CHAPTER 3: SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

“Foundation” normally refers to something that supports a structure, such as a column or wall,
along with the loads carried by the structure.

“Shallow foundations” are located just below the lowest part of the superstructure they
support; while “deep foundations” extend considerably down into the earth.

Types of Footing

1. Individual (Isolated Footing)

2. Combined Footing
3. Continuous Footing
4. Strap Footing

“Mat or raft foundation” is a large slab supporting a number of columns not all of which are in
a straight line.
Foundations must be designed to satisfy three general criteria:

1. They must be located properly (both vertical and horizontal orientation) so as not to be
adversely affected by outside influences.
2. They must be safe from bearing capacity failure (collapse).
3. They must be safe from excessive settlement.

Bearing Capacity Analysis

“Bearing capacity” refers to the ability of a soil to support or hold up a foundation and
structure.

“Ultimate bearing capacity (qult)” refers to the loading per unit area that will just cause shear
failure in the soil.

“Allowable bearing capacity (qa)” refers to the loading per unit area that the soil is able to
support without unsafe movement.
Terzaghi’s Equations for Ultimate Bearing Capacity

1. Continuous Footings (Width = B)

qult =cN c +γ 1 Df N q +0. 5 γ 2 BN γ

2. Circular Footings (Radius = R)

qult =1. 3cN c +γ 1 Df N q +0. 6 γ2 RN γ

3. Square Footings (Width = B)

qult =1.3 cN c +γ 1 Df N q +0. 4 γ 2 BN γ

Where:
q ult = ultimate bearing capacity
c = cohesion of soil
N c , Nq , Nγ = Terzaghi's bearing capacity factors
γ 1= effective unit weight of soil above base of foundation
γ 2= effective unit weight of soil below foundation
Df = depth of footing, or distance from ground surface to base of footing
B = width of continuous or square footing
R = radius of a circular footing
 φ
(
N q =e π tan φ tan 2 45+
2 )
N c =cot φ ( N q −1 )
N γ =( N q −1 ) tan ( 1 . 4 φ )

For Loose Sand and Soft Clay:

c ' =23 c
φ '=arctan ( 23 tan φ )

Example Problem 3 – 1:

Given:

1. A strip of wall footing 3.5 ft wide is supported in a uniform deposit of stiff clay.
2. Unconfined compressive strength of this soil (qu) = 2.8 kips/ft2.
3. Unit weight of the soil (γ) = 130 lb/ft3.
4. Groundwater was not encountered during subsurface soil exploration.
5. Depth of wall footing (Df) = 2 ft.
Required:

1. Ultimate bearing capacity of this footing.

2. Allowable wall load, using a factor of safety of 3.0.

Example Problem 3 – 2:

Given:

1. A square footing with 5-ft sides is located 4 ft below the ground surface.
2. The groundwater table is at a great depth, and its effect can be ignored.
3. The subsoil consists of a thick deposit of stiff cohesive soil, with unconfined compressive
strength (qu) equal to 3000 lb/ft2.
4. The unit weight (γ) of the soil is 120 lb/ft3.

Required:

Allowable bearing capacity, using a factor of safety of 3.0.

Example Problem 3 – 3:

Given:

1. A circular footing with a 1.52-m diameter is to be constructed 1.22 m below the ground
surface.
2. The subsoil consists of a uniform deposit of dense soil having the following strength
parameters:
Angle of internal friction = 25˚
Cohesion = 48.0 kN/m2
Unit weight = 20.12 kN/m3
3. The groundwater table is at great depth, and its effect can be ignored.

Required:

The total allowable load (including column load, weight of footing, and weight of soil surcharge)
that the footing can carry, using a factor of safety of 3.0.
Example Problem 3 – 4:

Given:

1. A column footing 6 ft by 6 ft is buried 5 ft below the ground surface in a dense

cohesionless soil.
2. The results of laboratory and field tests on the soil are as follows:
a. Unit weight of soil (γ) = 128 lb/ft3.
b. Average corrected SPT N-value beneath the footing = 30.
c. Groundwater was not encountered during subsurface soil exploration.
3. The footing is to carry a total load of 300 kips, including column load, weight of footing,
and weight of soil surcharge.

Required:

The factor of safety against bearing capacity failure.

Effect of Water Table on Bearing Capacity
Example Problem 3 – 5:

Given:

1. A 7-ft by 7-ft square footing is located 6 ft below the ground surface.

2. The groundwater table is located at the ground surface.
3. The subsoil consists of a uniform deposit of soft, loose soil. The laboratory test results
are as follows:
Angle of internal friction = 20˚.
Cohesion = 300 lb/ft2
Unit weight of soil = 105 lb/ft3

Required:

Allowable (design) load that can be imposed on this square footing, using a factor of safety of
3.0.
Example Problem 3 – 6:

Given:

1. A 6-ft by 6-ft square footing is located 5 ft below the ground surface.

2. The groundwater table is located 7 ft below the ground level.
3. The subsoil consists of a uniform deposit of medium dense sand. The field and
laboratory test results are as follows:
Unit weight of soil = 102 lb/ft3
Angle of internal friction = 32˚.

Required:

Allowable (design) load that can be imposed on this square footing, using a factor of safety of
3.0.
Inclined Load
Example Problem 3 – 7:

Given:

A square footing (5 ft by 5 ft) is subjected to an inclined load as shown.

Required:

The factor of safety against bearing capacity failure.

Eccentric Load

i. Concept of useful width

ii. Application of reduction factors
Example Problem 3 – 8:

Given:

1. A 5-ft by 5-ft square footing is located 4 ft below the ground surface.

2. The footing is subjected to an eccentric load of 75 kips.
3. The subsoil consists of a thick deposit of cohesive soil with q u = 4.0 kips/ft2 and γ = 130
lb/ft3.
4. The water table is at a great depth, and its effect on bearing capacity can be ignored.
Required:

The factor of safety against bearing capacity failure:

1. By the concept of useful width.

2. Using a reduction factor.
Footing on Slopes

Ultimate bearing capacity for continuous footings on slopes:

qult =cN cq +0. 5γ 2 BN γq

Where: Ncq and Nγq are the bearing capacity factors for footings on slopes.

Ultimate bearing capacity for square or circular footings on slopes:

(qult )c or s footing on level ground

(qult )c or s footing on slope=(qult )continuous footing on slope
[ (q ult )continuous footing on level ground ]
Example Problem 3 – 9:

Given:

A bearing wall for a building is to be located close to a slope as shown. The groundwater table is
located at a great depth.

Required:

Allowable bearing capacity, using a factor of safety of 3.0.

Example Problem 3 – 10:

Given:

Same condition as the previous example, except that a 1.0-m by 1.0-m square footing is to be
constructed on the slope.

Required:

Allowable bearing capacity, using a factor of safety of 3.0

Size of Footings

Example Problem 3 – 11:

Given:

The footing shown is to be constructed in a uniform deposit of stiff clay and must support a wall
that imposes a loading of 152 kN/m of wall length. (D f = 1.20 m, clayey soil, unit weight = 18.82
kN/m3, qu = 145.8 kN/m2)

Required:

The width of the footing, using a factor of safety of 3.0.

Example Problem 3 – 12:

Given:

1. A square footing rests on a uniform thick deposit of stiff clay with an unconfined
compressive strength of 2.4 kips/ft2.
2. The footing is located 4 ft below the ground surface and is to carry a total load f 250
kips.
3. The clay’s unit weight is 125 lb/ft3.
4. Groundwater is at a great depth.

Required:

The necessary square footing dimension, using a factor of safety of 3. Also, find the necessary
diameter of a circular footing, using a factor of safety of 3, if the footing is located 5 ft below
the ground surface and is to carry a total load of 300 kips, and if q u = 2.6 kips/ft2.

Example Problem 3 – 13:

Given :

1. A uniform soil deposit has the following properties:

γ = 130 lb/ft3
φ = 30˚
c = 800 lb/ft2
2. A proposed footing to be located 5 ft below the ground surface must carry a total load
of 600 kips.
3. The groundwater table is at a great depth and its effect can be ignored.
Required:

Determine the required dimension of a square footing to carry the proposed total load of 600
kips, using a general shear condition and a factor of safety of 3.

Contact Pressure

- the pressure acting between a footing’s base and the soil below.

Flexure Formula:

Q M y M x
q= ± x ± y
A Ix Iy
Where:
q = contact pressure
Q = total axial vertical load
M x , M y= total moment about respective x and y axes
I x , I y = moment of inertia about respective x and y axes
x, y = distance from centroid to the point at which the contact pressure is
computed along respective x and y axes
Example Problem 3 – 14:

Given:

1. A 5-ft by 5-ft square footing as shown.

 2. Centric column load on the footing = 50 kips.
3. Unit weight of soil = 120 lb/ft3
4. Unit weight of concrete = 150 lb/ft3
5. Cohesive soil with unconfined compressive strength = 3000 lb/ft 2.

Required:

1. Soil contact pressure.

2. Factor of safety against bearing capacity failure.
Example Problem 3 – 15:

Given:

1. A 6-ft by 6-ft square column footing as shown.

2. The column’s base is hinged.
3. Load on the footing from the column (P) = 60 kips.
Weight of concrete footing including pedestal and base pad (W1) = 9.3 kips.
Weight of backfill soil (W2) = 11.2 kips.
4. Horizontal load acting on the base of the column = 4 kips.
5. Allowable bearing capacity of the supporting soil = 3.0 kips/ft 2.

Required:

1. Contact pressure and soil pressure diagram.

2. Shear and moment at section A – A.
3. Factor of safety against sliding if the coefficient of friction between the footing base and
the supporting soil is 0.40.
4. Factor of safety against overturning.
Seatwork:

For the footing shown, the vertical load, including the column load, surcharge
weight, and weight of the footing is 120 kips. The horizontal load is 10 kips, and a
moment of 50 ft-kips (clockwise) is also imposed on the foundation.

a. Compute the soil contact pressure and draw the soil contact pressure diagram.
b. Compute the shear on section a-a.
c. Compute the moment on section a-a.
d. Compute the factor of safety against overturning.
e. Compute the factor of safety against sliding if the coefficient of friction between
the soil and the base of the footing is 0.60.
f. Compute the factor of safety against bearing capacity failure if the ultimate
bearing capacity of the soil supporting the footing is 5.4 tons/ft 2. (1 ton = 2kips)