Bearing Capacity of Shallow

Foundations
Ch. 6.
B.C. Failures
Local shear

Intermediate case
+/- gradual failure
Punching
Loose sands,
weak clays (dr.)

F. surf. not defined
Gradual failure
General shear
Dense soils,
Rock, NC clays

Defined failure surf.
Fast failure
B.C. Failures
(Vesic, 1963 and 1973)
Deep
foundations
Sand
Circular foundations
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
BC Factor
Bearing Capacity Theory
LIMIT EQUILIBRIUM
Ultimate bearing capacity = q
ult
= ?
(Bearing press. required to cause a BC failure)
Moments about point A
( ) ( )
|
.
|

\
|

|
.
|

\
|
=
2
) (
2
) (
B
Bb B Bb s
B
Bb q M
zD u ult A
o t
zD u c ult
s N q o + =
zD u ult
s q o t + = 2
Terzaghis Bearing Capacity Theory
Assumptions

D < or = B

Homogenous and isotropic s = c + otan(|)

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).

o BN N N c q
q zD c ult
' 5 . 0 ' ' + + =

o BN N N c q
q zD c ult
' 4 . 0 ' ' 3 . 1 + + =

o BN N N c q
q zD c ult
' 3 . 0 ' ' 3 . 1 + + =
From model tests, he expanded the theory to:
N
c
= cohesion factor
N
q
= surcharge factor
N

= self wt factor
Terzaghis Bearing Capacity Theory
= fn (|) See table 6.1 for values
Groundwater level effects
groundwater
1. Reduction in apparent cohesion - cap (sat. soil for lab tests)
2. Decrease in o
Shear strength
affects
by
Groundwater level effects
D
Groundwater level effects
Case I
w
= '
Groundwater level effects
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|

=
B
D D
w
1
1 '
Case II
Groundwater level effects
Case III
= '
Groundwater level effects
For total stress analysis:
= '
regardless of the case

(gw effects are implicit in c
T
and |
T
)
FS for BC
Allowable BC = q
a
FS
q
q
ult
a
=
FS = function of

soil type
extent of site characterization
soil variability
structure type
uncertainty
BC of shallow foundations in practice
(per Mayne 97)
Undrained

u c ult
s N q =
*
The value of s
u
is taken as the ave. within a depth
= to 1B to 1.5B beneath the foundation base
N
c
*
= 5.14 for strip footing
= 6.14 for square or
circular footing
( )
8 . 0
' sin
2
1
'
OCR
s
v
u
= |
o
(Mayne, 1980)
Drained

*
'
2
1

N B q
ult
=
Consider gw cases
(I, II, or III to determine )
N

*
= fn (foundation
shape and |)
BC of shallow foundations in practice
(per Mayne 97)
Sands

Perform drained analysis
Clays

Perform both
BC of shallow foundations in practice
(per Mayne 97)
1. Find B so that FS = 3
Get q
Get q
ult
(by BC analysis)
Set FS ratio and solve for B
Problem formulation BC design
Consider (drained vs. undrained) and methods
for obtaining OCR and | ---- CPT?
2. Find B and D so that FS = 3
Get q
Get q
ult
(by BC analysis)
Set FS ratio and solve for B
Problem formulation BC design
Determine this
for various D
values
Important too:
Foundation shape (cost and labor)
Moment loads and eccentricity
Weight of the foundations