Settlement
- Negative Skin Friction
Bearing Capacity
SPREAD FOOTING DESIGN
Bearing Capacity
1. Explain How Footing Embedment, Width and
Water Table Effect Footing Bearing Capacity

ACTIVITY: Bearing Capacity Analysis

What is the Effect on Bearing
Capacity if the Soil Cover Over
a Spread Footing is Removed?
Failure Modes
General Shear Failure
V
Bulge
Load, V
3 1 3
2 2
Settlement, S

General Soil undergoes sudden failure as wedge 1 displaces

zones 2 and 3
Local Local Shear Failure
V

3 1 3
2 2
2 2
Tan = tan C = C
3 3
Soil undergoes compaction in zones 1, 2 and 3
Bearing Capacity
Shallow Foundations

Footing
Shallow Foundations

Footing
 Shallow Foundations

B
Typical Q
Buried
D
Footing
 Shallow Foundations

B
Typical Q
Buried
D
Footing

Q
qs = g D
Equivalent
Surface
Footing
 Shallow Foundations

B
Typical Q
Buried
D
Footing

Q
qs = g D
Equivalent
Surface
Footing

Shallow Foundations have D/B < 1

 Shallow Foundations

Methods of analysis

Lower bound approach

- failure stress state in equilibrium
- failure load less than or equal to true collapse

Upper bound approach

- failure mechanism assumed
- failure load greater than or equal to true collapse
 Shallow Foundations

Footing
qf Surcharge q s
 Shallow Foundations

Footing
qf Surcharge q s

Frictionless
Discontinuity
 Shallow Foundations

Footing
qf Surcharge q s

H
Soil at state
of Active
Failure with
s v > sh
Frictionless
Discontinuity
 Shallow Foundations

Footing
qf Surcharge q s

H
Soil at state
of Active
Failure with
s v > sh
Frictionless
s1 N s 3 2 c N Discontinuity
 Shallow Foundations

Footing
qf Surcharge q s

H
Soil at state Soil at state
of Active of Passive
Failure with Failure with
s v > sh sh > sv
Frictionless
s1 N s 3 2 c N Discontinuity
 Shallow Foundations

Footing
qf Surcharge q s

H
Soil at state Soil at state
of Active of Passive
Failure with Failure with
s v > sh sh > sv
Frictionless
s 1 c cot
s1 N s 3 2 c N Discontinuity N
s 3 c cot
 Shallow Foundations

sv = s 1 sh = s1
sh = s 3 sv = s3
 Shallow Foundations

sv = s 1 sh = s1
sh = s 3 sv = s3

sv qf g z sv qs g z
 Shallow Foundations

sv = s 1 sh = s1
sh = s 3 sv = s3

sv qf g z sv qs g z

q f g z c cot s h c cot
N N
s h c cot q s g z c cot
 Shallow Foundations

sv = s 1 sh = s1
sh = s 3 sv = s3

sv qf g z sv qs g z

q f g z c cot s h c cot
N N
s h c cot q s g z c cot

1
sh ( q f g z c cot ) c cot s h N ( q s g z c cot ) c cot
N
Shallow Foundations

H H

(s
0
)
h active dz (s
0
h ) passive dz
 Shallow Foundations

H H

(s
0
)
h active dz (s
0
h ) passive dz

1 g H2 g H2
f
q H c cot H N s
q H c cot H
N 2 2
 Shallow Foundations

H H

(s
0
)
h active dz (s
0
h ) passive dz

1 g H2 g H2
f
q H c cot H N s
q H c cot H
N 2 2

gH
qf qs N 2

2

N 2 1 c cot N 2 1
 Shallow Foundations

gH
q f q s N 2
2

N 2 1 c cot N 2 1

This solution will give a lower bound to the true solution

because of the simplified stress distribution assumed in
the soil

Similar terms occur in all bearing capacity expressions.

They are functions of the friction angle and

the surcharge applied to the soil surface

the self weight of the soil
cohesion
 Shallow Foundations

A general bearing capacity equation can be written

gB
qf qs Nq Ng c Nc
2
 Shallow Foundations

A general bearing capacity equation can be written

gB
qf qs Nq Ng c Nc
2

The terms Nq, Ng and Nc are known as the bearing

capacity factors
 Shallow Foundations

A general bearing capacity equation can be written

gB
qf qs Nq Ng c Nc
2

The terms Nq, Ng and Nc are known as the bearing

capacity factors

Values can be determined from charts

 Shallow Foundations
BEARINGCAPACITYTHEORIES OF TERZAGHI ANDSKEMPTON

40
Nq Ng

30 Nc
(degrees)

20

10

0
60 50 40 30 20 10 0 20 40 60 80
Nq and Nc Ng
BEARINGCAPACITYFACTORS [After Terzaghi and Peck (1948)]

Qf
Shallow Foundations

Qf

B
q= g D f Df

Mechanism analysed by Terzaghi

 Effect of Foundation Shape

Continuous strip footing

gB
qf qs Nq Ng c Nc
2
 Effect of Foundation Shape

Continuous strip footing

gB
qf qs Nq Ng c Nc
2

Square footing
q f q s N q 0.4 g B N g 1.3 c N c
 Effect of Foundation Shape

Continuous strip footing

gB
qf qs Nq Ng c Nc
2

Square footing
q f q s N q 0.4 g B N g 1.3 c N c

Circular footing

q f q s N q 0.6 g B N g 1.3 c N c
 Effective Stress Analysis

Effective stress analysis is needed to assess the long

term foundation capacity.

Total and effective stresses are identical if the soil is

dry. The analysis is identical to that described above
except that the parameters used in the equations are c,
, gdry rather than cu, u, gsat.

If the water table is more than a depth of 1.5 B (the

footing width) below the base of the footing the water
can be assumed to have no effect.
 Effective Stress Analysis
If the soil below the base of the footing is saturated, the
analysis must account for the water pressures.
 Effective Stress Analysis
If the soil below the base of the footing is saturated, the
analysis must account for the water pressures.

Q=q f B
qs = g D

u=u o
 Effective Stress Analysis
If the soil below the base of the footing is saturated, the
analysis must account for the water pressures.

Q=q f B
qs = g D

u=u o

The effective bearing capacity qf = qf - uo

The effective surcharge qs = qs - uo

The effective (submerged) unit weight g = gsat - gw

 Effective Stress Analysis
If the soil below the base of the footing is saturated, the
analysis must account for the water pressures.

Q=q f B
qs = g D

u=u o

The effective bearing capacity qf = qf - uo

The effective surcharge qs = qs - uo

The effective (submerged) unit weight g = gsat - gw

 Effective Stress Analysis
If the soil below the base of the footing is saturated, the
analysis must account for the water pressures.

Q=q f B
qs = g D

u=u o

The effective bearing capacity qf = qf - uo

The effective surcharge qs = qs - uo

The effective (submerged) unit weight g = gsat - gw

 Effective Stress Analysis
These effective quantities are required because Mohr Coulomb failure
criterion must be expressed in terms of effective stress

s 1 c cot
N
s 3 c cot
 Effective Stress Analysis
These effective quantities are required because Mohr Coulomb failure
criterion must be expressed in terms of effective stress

s 1 c cot
N
s 3 c cot

The total vertical stress, pore pressure and effective vertical

stress at any depth z beneath the footing are

sv qf g z

u uo g w z

s v s v u q f g z
 Effective Stress Analysis
These effective quantities are required because Mohr Coulomb failure
criterion must be expressed in terms of effective stress

s 1 c cot
N
s 3 c cot

The total vertical stress, pore pressure and effective vertical

stress at any depth z beneath the footing are

sv qf g z

u uo g w z

s v s v u q f g z
 Effective Stress Analysis
These effective quantities are required because Mohr Coulomb failure
criterion must be expressed in terms of effective stress

s 1 c cot
N
s 3 c cot

The total vertical stress, pore pressure and effective vertical

stress at any depth z beneath the footing are

sv qf g z

u uo g w z

s v s v u q f g z
 Effective Stress Analysis

sv = s1 sh = s1
sh = s3 sv = s3
s v q f g z s v q s g z

q f g z c cot s h c cot
N N
s h c cot q s g z c cot

1
sh (qf g z c cot ) c cot sh N (qs g z c cot ) c cot
N
 Effective Stress Analysis
The simple analysis leads to
gH
q f q s N 2

2

N 2 1 c cot N 2 1
 Effective Stress Analysis
The simple analysis leads to
gH
q f q s N 2

2

N 2 1 c cot N 2 1

This is similar to the previous expression except that now all terms
involve effective quantities.
 Effective Stress Analysis
The simple analysis leads to
gH
q f q s N 2

2

N 2 1 c cot N 2 1

This is similar to the previous expression except that now all terms
involve effective quantities.
As before a general expression can be written with the form
gB
q f q s N q N g c N c
2
 Effective Stress Analysis
The simple analysis leads to
gH
q f q s N 2

2

N 2 1 c cot N 2 1

This is similar to the previous expression except that now all terms
involve effective quantities.
As before a general expression can be written with the form
gB
q f q s N q N g c N c
2
The Bearing Capacity Factors are identical to those from Total Stress
Analysis
 Effective Stress Analysis
The simple analysis leads to
gH
q f q s N 2

2

N 2 1 c cot N 2 1

This is similar to the previous expression except that now all terms
involve effective quantities.
As before a general expression can be written with the form
gB
q f q s N q N g c N c
2
The Bearing Capacity Factors are identical to those from Total Stress
Analysis
Note that the Total Bearing Capacity qf = qf + uo
 Effective Stress Analysis
Analysis has so far considered
soil strength parameters
rate of loading (drained or undrained)
groundwater conditions (dry or saturated)
foundation shape (strip footing, square or circle)

Other important factors include

soil compressibility
embedment (D/B > 1)
inclined loading
eccentric loading
non-homogeneous soil
 Effective Stress Analysis

More theoretically accurate bearing capacity factors are

given on pages 69 to 71 of the Data Sheets

In practice the Terzaghi factors are still widely used.

The bearing capacity equation assumes that the effects

of c', g, and ' can be superimposed.

This is not correct as there is an interaction between the

three effects because of the plastic nature of the soil
response.
 Effective Stress Analysis
The formulae give the ultimate bearing capacity
Significant deformations and large settlements may
occur before general bearing failure occurs
Local failure (yield) will occur at some depth beneath the
footing at a load less than the ultimate collapse load
The zone of plastic (yielding) soil will then spread as the
load is increased. Only when the failure zone extends to
the surface will a failure mechanism exist.
A minimum load factor of 3 against ultimate failure is
usually adopted to keep settlements within acceptable
bounds, and to avoid problems with local failure.
 Example

B = 5m
Q
D = 2m
 Example

B = 5m
Q
D = 2m

Determine short term and long term ultimate capacity given

2 2
cu = 25 kN/m , u = 0, c' = 2 kN/m ,
o 2
' = 25 , and gsat = 15 kN/m .
 Example
Equivalent surface footing

Q=q f B
qs
 Example
Equivalent surface footing

Q=q f B
qs

Short term - Undrained (total stress) analysis

 Example
Equivalent surface footing

Q=q f B
qs

Short term - Undrained (total stress) analysis

Position of water table not important - soil must be saturated
 Example
Equivalent surface footing

Q=q f B
qs

Short term - Undrained (total stress) analysis

Position of water table not important - soil must be saturated
qs = gsat D = 15 2 = 30 kPa
 Example
BEARINGCAPACITYTHEORIES OF TERZAGHI ANDSKEMPTON

40
Nq Ng

30 Nc
(degrees)

20

10

0
60 50 40 30 20 10 0 20 40 60 80
Nq and Nc Ng
BEARINGCAPACITYFACTORS [After Terzaghi and Peck (1948)]

u = 0
Qf
Nq = 1, Ng = 0 and Nc = 5.14
1
 Example

Short term capacity

gB
qf qs Nq Ng cNc
2
 Example

Short term capacity

gB
qf qs Nq Ng cNc
2

q f = 30 1 + 0 + 25 5.14 = 158.5 kPa (Bearing capacity)

 Example

Short term capacity

gB
qf qs Nq Ng cNc
2

q f = 30 1 + 0 + 25 5.14 = 158.5 kPa (Bearing capacity)

Q = q f B = 158.5 5 = 792.5 kN/m (Bearing Force)

 Example

Long term capacity

Effective stress (fully drained) analysis
 Example

Long term capacity

Effective stress (fully drained) analysis

qs = 30 kPa

uo = 2 9.8 = 19.6 kPa

qs = 10.4 kPa

g = 15 - 9.8 = 5.2 kPa

 Example

Long term capacity

Effective stress (fully drained) analysis

qs = 30 kPa

uo = 2 9.8 = 19.6 kPa

qs = 10.4 kPa

g = 15 - 9.8 = 5.2 kPa

 Example

Long term capacity

Effective stress (fully drained) analysis

qs = 30 kPa

uo = 2 9.8 = 19.6 kPa

qs = 10.4 kPa

g = 15 - 9.8 = 5.2 kPa

 Example

Long term capacity

Effective stress (fully drained) analysis

qs = 30 kPa

uo = 2 9.8 = 19.6 kPa

qs = 10.4 kPa

g = 15 - 9.8 = 5.2 kPa

 Example
BEARINGCAPACITYTHEORIES OF TERZAGHI ANDSKEMPTON

40
Nq Ng

30 Nc
(degrees)

20

10

0
60 50 40 30 20 10 0 20 40 60 80
Nq and Nc Ng
BEARINGCAPACITYFACTORS [After Terzaghi and Peck (1948)]

= 25
Qf
Nq = 13, Ng = 10 and Nc = 24.5
1
 Example
Long term capacity

gB
q f q s N q N g c N c
2

qf = 10.4 13 + 0.5 5.2 5 10 + 2 24.5 = 314.2 kPa

qf = 314.2 + 19.6

= 333.8 kPa

Q = 1669 kN/m
 Example
Long term capacity

gB
q f q s N q N g c N c
2

qf = 10.4 13 + 0.5 5.2 5 10 + 2 24.5 = 314.2 kPa

qf = 314.2 + 19.6

= 333.8 kPa

Q = 1669 kN/m
 Example
Long term capacity

gB
q f q s N q N g c N c
2

qf = 10.4 13 + 0.5 5.2 5 10 + 2 24.5 = 314.2 kPa

qf = 314.2 + 19.6

= 333.8 kPa

Q = 1669 kN/m
Total Stress Analysis u = 0

qf = N c cu + qs
 q= g Df Df

Total Stress Analysis u = 0

a
d
b
c

Bearing capacity of a shallow foundation

qf = N c cu + qs

q ult = cNc
9

8 r square
le o
Circ
Nc

7 D
uous
Contin
B
6
5.14 Nc (for rectangle)
5
0 1 2 3 4 5 = (0.84+0.16 B ) Nc (square)
L
D/B
L= Length of footing

ULTIMATE BEARING CAPACITY OF CLAY ( = 0 only) (After A.W. Skempton)

q f = cNc + g D
Bottom heave into excavations

B
D
heave
Bottom heave into excavations

gD
 Bottom heave into excavations

gD

For = 0, and constant undrained strength cu

The bearing capacity (pressure) = cu Nc

The driving pressure causing failure = gD

Bearing capacity cu Nc
and the Factor of Safety =
Stress cau sin g failure gD
 Bottom heave into excavations

gD

For = 0, and constant undrained strength cu

The bearing capacity (pressure) = cu Nc

The driving pressure causing failure = gD

Bearing capacity cu Nc
and the Factor of Safety =
Stress cau sin g failure gD
 Bottom heave into excavations

gD

For = 0, and constant undrained strength cu

The bearing capacity (pressure) = cu Nc

The driving pressure causing failure = gD

Bearing capacity cu Nc
and the Factor of Safety =
Stress cau sin g failure gD
Bearing Capacity Mechanism

Ground
Q Surface P0 = g Df Q

Df B
3 b 1 b 3
B>Df
2 2
d a d
Soil Shear Strength,
S = C + s tan
Q

b I b
c c
a

Pp Pp
Bearing Capacity
Terzaghi Bearing Capacity Equation

qu = cNc + p0Nq + g BN g

Nc Nq Ng
40
in Degrees

30

20

10

0
70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 10 20 40 60 80
Nc and Nq 5.7 1.0 Ng
Bearing Capacity Equations

Terzaghi:
- qult = cNc + PoNq + 1/2g BNg

Brinch Hanson
- qult = cNc scdcic + Po Nqsqdqiq + 1/2g BNg sgdgig
Bearing Capacity Factors
100

Bearing Capacity Factors: Nc, Nq, Ng

80
60
40
30
20
15
Nc Nq
10
7
5 5.53
4
3
2
Ng
1
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Angle of Internal Friction, , Degrees
 Eccentric Loading
p p
e
CL

qmax qmin q

B B

B = B- 2e
L
1.0
Cohesive Soil
eL p B = B 2eb
0.8
B 0.6 Granular Soil
B eb L = L 2eL
R
0.4 qult = Qult(R)
Use B and L in 0.2
place of B and L 0 Where R is a
L in Bearing .1 .2 .3 .4 .5 reduction factor for
Capacity Eq. e/B eccentric loading
Bearing Capacity Slope Effects

B
q
Footing on H D
Slope

b B
q
D
Footing Near Top H
of Slope
Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Shallow Footings with Concentric
Loads
Ultimate Bearing Capacity with Ground Water Effect
 Example: Determine the Allowable Bearing
Capacity for A Rough Base Square Footing
Using A Safety Factor Of 3.

d = D = 5 gT = 125 pcf
= 20
c = 500 psf
B = 6 gsub = 63 pcf
 Solution: Assuming A General Shear
Condition, Enter the Bearing Capacity
Chart for = 20 and Read Nc = 14, Nq = 6,
Ng = 3. Also note that formula for bearing
capacity must account for the square
footing and the water table within the
failure zone.

B
qult (1 0.3 )CNc [ gsubD ( g T g sub )d]Nq 0.4 gsubBNg
L

(1.3)(500)14 [ 63(5 ) (125 63)5 ]6 0.4(63)(6)(3)

9100 3750 450

qult 13,300psf

qult 13,300
qall 4,430psf
3 3
What is the Effect on Bearing
Capacity of Excavation of Soil
Cover Over a Spread Footing?
 Student Mini-Exercise on Bearing Capacity

qult cNc PoNq 1/2 BN

Properties and Dimensions Cohesive Soil Cohesionless Soil
(Assume Continuous Rough Footing)

g = Unit Weight = 0 = 30
D = Footing Embedment c = 1000psf c=0

B = Footing Width
qult (psf) qult (psf)

A. Initial Situation gT = 120 pcf, 5530 5400

D = 0, B = 5, deep water table
B. Effect of embedment D = 5,
gT = 120 pcf, B = 5, deep
water table
C. Effect of width, B = 10,
gT = 120 pcf, D = 0, deep
water table
 Student Mini-Exercise on Bearing Capacity

qult cNc PoNq 1/2 BN

Properties and Dimensions Cohesive Soil Cohesionless Soil
(Assume Continuous Rough Footing)

g = Unit Weight = 0 = 30
D = Footing Embedment c = 1000psf c=0

B = Footing Width
qult (psf) qult (psf)

A. Initial Situation gT = 120 pcf, 5530 5400

D = 0, B = 5, deep water table
B. Effect of embedment D = 5, 6130 17400
gT = 120 pcf, B = 5, deep
water table
C. Effect of width, B = 10, 5530 10800
gT = 120 pcf, D = 0, deep
 STUDENT EXERCISE NO.5

Footing Bearing Capacity

Objective:

Find the Allowable Bearing Capacity

Using a Safety Factor = 3, for the
Condition Shown Below.

Rough Base Footing 10 50

Final Grade
4 Sand
30 10 g = 115 pcf
= 35
C=0
 SOLUTION TO EXERCISE No. 5
Length 50
Footing =Width = 5 > 910

Use Rectangular
Water Level 30 4Formula
2.6
Width 10
= 2.6 > 1.5 Footing Widths below Footing
Base
qult gDN q 0.4 gBN g
No Water Effect

= (115)(4)(37) + (0.4)(115)(10)(42)
36 ,340
Qall 12 ,113 psf
= 17,020 + 19,320 3

= 36,340 PSF
How is bearing capacity theory
related to the rule of thumb
equation for stability;
6C
SAFETY FACTOR = gH

H g = Unit
Weight
Soft clay layer cohesion = C
Compact Sand
Spread Footing Design
Bearing Capacity
Explainhow footing embedment, width, and
water table affect footing bearing capacity

Activities: Bearing capacity

analysis