More examples: Raft Foundations

A raft foundation (40 x 20)m is to be found at a depth of 5m below the surface

of a thick deposit of saturated clay of density 1.90Mg/m3. The undrained shear
strength of the clay was estimated to be constant at 30kN/m2 over the top 5m
and thereafter to increase linearly by 3kN/m2 for every additional metre of
depth. Taking an appropriate value for the average undrained shear strength
of the clay and given that the factor of safety against undrained failure of the
foundation should not be less than 3, estimate the maximum load that can be
transmitted to the clay at foundation level.
[Ans: 164MN]

More examples: eccentrically loaded footings

A 3m by 4m rectangular footing and 1.5m below ground level is eccentrically
loaded. The resultant is 0.2 m outside of centroid widthwise, and 0.3 m
outside of centroid lengthwise. If c =10kPa, =40o, =16kN/m3, find the safe
load carried by footing. What would have been the increase in load carried, if
the load was concentric? Use F.S=3.0
Answer: 20.6 MN, (28.4 MN; 38% increase)

Nc

Nq

40

95.7

81.3

100.4

Week 8
Bearing capacity of footings
resting on two layers

Bearing capacity of footings on

two layers

Df
B

c1
c2

H1
Top layer
Bottom layer

Bearing capacity of footings on

two layers
First step determine thickness of influence (H):
H=0.5 B tan(45+
If HH1: the footing is not affected by second layer,
then calculate bearing capacity using c 1,
If H>H1: the footing is affected by second layer, then
calculate bearing capacity using the following:

TWO CASES

Bearing capacity of footings on

two layers
Case (1): layer 1 is weaker than
layer 2;
Design using parameters of layer 1
s

Df
B

c1
c2

H1
Top layer
Bottom layer

Bearing capacity of footings on

two layers
Case (2): layer 1 is stronger than
layer 2;
Design using modified bearing capacity
equation
s

Df
B

c1
c2

H1
Top layer
Bottom layer

Modified Bearing Capacity Equation:

Hint: use Vesic (1973) values for bearing
capacity factors

Meyerhof and Hannas

punching
shear coefficient Ks

Example on layered soil

A strong layer of sand supports a square foundation [B =1.5 m] and
underlain by a weak sandy deposit. Find the allowable bearing capacity for
the following data:
Thickness of top layer =1.8 m, Df = 1.0 m, 1= 18 kN/m3, = 40, 2= 16
kN/m3, = 30.

Solution:
Step (1): Check H; H = 0.5 B tan(45+ 1/2)
= 0.5 x 1.5 x tan(45 +40/2)
= 1.60>0.8m
Therefore, the footing is affected by the second layer, i.e., a two layer problem

Example on layered soil

END OF WEEK 8