Department of Civil Engineering

IIT (BHU)

Chapter 2:
Bearing Capacity of Shallow
Foundations

Bala Ramudu, P.
Associate Professor
 Shallow Foundations
Bearing Capacity

• The problems of soil mechanics can

be divided into two principal groups -
stability problems and elasticity
problems
- Karl Terzaghi, 1943

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

 The shallow foundation shown in Figure 1. has a width B and a length L. The
depth of embedment below the ground surface is equal to Df. Theoretically, when
B/L is equal to zero (i.e., L = ∞), a plane strain case will exist in the soil mass supporting the
foundation.
 For most practical cases, when B/L ≤ 1/5 to 1/6, the plane
strain theories will yield fairly good results. Terzaghi1 defind a shallow foundation
as one in which the depth Df is less than or equal to the width B (Df/B ≤1).


CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

 (a) Total Overburden
Pressure q0
 qo is the intensity of total overburden
pressure due to the weight of both
soil and water at the base
level of the foundation.

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

Total and effective overburden
pressures

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

(b) Effective Overburden
Pressure q'0

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

(c) The Ultimate Bearing
Capacity of Soil, qu
 qu is the maximum bearing capacity
of soil at which the soil fails by shear.

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

(d) The Net Ultimate
Bearing Capacity, qnu

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

(e) Gross Allowable Bearing
Pressure,qa

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

(f) Net Allowable Bearing
Pressure,qna

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

(g) Safe Bearing Pressure,
qs
 qs is defined as the net safe bearing
pressure which produces a settlement
of the foundation which
does not exceed a permissible limit.

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

SUMMARY of Terminology

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II
Common Types of Footing

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II
Location and depth of
Foundation
 The following considerations are necessary for deciding the location and depth of
foundation
As per IS:1904-1986, minimum depth of foundation shall be 0.50 m.
Foundation shall be placed below the zone of
The frost heave
Excessive volume change due to moisture variation (usually exists
within 1.5 to 3.5 m depth of soil from the top surface)
Topsoil or organic material
Peat and Muck
Unconsolidated material such as waste dump
Foundations adjacent to flowing water (flood water, rivers, etc.) shall be
protected against scouring. The following steps to be taken for design
in such conditions
Determine foundation type
Estimate probable depth of scour, effects, etc.
Estimate cost of foundation for normal and various scour conditions
Determine the scour versus risk, and revise the design accordingly

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

Location and depth of
Foundation

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

 Bearing Capacity Failure

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

Transcosna Grain Elevator
Canada (Oct. 18, 1913)

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

West side of foundation sank 24-ft
Stability Problem
Bearing Capacity Failure
• Chapter 6. Bearing Capacity Analysis

• How do we estimate the maximum

bearing pressure that the soil can
withstand before failure occurs?

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II
Bearing Capacity Failures

Types/Modes of Failure
 general shear failure
 local shear failure
 punching shear failure

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

General Shear Failure

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II
Local Shear Failure

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II
Punching Shear Failure

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II
CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II
Model Tests by Vesic (1973)

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II
General Guidelines
 Footings in clays - general shear
 Footings in Dense sands ( Dr > 67%)
-general shear
 Footings in Loose to Medium dense
(30%< Dr < 67%) - Local Shear
 Footings in Very Loose Sand (Dr < 30%)-
punching shear

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

 Bearing Capacity Formulas

qult  N c su   zD
CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II
Failure zones

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II
Terzaghi Bearing Capacity

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

 Terzaghi Bearing Capacity
Formulas

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II
Terzaghi Bearing Capacity

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

Terzaghi Bearing Capacity

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

RelationShip foR PPq (ϕ ≠ 0,
γ = 0, q ≠ 0, c = 0)

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

RelationShip foR P
Pc (ϕ ≠ 0, γ = 0, q = 0, c ≠ 0)

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

RelationShip foR P
Pγ (ϕ ≠ 0, γ ≠ 0, q = 0, c = 0)

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II
Terzaghi Bearing Capacity Formulas
For Continuous foundations:
qult  cN c   zD N q  0.5 BN

For Square foundations:

qult  1.3cN c   zD N q  0.4 BN

For Circular foundations:

qult  1.3cN c   zD N q  0.3 BN
CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II
 Terzaghi Bearing Capacity Factors
a2
Nq 
2 cos (45    / 2)
2

a  exp (0.75    / 360) tan  

Nc  5.7 when    0
Nq 1
Nc  when    0
tan  
tan    K p 
N    1
CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II 2  cos   
2
 Bearing Capacity Factors

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

Terzaghi Bearing Capacity Formulas
DB
 No sliding between footing and soil
 soil: a homogeneous semi-infinite
mass
 general shear failure
 footing is very rigid compared to soil

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

 Further Developments
 Skempton (1951)
 Meyerhof (1953)
 Brinch Hanson (1961)
 De Beer and Ladanyi (1961)
 Meyerhof (1963)
 Brinch Hanson (1970) See Extra Handout
 Vesic (1973, 1975)

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

 Vesic (1973, 1975) Formulas
qult  cN c sc d c ic bc g c   zD N q sq d q iq bq g q  0.5 BN  s d  i b g 

Shape factors….… Eq. 6.14, 6.15 and 6.16

Depth Factors ……. Eq. 6.17, 6.18 and 6.19
Load Inclination Factors …. Eq. 6.20, 6.21 and 6.22
Base Inclinations factors .. Eq. 6.25 and 6.26
Ground Inclination Factors….Eq. 6.27 and 6.28
Bearing Capacity Factors …. Eq. 6.29, 6.30 and 6.31

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

Vesic Formula Shape Factors

 B  N q 
sc  1    
 L  N c 
B
sq  1    tan  
L
B
s  1  0.4 
L
CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II
Vesic Formula Depth Factors

D 1
k  tan  
B
d c  1 0.4k
d q  1  2k tan  (1  sin  ) 2

d  1
CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II
 Bearing Capacity of
Shallow Foundations

 6.3 Groundwater Effects

 6.4 Allowable Bearing Capacity
 6.5 Selection of Soil Strength Parameters
 6.6 Local & Punching Shear Cases
 6.7 Bearing Capacity on Layered Soils
 6.8 Accuracy of Bearing Capacity
Analyses
 6.9 Bearing Capacity Spreadsheet

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

Groundwater Table Effect

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

Groundwater Table Effect;
Case I

1. Modify ′zD
2. Calculate ′ as follows:

   b   w

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

Groundwater Table Effect;
Case II

1. No change in ′zD
2. Calculate ′ as follows:

  Dw  D  
      w 1    
  B 

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

Groundwater Table Effect;
Case III

1. No change in ′zD
2. No change in ′



CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

Groundwater Table Effect

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

Allowable Bearing Capacity

qult
qa 
F
 qa ….. Allowable Bearing Capacity
 F …. Factor of safety

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

Factor of Safety
Depends on:
 Type of soil
 Level of Uncertainty in Soil Strength
 Importance of structure and
consequences of failure
 Likelihood of design load occurrence

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

 Minimum Factor of Safety

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

 Selection of Soil Strength
Parameters

 Use Saturated Strength Parameters

 Use Undrained Strength in clays (Su)
 Use Drained Strength in sands,
c and  

 Intermediate soils that where partially

drained conditions exist, engineers
have varying opinions; Undrained
Strength can be used but it will be
conservative!
CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II
 Accuracy of Bearing Capacity
Analysis
 In Clays …..Within 10% of true value
(Bishop and Bjerrum, 1960)
 Smaller footings in Sands…. Bearing
capacity calculated were too conservative –
but conservatism did not affect construction
cost much
 Large footings in Sands … Bearing capacity
estimates were reasonable but design was
controlled by settlement

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

Skempton’s Bearing
Capacity Analysis for
cohesive Soils

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

 Example 1
 A square foundation is 1.5 m × 1.5 m in
plan. The soil supporting the foundation has
a friction angle of ϕ = 20° and c = 15.2
kN/m2. The unit weight of soil γ is17.8
kN/m3. Determine the ultimate gross load
the foundation can carry. Assume the depth
of the foundation (Df) to be one meter, and
general shear failure occurs in soil.

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II

CE 321: Geotechnical Engineering - II