Wasit University

College of Engineering
Civil Engineering Department

Bearing Capacity of Soil for Shallow

Foundations
Part 3

1
b. Two way eccentricity

P  6eB 6eL 
q= 1    ‫الضغط أسفل االساس‬
B L B L 
❑ Five possible cases may arise (Highter and Anders, 1985)

❑ How to find effective area A’ ?

eL 1 e 1
Case I ):  & B  1
L 6 B 6 A' = B1L1
2
 3e 
B1 = B 1.5 − B 
 B 
 3e 
L1 = L 1.5 − L 
 L 
L' = max ( B1 , L1 )
A'
B' =
L' 2
 eL 1 e 1
Case II ): < & 0< B 
L 2 B 6

1
A' = ( L1 + L2 ) B
2
L' = max( L1 , L2 )
A'
B = '
'

L
To find L1 and L 2 look at figure beside.
eL
y-axis:
L
L L
x-axis: 1 & 2
L L
eB
: Through the graph.
B

3
 eL 1 e 1
Case III ): < & 0< B 
L 6 B 2

A' =
1
(B1 + B2 )L
2
A'
B =
'

L
To find B1 and B 2 look at figure beside
eB
y - axis :
B
B B
x - axis : 1 & 2
B B
eL
: Through th e graph.
L

4
Case IV ): eL < 1 & 0 < eB  1
L 6 B 6
A' = L2 B +
1
(B + B2 )(L − L2 )
2
A'
B =
'

L
To find L 2 and B2 look at figure
L B
x - axis : 2 & 2
L B
eB
y - axis :
B
eL
: Through graph
L

Case V ): Circular Foundation

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Example 7: Refer to the following figure, determine the gross ultimate bearing capacity (Vesic)

Solution:
eB 0.5 1 eL 0.3 1
= = 0.33  = = 0.2 
B 1.5 6 L 1.5 6
Case I :
3eB 3  0.5
B1 = B(1.5 − ) B1 = B (1.5 − ) = 0.75m
B 1.5
3e 0.3
L1 = L(1.5 − l ) L1 = 1.5(1.5 − ) = 1.35m
L 1.5
1
Let L = L1 = 1.35m A ' = B 1 L1 − − − − − − − B ' = 0.375m
2

From Table @  ' = 30 − − − N q = 18.4, N = 22.4

0.375
Sq = 1 + tan 30 = 1.16
1.35
(
d q = 1 + 2 tan 30(1 − sin 30)
2
) 10..57 = 1.135
0.375
S = 1 − 0.4 * = 0.888
1.35
d  = 1.0
qu = 18* 0.7 *18.4 *1.16 *1.135 + 0.5*18* 0.375* 22.4 * 0.888*1.0

qu = 372.37 kN / m 2
6
Qu = A ' qu ' = 0.506  372.37 = 188 kN
Example 8: Rectangular footing is subjected to two way eccentricity. Determine the gross ultimate load that
foundation can carry given that: eB = 0.3m, eL = 0.364m, B = 1.5m, L = 2m, D f = 1m
Solution:
1. Study the case of eccentricity:
eL 0.364 1 eB 0.3 1
= = 0.182  & = = 0.2 
L 2 6 B 1.5 6
Case I:
B1 = 1.5 (1.5 − 3(0.2) ) = 1.35m
L1 = 2 (1.5 − 3(0.182) ) = 1.908m
L' = max( B1 , L1 ) = 1.908m
1
A' = B1L1 = 0.5  1.35  1.908 = 1.2879m 2
2
A' 1.2879
B = ' =
'
= 0.675m
L 1.908
qu' = cN c Fcs Fcd Fci + qN q Fqs Fqd Fqi + 0.5 B ' N  F s F d F i

For sand: c = 0.00 At  = 35  N q = 33.3 , N = 48.03

• Shape factors: • Depth factors:

0.675 D f / B = 1 / 1.5 = 0.66  1
Fqs = 1 + tan 35 = 1.248
1.908 1
Fqd = 1 + 2 tan 35(1 − sin 35) 2  = 1.167
0.675 1.5
Fs = 1 − 0.4 = 0.858
1.908 Fd = 1

• Inclination factors:
Due to absence of inclined load, the inclination factor is 1 everywhere.

qu = 1123.32 kN / m 2 .
Qult = 1123.32  1.2879 = 1449.1 kN 7
8
9
Q9: For the square footing (2.5m × 2.5m) shown in the figure below, determine the allowable resisting moment
(M), if the allowable load Qall = 800 kN and F.S = 3. (Using Meyerhof Equation).

Solution:
M = Qall × e = 800 e
qu' = cN c Fcs Fcd Fci + qN q Fqs Fqd Fqi + 0.5 B ' N  F s F d F i ϕ = 35°
c=0
The first term in the equation will be zero because(c = 0) equation γd = 16.8 kN/m3
q = γ × Df = 16.8 × 1.5 = 25.2 kN/m2

Calculating the new area that maintains 𝐪𝐮 uniform:

B′ = B − 2e → B′ = 2.5 − 2e , L′ = 2.5 γs = 16.8 kN/m3

B′used= min (B′ , L′) = 2.5 − 2e , L′used = 2.5 m

qu = qall × FS (qall = Qall A′ → A′ = B ′ used × L ′ used , FS = 3)

Applied load ≤ Qall → Qall = 800 kN

qall =
800
=
320
→ qu = 3 
320
=
960  =   =  sat −  w
(2.5 − 2e)  2.5 (2.5 − 2e) (2.5 − 2e) (2.5 − 2e)

d = 1m ≤ B = 2.5m → water table will affect on qu

d
 = =+ ( −   ) (use B not B ')
B
  =  sat −  w = 20 − 10 = 10 kN , d = 1m,  =16.8 kN / m3
1
 = 10 + (16.8 − 10 ) = 12.72 kN / m3 10
2.5
Bearing Capacity Factors: For ϕ = 35°→ Nc = 46.12, Nq = 33.3, Nγ = 48.03 (𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝟑.𝟑)

• Shape factors:
As we explained previously, use B՛ and L՛

B  N q 
Fcs = 1 +   = 0.0
L  N c 
B 2.5 − 2e
Fcs = 1 + tan  = 1 + tan 35 = 1.7 − 0.56 e
L 2.5
B 2.5 − 2e
F s = 1 − 0.4 = 1 − 0.4 = 0.6 + 0.32 e
L 2.5
• Depth factors:
As we previously explained, use B not B՛
Df / B = 1.5 / 2.5 = 0.6  1 and  = 35
1.5
Fqd = 1 + 2 tan 35(1 − sin 35) 2  = 1.152
2.5
F d = 1

• Inclination factors:
The load on the foundation is not inclined, so all inclination factors are (1).

Now substitute from all above factors in Meyerhof equation:

960
= 25.2  33.3  (1.7 − 0.56 e)  1.152 + 0.5(2.5 − 2 e)  12.72  48.03  (0.6 + 0.32 e)
2.5 − 2e

960
= 2101.6 − 663.54 e − 195.5 e 2 11
2.5 − 2e
 Multiply both sides by (2.5 − 2e) →→ 960 = 5254 − 4203.2 e − 1658.85 e + 1327.08 e2− 488.75 e2 + 391 e3
→ 391e3 + 838.33 e2 − 5862.05 e + 4294 = 0.0
Solve for e → e = − 5.33 or e = 2.29 or e = 0.89
Now, the value of (e) must be less than B/2 and must be positive value
B/2 = 2.5/2 = 1.25 < 2.29 → reject the value of e = 2.29 and negative value
→ e = 0.89 m

Before calculate the value of moment, we check for qmax:

320 320
qall = = = 444.44 kN / m 2
2.5 − 2e 2.5 − 2  0.89

To calculate qmax we firstly should check the value of (e = 0.89 m)

B 2.5 B
= = 0.416 m → e = 0.89  = 0.416
6 6 6
4Q
qmax = qmax,new =
3 L ( B − 2e )
4  800
qmax,new = = 592.6 kN / m 2  qall = 444.44
3  2.5  (2.5 − 2  0.89)
Now, we calculate the adequate value of “e” (that makes qall = qmax )
4  800
444.44 = → e = 0.77 m
3  2.5  (2.5 − 2  e)
M = Q × e = 800 × 0.77 = 616 kN.m
Note that the only variable in this problem is e, so we calculate the value of e that insure that the maximum pressure
qmax does not exceed the allowable pressure qall. 12
 Bearing Capacity of Soil from Field Tests

1. Bearing Capacity From Standard Penetration Test SPT

❑ Terzaghi and Peck (1948) were the first to propose a correlation between the N (corrected SPT) Value and allowed
pressure, by presenting a relationship between the size of a footing, the N (corrected SPT) value, and the applied
pressure to give a settlement of 25 mm for a deep ground water table, This correlation is shown in Figure below.

N 70  Df 
qall =  1 + 0.33  if B  1.2m
0.04  B 

N  B + 0.3   Df 
2

qall = 70    1 + 0.33  if B  1.2m

0.06  B   B 

For 0  D f  B and B  1.2m

N  B + 0.3   Df 
2

qall = 55    1 + 0.33 
0.08  B   B 

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2. Bearing Capacity From Cone Penetration Test CPT

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 3. Bearing Capacity From Plate Loading Test

❑ The ultimate soil-bearing capacity of actual footings can also be

approximated as follows:

❑ For a given intensity of load q, the settlement of the actual footing can be
approximated from the following equations:

15
 The Plate Load Test (PLT) ‫فحص تحمل الصفيحة‬

Procedure:
❑ Selection of Location
• Based on the exploratory boring.
• Test is carried out at the level of proposed foundation. If water table is below the foundation level but the depth
is less than width of plate then the test is carried out at the level of water table. If the water table is above the
foundation level then the water level is reduced to proposed foundation level by pumping out the water during
the test; 16
❑ Reaction supports should be at least (3.5 x width of plate) away
from the test plate location, and loading arrangement should
provide sufficient working space.

❑ Test plate should be placed over a 5 mm thick sand layer and it

should be cantered with the loading arrangement.

❑ A seating pressure of 7 kPa is applied and then released after some

time before the test. Loads are applied in the increments of
approximately 1/5th of the estimated ultimate safe load. (Or, one
may choose to increase the load at an increment of 0.5 kN.)

❑ At each load settlement is recorded at time intervals of 1, 2, 4, 6, 9,

16, 25 min and thereafter at intervals of one hour.

❑ For clayey soil, the load is increased when time settlement curve
shows that the settlement has exceeded 70-80% of the probable
ultimate settlement or a duration of 24 Hrs.
❑ For the other soils, the load is increased when the settlement rate drops
below 0.02 mm/min.

❑ The minimum duration for any load should, however, be at least 60 min.
❑ Dial gauges used for testing should have at least 25 mm travel and 0.01
mm accuracy.

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 Bearing Capacity of Foundations on Top of a Slope

❑ Meyerhof (1957) developed the following theoretical relation for the ultimate bearing capacity for
continuous foundations:

qu = cN cq + 0.5 BN q

❑ The variations of Nγq and Ncq are shown in

Figures below.

Figure 5.19 Shallow foundation on top of a slope

❑ For Ncq,
1. Ns is stability number = γ H / c՛
2. If B < H , use the curves for Ns = 0.
3. If B ≥ H , use the curves for the calculated Ns

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 Figure : Meyerhof’s bearing capacity factor Nγq for
granular soil (c՛ = 0)

Figure : Meyerhof’s bearing capacity factor Ncq for purely cohesive soil
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Example 10: The figure below shows a continuous foundation on a slope of a granular soil. Estimate the ultimate bearing capacity.

Solution

qu = cN cq + 0.5 BN q

For granular soil (c՛ = 0),

qu = 0.5 BN q

We are given that b/B = 2 / 2.15 = 1.33 , Df /B = 1.5 / 1.5 = 1.0, ϕ՛ = 30o, and  = 30o.
From Figure above, Nγq < 41. So,

qu = 0.5(15.5)(1.5)(41) = 476.6 kN / m 2

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 Bearing Capacity of Foundations on a Slope

❑ Figure below shows the nature of the plastic zone developed under a rough continuous foundation of width B. In the figure
, abc is an elastic zone, acd is a radial shear zone, and ade is a mixed shear zone. Based on this solution, Meyerhof (1957)
developed the following theoretical relation for the ultimate bearing capacity for continuous foundations:

qu = cu Ncqs (for purely cohesive soil, that is, ϕ՛ = 0)

qu = cu Nγqs (for granular soil, that is, c՛ = 0)

Figure : Nature of plastic zone under a rough continuous

foundation on the face of a slope

❑ The variations of Ncqs and Nγqs with slope angle b are given in Figures below:

21
Figure : Variation of Ncqs with  (Note: Ns = γ H / cu) Figure : Variation of Nγqs with 
22
Extra Problems

Q1: For the soil profile is given below, determine the allowable bearing
capacity of the isolated rectangular footing (2m x 2.3m) that subjected
to a vertical load (425 kN) and moment (85 kN.m), FS=3.
ϕ = 20°
c=0
γd = 16 kN/m3

ϕ = 25°
c=0
Q2: An eccentrically loaded rectangular foundation (6ft x 8ft) shown γs = 19 kN/m3

below. Use factor of safety of 3 and if e = 0.5ft, determine the

allowable load that the foundation could carry. (The factor of safety is
based on the maximum stress along the base of the footing).

γd = 110 pcf

ϕ = 15°
c = 800 psf
γs = 122.4 pcf
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Q3: For the rectangular footing (2.5m x 3m) shown below, if e = 0.35m and qmax=410 kN/m2. Calculate the factor of safety
against bearing capacity, and determine whether the design is good or not.

γd = 15 kN/m3

ϕ = 30°
c = 30 kN/m2
γs = 21 kN/m3

Q4: For the soil profile given below, determine the net allowable
bearing capacity of the isolated rectangular footing (2.5m x 3m) that
subjected to a given load as shown. Use FS =3.

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