Bearing Capacity & Settlement

The bearing capacity of the footings are governed by settlement

The attached chart shows the estimated range of settlements under a single strip footing. The
estimated settlement represents the short-term settlement of the soil cover (negligible) and the
underlying waste, under the structural load from the solar panel frame. The settlement does not
include the long-term settlement of the waste due to creep, degradation etc.
The chart shows the estimated settlement for strip footings of increasing width, ranging from 18 inches
to 3 feet, for two different bearing pressures: 500 psf and 1000 psf. Settlements are given as a range
rather than a single value to account for the uncertainty associated with waste compressibility. The
Structural Engineer can use the chart to size the footing based on the dead load of the structure and the
tolerable settlement.
Because of the variability of the soil cover thickness and the non-homogeneity of the waste, the
differential settlement between adjacent footings may be considered to be nearly the same as the total
settlement.
The allowable bearing pressure may be increased by one third for short term wind or seismic loading
conditions. However the resulting short-term load combinations used in design must fall within the
middle one-third of the base of the foundation.
Design of foundation should also consider sliding and overturning

Suji

Suji Somasundaram, PhD, PE, GE. | Principal Engineer

Main: 949-379-2450 | Direct: 949-379-2465 | Fax: 949-379-2470
suji@aesciences.com
Advanced Earth Sciences, Inc.
9307 Research Drive | Irvine, CA 92618

Footing width (ft)

1.0

1.5

2.0

0.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

Bearing pressure = 500 psf

0.5

Bearing pressure =1,000 psf

Settlement (inch)

1.0
1.5
2.0

2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0

Bearing Pressure 500 psf, Cr

(cover)=0.01, Cc (waste)=0.12
Bearing Pressure 500 psf, Cr
(cover)=0.01, Cc (waste)=0.25
Bearing Pressure 1000 psf, Cr
(cover)=0.01, Cc (waste)=0.12
Bearing Pressure 1000 psf, Cr
(cover)=0.01, Cc (waste)=0.25

Analysis
Bearing Pressure 500 psf, Cr
(cover)=0.01, Cc (waste)=0.12
Bearing Pressure 500 psf, Cr
(cover)=0.01, Cc (waste)=0.25
Bearing Pressure 1000 psf, Cr
(cover)=0.01, Cc (waste)=0.12
Bearing Pressure 1000 psf, Cr
(cover)=0.01, Cc (waste)=0.25

Notes:
1. Footing founded on surface (zero embedment)
2. Average soil cover thickness of 4 feet was assumed
3. Settlement estimates are based on typical compressibility values for fine grained soil
cover and municipal solid waste
4. Settlement does not include long term settlement of waste due to self-weight, creep,
degradation etc.

Footing width (ft)

1.5
2
3
0.67

0.87

1.26

1.20

1.60

2.37

1.19

1.55

2.25

2.19

2.91

4.35

Project No.:

15-106
Milliken Landfill Solar Panels

Estimated Range of Settlement

Under Single Strip Footing
(Due to Structural Load)
11-15

Figure 1