National Institute of Technology, Silchar

SHALLOW FOUNDATION

FOR
Branch: Civil Engineering
Subject: Foundation Engineering (CE 302)
Semester: 5th
Session: July-Dec, 2021
Course co-ordinator: Dr. Nirmali Borthakur
Dr. Parbin Sultana

Date : 29/09/2021
INTRODUCTION

Foundations are the substructure elements which

transmit the structural load to the earth in such a
way that the supporting soil is not overstressed and
not undergo excessive deformations.
 INTRODUCTION
 The ultimate support of structure is provided by soil, so the
stability of the structure depends on it.

 Soil is weaker than the materials of construction so, more area

requires to carry load.

 Foundation acts as a load transfer device

 Stability of structure depends on the soil-foundation system, so

all forces that may act on the structure should be considered
 TYPES OF FOUNDATIONS
 Shallow foundations and
 Deep foundations

Fig. Foundation-shallow or deep (Terzaghi)

TYPES OF FOUNDATIONS

Shallow: Soil layer is suitable for supporting a

structure at a relatively shallow depth.

Deep: Upper layer of soil is not suitable to

carry/support a structure. The weight of the structure
is transferred to suitable layers at great depths.
 Classification of shallow foundations
 Spread footings - a pad is used to ‘‘spread out’’ loads from
walls or columns over a sufficiently large area of
foundation soil

Fig. Common types of spread footings

 Strap footings - two or more footings connected by a
beam called ‘strap’, also called a ‘cantilever footing’

Fig. Types of strap beams in strap footings

 Combined footings - supports two or more columns in a row
when individual footings come very near each other

Fig. Combined footings

 Raft foundations (Mats) - a large footing containing several
columns in two or more rows.

Fig. Raft (Mat) foundation

 Classification of deep foundations

Fig. Deep footing Fig. Pile foundation Fig. Pier foundation

Fig. Types of caissons
Factors on which selection of type of foundation depends:
 Information regarding the nature of the superstructure
and probable loading
 The subsurface conditions or soil profile

 Suitability of type of foundation under bearing capacity

and settlement criterion
 Detailed studies of designs

 Final selection of the type of foundation based on cost and

performance.
IS 1904 recommendation for minimum depth of shallow
foundation:
 Depth should not be less than 50cm from natural ground
level
 The foundation should be below the zone of volume change
 Footings on sloping ground be constructed with a sufficient
edge distance (minimum 60 cm to 90 cm) for protecting
against erosion

Fig. Edge distance for footing on sloping ground

 Usually foundations are placed above the highest water
level
 The foundation should not cross the property line
 Footings should be placed below the depth of frost heave
 Footings should not located on under ground defects e.g.
faults, cavities, sewer line, tunnel etc
 Footings should be taken below the possible depth of
erosion due to natural causes like surface water run off
 The difference in elevation
between footings should not
be so more to avoid undesirable
overlapping of stresses in soil

Fig. Footings at different elevations—restrictions

 BEARING CAPACITY
Definitions
 Foundation: The lowest part of a structure which is in
contact with soil and transmits loads to it
 Foundation soil or bed: The soil or bed to which loads are
transmitted from the base of the structure
 Footing: The portion of the foundation of the structure,
which transmits loads directly to the foundation soil
 Bearing capacity: The load-carrying capacity of foundation
soil or rock which enables it to bear and transmit loads
from a structure
 Gross pressure intensity (q): Total pressure intensity at the
base of the footing due to weight of the superstructure, self
weight of footing & weight of earth fill
 Net pressure intensity (qn): q - surcharge
 BEARING CAPACITY
 Ultimate bearing capacity (qu): minimum gross pressure
intensity at the base of the foundation at which soil fails in
shear, qu = q at failure
 Net ultimate bearing capacity (qnu): minimum net pressure
intensity causing shear failure of soil, qnu= qu – surcharge
 Effective surcharge at the base level of foundation (σ):
intensity of vertical soil pressure at the base of foundation,
computed taking total unit weight above WT & submerged
unit weight below WT
 Net safe bearing capacity (qns): net ultimate bearing capacity
divided by a factor of safety(F), qns= qnu / F
 Safe bearing capacity (qs): maximum pressure that the soil
can carry safely without risk of shear failure, qs = qns + sur
 BEARING CAPACITY
 Safe bearing pressure or net soil pressure for specific
settlement: intensity of loading that will cause a
permissible settlement or specified settlement for the
structure
 Allowable bearing capacity or pressure (qa): net loading
intensity at which neither the soil fails in shear nor
there is excessive settlement for the structure
BEARING CAPACITY
If the settlement, S of the footing is recorded against
the applied load, Q, load-settlement curves, similar in
shape to a stress-strain curve, may be obtained.
BEARING CAPACITY
Terminology:
 Total overburden pressure q
ഥ𝑤
𝑞 = 𝛾𝐷𝑤1 + 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 𝐷
 Effective overburden pressure qo
ഥ𝑤
𝑞𝑜 = 𝛾𝐷𝑤1 + 𝛾𝑏 𝐷
INTRODUCTION

Criteria for determination of bearing capacity: Two

independent factors needed to be considered while
designing the foundations

 Shear failure criteria: The foundation must be stable

against shear failure of the supporting soil

 Settlement criteria: The foundation must not settle

beyond a tolerable limit to avoid damage to the
structure.
Factors affecting bearing capacity:
 Nature of soil and its physical and engineering properties

 Nature of the foundation and size, shape, depth below the

ground surface and rigidity of the structure
 Total and differential settlements that the structure can
withstand without functional failure
 Location of the ground water table relative to the level of
the foundation
 Initial stresses
TYPES OF FAILURE IN SOIL
Modes of bearing capacity failure (Vesic, 1963)
 TYPES OF FAILURE IN SOIL
General shear failure:
 Foundation on dense sand with relative density greater
than 70% fails suddenly with pronounced peak when
settlement reaches 7% of foundation width
 A well defined failure pattern

 A sudden, catastrophic failure accompanied by tilting of

foundation
 A bulging ground surface adjacent to the foundation

 Occurs in stiff clays or dense sands of low compressibility

 TYPES OF FAILURE IN SOIL
Local shear failure:
 Foundation on sands of relative density lying between (35-
70)% do not show a sudden failure, as the settlement
exceeds about 8% of foundation width, bulging of sand starts
at surface, at 15%B, shear zone appears
 Well defined wedge and slip surfaces only beneath the
foundation
 Does not indicate the ultimate load clearly

 Slight bulging of the ground surface adjacent to the

foundation
 Occurs in loose sands

and soft clays of high

compressibility
 TYPES OF FAILURE IN SOIL
Punching shear failure:
 Foundation on loose sands with relative density less than
35% penetrates into the soil without bulging. Settlement
reaches maximum at (15-20)% of foundation width.
 Poorly defined shear planes

 Soil zones beyond the loaded area are little affected

 Ultimate load cannot be clearly recognized

 Occurs in soils of low compressibility when footings are

considerably deep
TYPES OF FAILURE IN SOIL
Vesic, 1973
Methods of determining bearing capacity
 (i) Bearing capacity tables in various building codes

 (ii) Analytical methods

- based on theory of elasticity- Schleicher’s method

- based on earth pressure theory – Rankine’s, Bell’s
- based on theory of plasticity – Terzaghi’s, Meyerhof’s,
Skempton’s, Hansen’s
 (iii) Plate bearing tests

 (iv) Penetration tests

- from SPT
- from SCPT
 (v) Model tests and prototype tests

 (vi) Laboratory tests

TERZAGHI’S BEARING CAPACITY THEORY

 TERZAGHI’S BEARING CAPACITY THEORY
Zone I: of elastic equilibrium
Zones II: of radial shear state
The
Zones III: of Rankine passive state
TERZAGHI’S BEARING CAPACITY THEORY
 Zone I of elastic equilibrium
 Zones II of radial shear state

 Zones III of Rankine passive state

TERZAGHI’S BEARING CAPACITY THEORY Qu

Strip footings: Ground surface

Surcharge D

Ultimate bearing capacity, B

q𝑞 Q
𝑄𝑑u 1 Wedge
u𝑑 = = 𝑐𝑁𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾
𝐵 2
Cohesion term Surcharge term Wedge term
Where, 𝑄𝑑 =ultimate load per unit length of footing
c = unit cohesion
B = Width of footing
𝐷𝑓 = 𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑁𝑐 , 𝑁𝑞 , 𝑁𝛾 = 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠
TERZAGHI’S BEARING CAPACITY THEORY
Expressions for bearing capacity factors:

Where,
𝑎 = 𝑒 η𝑡𝑎𝑛∅ ,
∅
η = (0.75𝜋 − )
2
𝐾𝑝𝛾 = 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡
TERZAGHI’S BEARING CAPACITY THEORY
 Square foundation
𝑞𝑑 = 1.3𝑐𝑁𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 0.4𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾
 Circular foundation
𝑞𝑑 = 1.3𝑐𝑁𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 0.3𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾
 Rectangular foundation
𝐵 1 𝐵
𝑞𝑑 = 𝑐𝑁𝑐 1 + 0.3 ∗ 𝐿 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 2 𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾 1 − 0.2 ∗ 𝐿

 Ultimate bearing capacity for local shear failure

𝑐ҧ = 0.67c
ഥ = 0.67 tan∅
𝑡𝑎𝑛∅
ഥ = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 0.67𝑡𝑎𝑛∅
Or ∅
TERZAGHI’S BEARING CAPACITY THEORY
Ultimate bearing capacity for local shear failure:
 Strip foundation
1
ഥ ഥ ഥ𝛾
𝑞𝑑 = 0.67𝑐 𝑁𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 𝛾𝐵𝑁
2
 Square foundation
ഥ𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁
𝑞𝑑 = 0.867𝑐 𝑁 ഥ𝑞 + 0.4𝛾𝐵𝑁
ഥ𝛾
 Circular foundation
ഥ𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁
𝑞𝑑 = 0.867𝑐 𝑁 ഥ𝑞 + 0.3𝛾𝐵𝑁
ഥ𝛾
 Rectangular foundation
ഥ𝑐 1 + 0.3 ∗ 𝐵 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁
𝑞𝑑 = 0.67𝑐 𝑁 ഥ𝑞 + 1 𝛾𝐵 𝑁
ഥ𝛾 1 − 0.2 ∗ 𝐵
𝐿 2 𝐿
TERZAGHI’S BEARING CAPACITY THEORY
Ultimate bearing capacity for purely cohesionless and
cohesive soils under general shear failure criteria:

Purely cohesionless soil, c = 0

Purely cohesive soil, φ = 0

 Strip footing
1
For c = 0, 𝑞𝑑 = 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾
2
For φ = 0, 𝑞𝑑 = 5.7𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓
 Square footing
For c = 0, 𝑞𝑑 = 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 0.4𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾
For φ = 0, 𝑞𝑑 = 7.4𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓
TERZAGHI’S BEARING CAPACITY THEORY

 Circular footing
For c = 0, 𝑞𝑑 = 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 0.3𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾
For φ = 0, 𝑞𝑑 = 7.4𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓
 Rectangular footing
1 𝐵
For c = 0, 𝑞𝑑 = 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 2 𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾 1 − 0.2 ∗ 𝐿
𝐵
For φ = 0,𝑞𝑑 = 5.7𝑐 1 + 0.3 ∗ 𝐿 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓

✓ Purely local shear failure, φ ≤ 28°

✓ Purely general shear failure, φ ≥ 38°
✓ Transition state, 28° <φ<38°
TERZAGHI’S BEARING CAPACITY THEORY
 Net ultimate bearing capacity of a strip footing:
1
𝑞𝑛𝑑 = 𝑞𝑑 − 𝛾𝐷𝑓 = 𝑐𝑁𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 − 1 + 𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾
2
 Allowable bearing pressure:
𝑞𝑑
Gross allowable bearing pressure, 𝑞𝑎 = 𝐹𝑠

𝑞𝑑 −𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑞𝑛𝑑
Net allowable bearing pressure, 𝑞𝑛𝑎 = 𝐹𝑠
= 𝐹𝑠

Fs is factor of safety normally assumed as 3.

EFFECT OF WATER TABLE ON BEARING CAPACITY
➢ When the depth of water table is greater than B
below the foundation level or greater than (Df +B)
below the ground level--- no effect of ground
water

➢ When the water table is at ground level--- consider

submerged unit weight

➢ When the depth of water table is greater than zero,

but less than (Df +B) from the ground level--- water
table correction required
EFFECT OF WATER TABLE ON BEARING CAPACITY
Two cases may be considered:
Case1 : When the water table lies above the base level
of the foundation

Case 2 : When the water table lies within depth B

below the base level of the foundation
EFFECT OF WATER TABLE ON BEARING CAPACITY
Method 1
For any position of WT within the depth (Df + B),

1
𝑞𝑑 = 𝑐𝑁𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 𝑅𝑤1 + 𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾 𝑅𝑤2
2

Where, 𝑅𝑤1 = reduction factor for WT above the

base level of the foundation
𝑅𝑤2 = reduction factor for WT below the
base level of the foundation
𝛾 = 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 for all practical purposes in both
the second and third terms
EFFECT OF WATER TABLE ON BEARING CAPACITY
Case 1 :
The equation for 𝑅𝑤1 may be written as
1 𝐷𝑤1
𝑅𝑤1 = 1+
2 𝐷𝑓

For 𝐷𝑤1 Τ𝐷𝑓 = 0, 𝑅𝑤1 = 0.5

And for 𝐷𝑤1 Τ𝐷𝑓 = 1.0, 𝑅𝑤1 = 1.0
EFFECT OF WATER TABLE ON BEARING CAPACITY
Case 2 :
The equation for 𝑅𝑤2 may be written as
1 𝐷𝑤2
𝑅𝑤2 = 1+
2 𝐵

For 𝐷𝑤2 Τ𝐵 = 0, 𝑅𝑤2 = 0.5

And for 𝐷𝑤2 Τ𝐵 = 1.0, 𝑅𝑤2 = 1.0
EFFECT OF WATER TABLE ON BEARING CAPACITY
Method 2
Equation for strip footing may be written as
1
𝑞𝑑 = 𝑐𝑁𝑐 + 𝛾𝑒1 𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 𝛾𝑒2 𝐵𝑁𝛾
2
Where,𝛾𝑒1 = weighted effective unit weight of soil lying
above the base level of the foundation
𝛾𝑒2 = weighted effective unit weight of soil lying
within the depth B below the base level
of the foundation
𝛾𝑚 = moist or saturated unit weight of soil lying
above WT
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = saturated unit weight of soil below the WT
𝛾𝑏 = submerged unit weight of soil = 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 − 𝛾𝑤
EFFECT OF WATER TABLE ON BEARING CAPACITY
Case 1 :
𝐷𝑤1
𝛾𝑒1 = 𝛾𝑏 + 𝛾𝑚 − 𝛾𝑏
𝐷𝑓

𝛾𝑒2 = 𝛾𝑏

Case 2 :

𝛾𝑒1 = 𝛾𝑚

𝐷𝑤2
𝛾𝑒2 = 𝛾𝑏 + 𝛾𝑚 − 𝛾𝑏
𝐵
NUMERICAL EXAMPLES
A strip footing of width 3m is founded at a depth of 2m
below the ground surface in a (c – φ) soil having a cohesion
c = 30 kN/m² and angle of shearing resistance φ = 35°. The
water table is at a depth of 5m below ground level. The
moist weight of soil above the water table is 17.25 kN/m³,
Determine (a) the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil, (b)
the net bearing capacity, and (c) the net allowable bearing
pressure and the load/m for a factor of safety of 3. Use the
general shear failure theory of Terzaghi.
NUMERICAL EXAMPLE
A strip footing of width 3m is founded at a depth of
2m below the ground surface in a (c – φ) soil having a
cohesion c = 30 kN/m² and angle of shearing
resistance φ = 35°. Given 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 =18.5 kN/m³ and 𝛾(above
WT) = 17.5 kN/m³. Determine the net safe bearing
pressure when the position of the WT is (a) 1.25m
below the ground level, (b) 1.25m below the base level
of the foundation.
IS CODE METHOD
IS: 6403-1981 gives the equation for net bearing
capacity as
1
𝑞𝑛𝑑 = 𝑐𝑁𝑐 𝑠𝑐 𝑑𝑐 𝑖𝑐 + 𝑞(𝑁𝑞 −1)𝑠𝑞 𝑑𝑞 𝑖𝑞 + 𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾 𝑠𝛾 𝑑𝛾 𝑖𝛾 𝑊 ′
2
𝑊′ is the water table factor.
𝑊′ = 1, if depth of WT ≥ (𝐷𝑓 + 𝐵)
= 0.5, if depth of WT ≤𝐷𝑓
𝑊′ is obtained by bilinear interpolation for
𝐷𝑓 < depth of WT < (𝐷𝑓 + 𝐵)
Shape factors by Hansen and inclination factors by
Vesic are used. Depth factors are as follows:
𝑑𝑐 = 1 + 0.2 𝐷𝑓 /𝐵 𝑡𝑎𝑛 45 + ∅/2
𝑑𝑞 = 𝑑𝛾 = 1 𝑓𝑜𝑟 ∅ሖ < 10°
𝑑𝑞 = 𝑑𝛾 = 1 + 0.1 𝐷𝑓 /𝐵 𝑡𝑎𝑛 45° + ∅/2 𝑓𝑜𝑟 ∅ሖ > 10°
Shape factors:

Depth factors:

Inclination factors:
Bearing capacity factors:
FOUNDATIONS SUBJECTED TO ECCENTRIC LOADS
Meyerhof (1963)
𝐿′ = 𝐿 − 2𝑒𝑦 , 𝐵′ = 𝐵 − 2𝑒𝑥
𝐴′ = 𝐵′ 𝐿′
𝑄𝑑 = 𝑞𝑑 𝐴′
𝑞𝑑 = ultimate bearing capacity of the footing with
the load acting at the center of the footing
FOUNDATIONS SUBJECTED TO ECCENTRIC LOADS
Equivalent area for eccentric loading:
ULTIMATE BEARING
CAPACITY FROM SPT

Cohesionless soil:

Relation between N and

∅ is established by
Peck et al.
ULTIMATE BEARING CAPACITY FROM SPT
Cohesive soil:

ത 𝑘𝑃𝑎
The undrained compressive strength, 𝑞𝑢 = 2𝑐𝑢 = 𝑘𝑁

𝑘ത is the cone factor.

Type of clay Cone factor

Normally consolidated 11 to 19

Over consolidated

At shallow depths 15 to 20

At deep depths 12 to 18
ULTIMATE BEARING CAPACITY FROM SPT
Teng’s correlation:
(i)

(ii)
ULTIMATE BEARING CAPACITY FROM SPT
Teng’s correlation:
ULTIMATE BEARING CAPACITY FROM SPT
Teng’s correlation:
ULTIMATE BEARING CAPACITY FROM SCPT
Cohesionless soil:
As per Schmertmann, the bearing capacity factors 𝑁𝑞
and 𝑁𝛾 for use in the Terzaghi bearing capacity
equation can be determined by,

𝑁𝑞 = 𝑁𝛾 = 1.25𝑞𝑐

Where 𝑞𝑐 is the cone penetration resistance in kg/cm²

averaged over a depth equal to the width below the
foundation.
ULTIMATE BEARING CAPACITY FROM CPT
Cohesive soil:

𝑞𝑐 −𝑝𝑜 𝑞ത
Undrained shear strength, 𝑐𝑢 = 𝑁𝑘
= 𝑁𝑐
𝑘

Where, 𝑞𝑐 = Cone penetration resistance

𝑝𝑜 = Total overburden pressure
𝑁𝑘 = Cone factor
= 20 for both normally consolidated and pre
consolidated clay
SETTLEMENT
Components of settlement:
Immediate settlement, Si
- Also known as distortion
settlement
- Due to change in shape of
soil without a change in
water content or volume Fig: Time-sett. curve for fine grained soil
Primary consolidation settlement, Sc
- Due to gradual expulsion of pore water
- Computed using Terzaghi theory of consolidation
Secondary consolidation settlement, Ss
- Occurs at constant effective stress
- Volume changes due to rearrangement of soil
particles
SETTLEMENT
Total vertical settlement, 𝑆𝑡 = 𝑆𝑖 + 𝑆𝑐 + 𝑆𝑠
Immediate settlement:
The vertical displacement, 𝑆𝑖 of a foundation of width
B is given by,
1 − 𝜇2
𝑆𝑖 = 𝑞𝐵 𝐼𝑓
𝐸
Where, q = net foundation pressure
𝜇 = Poisson’s ratio Depends on type of soil

E = Young’s modulus of the soil

𝐼𝑓 = influence factor Depends on type of foundation
Consolidation settlement:
PERMISSIBLE SETTLEMENT (IS:1904-1986)
SETTLEMENT FROM SCPT
De Beer & Martens approach:
2.3

C
Where,
𝑞𝑐 𝑞𝑐
C = 1.5 / ; Meyerfhof C = 1.9 /
σ0 σ0

Schmertmann’s approach:
𝐼
S = 𝐶1 𝐶2 𝑞𝑐 σ2𝐵
0 Δ𝑍 𝑍
𝐸
q = net increase in pressure at foundation level
/
σ0
C1 = depth correction factor, 𝐶1 = 1 − 0.5 𝑞
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠
C2 = creep factor, 𝐶1 = 1 + 0.2𝑙𝑜𝑔10
0.1
IZ = influence factor
SETTLEMENT OF FOUNDATIONS ON GRANULAR SOILS
Plate load test:
IS: 1888-1982

Fig: test set up for plate load test

PLATE LOAD TEST
 Rough mild steel plates 30 cm, 45 cm, 60 cm or 75
cm size, square or circular shapes are used
 Smaller sizes are used for dense or stiff soils and
larger sizes are used for loose or soft soils
 Test pit dimension should be at least 5 times the
width of plate
 If water table is above the level of the test pit, water
is pumped out of the test pit
 Loads on the test plate may be applied by gravity
loading or reaction loading
PLATE LOAD TEST
 A seating load of 70 gm/cm² is first applied and
released after sometimes
 Loads are applied in increments of one fifth of the
estimated safe load up to failure or 25 mm settlement
 At each load, settlement is recorded at time intervals
of 1, 2.25, 4, 6.25, 9, 16 and 25 minutes and thereafter
at intervals of 1 hour
 Load increment is given when the rate of settlement
drops to a value less than 0.02 mm/min
 Settlements are recorded through a minimum of two
dial gauges
 Load-settlement curve for the test plate is plotted
from the test data
PLATE LOAD TEST
PLATE LOAD TEST
PLATE LOAD TEST
On a cohesionless soil, the settlement of a footing can
be extrapolated from the settlement of the test plate at
the same load intensity, by the following equation,

2
𝑆𝑓 𝐵𝑓 𝐵𝑝 + 30
= For granular soil
𝑆𝑝 𝐵𝑝 𝐵𝑓 + 30

Where, 𝑆𝑓 = settlement of a foundation of width 𝐵𝑓 (cm)

𝑆𝑝 = settlement of the test plate of width 𝐵𝑝 (cm)

For cohesive soil

PLATE LOAD TEST
The ultimate bearing capacity of the foundation, 𝑞𝑢𝑓
can be approximately obtained from the equation,

𝐵𝑓
𝑞𝑢𝑓 = 𝑞𝑢𝑝
𝐵𝑝

In cohesive soil,
𝑞𝑢𝑓 = 𝑞𝑢𝑝
 NUMERICAL EXAMPLE
Ex: A plate load test using a plate of size 30 x 30cm was
carried out at the level of a prototype foundation. The soil
at the site was cohesionless with the water table at great
depth. The plate settled by 10mm at a load intensity of
160kN/m2. (i) Determine the settlement of a square
footing of size 2 x 2m under the same load intensity. (ii)
Estimate the load intensity if the permissible settlement
of the prototype foundation is limited to 40 mm.
 NUMERICAL EXAMPLE
Solution:
(i)The settlement of the foundation Sf

(ii) A load intensity of 160kN/m2 induces a settlement of

30.24 mm. If we assume that the load-settlement is linear
within a small range, we may write,
 NUMERICAL EXAMPLE
Ex: A plate load test was conducted on a uniform deposit of sand
and the following data were obtained:

The size of the plate was 750 mm × 750 mm and that of the pit
3.75 m × 3.75 m × 1.5 m. The unit weight of soil was 20kN/m3
(i) Plot the pressure-settlement curve and determine the failure
stress.
(ii) A square footing, 2m × 2 m, is to be founded at 1.5 m depth in
this soil. Assume the factor of safety against shear failure as 3
and the maximum permissible settlement as 40 mm, determine
the allowable bearing pressure.
(iii) Design of footing for a load of 2,000 kN, if the water table is
at a great depth.
 NUMERICAL EXAMPLE
Solution:
(i) The pressure-settlement curve is shown below

The failure point is obtained

as the point corresponding
to the intersection of the
initial and final tangents.
In this case, the failure
stress is 500 kN/m2.

∴ qult = 500 kN/m2

NUMERICAL EXAMPLE
NUMERICAL EXAMPLE
 NUMERICAL EXAMPLE
Ex: A loading test was conducted with a 300 mm square
plate at depth of 1 m below the ground surface in pure
clay deposit. The water table is located at a depth of 4 m
below the ground level. Failure occurred at a load of 45
kN. What is the safe bearing capacity of a 1.5 m wide
strip footing at 1.5 m depth in the same soil? Assume γ =
18kN/m3 above the water table & a factor of safety of 2.5.
 NUMERICAL EXAMPLE
Ex:
NUMERICAL EXAMPLE
Ex: A rigid footing 2.5mx2.5m carrying a load of 750kN
rests at a depth of 1m, on a layer of silty clay 8m thick.
If the soil has Es = 12,500kN/m2, μ = 0.35, Is = 0.82, wn
= 35%, Cc = 0.3, Ƴ' = 10kN/m3, G = 2.7, determine the
total settlement if the load is dispersed at 2V:1H.
Water table is at ground surface
Solution:
i) Elastic/immediate settlement (si)

= 0.0173m = 17.3mm
ii) Consolidation settlement (sc)
 NUMERICAL EXAMPLE
H0 = 7m,
e0 = wG/Sr = 0.945
Cc = 0.3
B' = 3.5/2+ 2.5+3.5/2
=6
= 4.5x10
= 45kN/m2
= Q/B'XB' = 20.83

Sc = 0.178m = 178.4mm
Total settlement = 19.58cm
NUMERICAL EXAMPLE

Ex: Proportion a square footing to carry a net safe load

of 120t from a column. The depth of foundation is at
2m below ground level. Maximum permessible
settlement of footing is 40mm and a FOS is 3 against
shear failure. The subsoil is sand with an average
corrected SPT value of 18. Water table is at large
depth. Use Teng correlation.
Solution:

= 10.45B + 82.06
Total net load, Qn = qns x B2 = qnu /3 x B2
120 = 3.48 B3 + 27.35 B2 , so, B = 1.9m
NUMERICAL EXAMPLE

= 56.13 t/m2
So, safe load to that settlement, 203t
As it is greater than 120 t. So, size of foundation 1.9mx
1.9m may be used
NUMERICAL EXAMPLE
Calculate the net ultimate bearing capacity of a
rectangular footing 2m x 4m in plan, founded at a
depth of 1.5m below the ground surface. The load on
the footing acts at an angle of 15° to the vertical and
is eccentric in the direction of width by 15cm. The
saturated unit weight of the soil is 18 kN/m³. The rate
of loading is slow and hence the effective stress shear
strength parameters can be used in the analysis. c′ =
15 kN/m² and φ′ = 25°. Natural water table is at a
depth of 2m below the ground surface. Use IS: 6403-
1981 recommendations.
NUMERICAL EXAMPLE
At what depth should a footing of size 2 x 3 m be
founded to provide a factor of safety of 3, if the soil is
stiff clay having an unconfined compressive strength
of 120 kN/m²? The unit weight of the soil is 18 kN/m³.
The ultimate bearing capacity of the footing is 425
kN/m². Use Terzaghi’s theory. The water table is close
to ground surface.

𝐵
𝑞𝑑 = 5.7𝑐 1 + 0.3 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓
𝐿
NUMERICAL EXAMPLE
The following observations relate to a plate load test
conducted on a 30 cm square test plate placed at a
depth of 1.5 m in a cohesionless soil deposit:

Plot the load-settlement curve.

Determine the allowable bearing pressure for a 2 m
square footing for a minimum factor of safety of 2.5
with respect to shear failure and a maximum
permissible settlement 25 mm. Water table is at a
depth of 2 m below ground surface. What will be the
actual factor of safety with respect to shear failure at
the allowable bearing pressure?