Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations

B.C. Failures
General shear
Dense soils, Rock, NC clays Defined failure surf. Fast failure

Local shear
Intermediate case +/- gradual failure

Punching
Loose sands, weak clays (dr.) F. surf. not defined Gradual failure

B.C. Failures

Sand Circular foundations

Deep foundations

(Vesic, 1963 and 1973)

We design for the general shear case (for shallow foundations)

Bearing Capacity Theory LIMIT EQUILIBRIUM

1. Define the shape of a failure surface 2. Evaluate stresses vs. strengths along this surface

Bearing Capacity Theory LIMIT EQUILIBRIUM

Ultimate bearing capacity = qult = ?
(Bearing press. required to cause a BC failure)

Moments about point A

B B M A = (qult Bb) ( su Bb)(B ) ( zD Bb ) 2 2

qult = 2 su + zD

BC Factor

qult = N c su + zD

Terzaghis Bearing Capacity Theory Assumptions D < or = B Homogenous and isotropic s = c + tan() level ground rigid foundation full adhesion between soil and base of footing general shear failure develops

Terzaghis Bearing Capacity Theory

Terzaghis Bearing Capacity Theory

Terzaghi developed the theory for continuous foundations (simplest, 2D problem).

qult = c' N c + ' zD N q + 0.5 ' BN

From model tests, he expanded the theory to:

qult = 1.3c' N c + ' zD N q + 0.4 ' BN

qult = 1.3c' N c + ' zD N q + 0.3 ' BN

Terzaghis Bearing Capacity Theory

Nc = cohesion factor Nq = surcharge factor N = self wt factor = fn ()

Groundwater level effects

groundwater
affects

Shear strength by 1. Reduction in apparent cohesion - cap (sat. soil for lab tests) 2. Decrease in

Groundwater level effects

Groundwater level effects

Case I

'= w

Groundwater level effects

Case II

D1 D ' = w 1 B

Groundwater level effects

Case III

'=

Groundwater level effects

For total stress analysis:

'=
regardless of the case
(gw effects are implicit in cT and T)

FS for BC

Allowable BC = qa

qult qa = FS
FS = function of
soil type structure type soil variability uncertainty extent of site characterization

BC of shallow foundations in practice

(per Mayne 97)

Undrained
qult = N c su
*

Nc*

= 5.14 for strip footing = 6.14 for square or circular footing

The value of su is taken as the ave. within a depth = to 1B to 1.5B beneath the foundation base

su 1 0. 8 = sin ( ') OCR 'v 2

(Mayne, 1980)

BC of shallow foundations in practice

(per Mayne 97)

Drained
1 * qult = B ' N 2
N *
= fn (foundation shape and )

Consider gw cases (I, II, or III to determine )

BC of shallow foundations in practice

(per Mayne 97)

Sands
Perform drained analysis

Clays
Perform both

Problem formulation BC design 1. Find B so that FS = 3 Get q Get q ult (by BC analysis) Set FS ratio and solve for B

Consider (drained vs. undrained) and methods for obtaining OCR and ---- CPT?

Problem formulation BC design 2. Find B and D so that FS = 3 Get q Get q ult (by BC analysis) Set FS ratio and solve for B Important too:
Foundation shape (cost and labor) Moment loads and eccentricity Weight of the foundations

Determine this for various D values