In conventional design, the allowable bearing capacity should be

taken as the smaller of the following two values.

The safe bearing capacity based on ultimate capacity
The allowable bearing pressure on tolerable settlement

The safe bearing capacity qs may be computed from Terzaghis

analysis:
For strip footing: qs = (1/F) [c.NC + .D.(Nq-1).RW1 + 0.5 .B.N.RW2] + .D
For square footing: qs = (1/F) [1.3c.NC + .D.(Nq-1).RW1 + 0.4 .B.N.RW2] + .D
For circular footing: qs = (1/F) [1.3c.NC + .D.(Nq-1).RW1 + 0.3 .B.N.RW2] + .D

For rectangular footing: qs = (1/F) [c.NC (1+0.3(B/L))+ .D.(Nq-1).RW1

+ 0.5 .B.N. (1-0.2(B/L))RW2] + .D

 The net allowable bearing pressure q based on limiting the maximum

settlement of individual footing to 25mm,
Empirical relation
2
q = 34.3 (N-3) [(B+0.3)/2B] RW2. Rd
Rd, Depth factor = [1+ (0.2D/B)] 1.20

If permissible settlement is in place of (=25mm), the

corresponding net allowable bearing pressure
q' = q x (/25)

Note: q or q' is the permissible net increase in the bearing pressure.

The permissible gross increase in the bearing pressure
qg = q + .D
The allowable bearing pressure (qa) will be smaller of two

ITEMS FOR INSPECTION IN THE

CONSTRUCTION OF FOOTINGS IN SOILS
Minimum depth to base of footing: a
minimum depth prevents potential
problems related to the weakening of
the support for the footing that could
result from any type of excavation,
erosion, or ground loss in the
immediate neighborhood of the
footing. It is usually sufficient to
require 0.75m as a minimum. An
exception occurs near the property
line, where it is prudent to adopt a
minimum depth of 1.50m.
Certain minimum distances with
respect to buried utilities, cavities, or
other foundation elements
Sequence of construction of
individual footings.

Construction inspection
Base elevation
Nature and type of soil at the base of the excavation
Base cleaning before concrete placement
Dimensions and cross sections of the footings
Concrete placement
Time for concrete placement
Footing integrity after concrete placement

CHOICE OF FOUNDATION TYPE AND

PRELIMINARY SELECTION
Information regarding the nature of the superstructure and the probable
loading is required, at least in a general way.
The approximate subsurface conditions or soil profile is to be ascertained.
Each of the customary types of foundation is considered briefly to judge
whether it is suitable under the existing conditions from the point of view
of the criteria for stabilitybearing capacity and settlement. The obviously
unsuitable types may be eliminated, thus narrowing down the choice.
More detailed studies, including tentative designs, of the more promising
types are made in the next phase.
Final selection of the type of foundation is made based on the costthe
most acceptable compromise between cost and performance.

Appropriate foundation types for certain soil conditions

Causes of settlement

Settlement of footings
The total settlement of a footing in clay may be considered to consist
of three components (Skempton and Bjerrum, 1957)
S = Sc + S i + Ss
where,
S = total settlement
Si = immediate elastic settlement
Sc = consolidation settlement
Ss = settlement due to secondary consolidation of clay

 The immediate settlement is the elastic settlement and can be

computed from the following expression based on the theory of
elasticity:
1 2
=

Where,
q = uniform pressure on the foundation
B = least lateral dimension of footing
= modulus of elasticity of soil beneath the foundation
= Poissons ration of the soil
= influence factor = 0.88 for rigid circular footing
= 0.82 for rigid square footing

= 1.06 for rigid rectangular footing with L/B = 1.5

= 1.70 for rigid rectangular footing with L/B = 5

Values of Influence Factor (IS:8009 PART I-1976)

Shape of loaded area

Flexible footing

Rigid footing
Col. (5) = 0.8 x Col. (2)

Centre

Corner

Average

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

1.00

0.64

0.85

0.80

1.0

1.12

0.56

0.95

0.90

1.5

1.36

0.68

1.20

1.09

2.0

1.52

0.77

1.31

1.22

5.0

2.10

1.05

1.83

1.68

10.0

2.52

1.26

2.25

2.02

100.0

3.38

1.69

2.96

2.70

(1)
1. Circular
2. Rectangular (L/B)

 Jambu, Bjerrum and Kjaernsli (1966) have

proposed the following equation for
computing the immediate settlement
1 2
= 0 1

Where, =

1 2
=

Test 1

Test 3

Test 2

1 3
/

Consolidation Settlement,

0 +
=
. log10
1 + 0
0
Where, 0 = effective initial overburden pressure due to soil
overburden, measured at the centre of the layer
= vertical stress increment due to footing load, at the centre
of layer
Cc = compression index = 0.009(wL 10)
e0 = initial voids ratio
H = thickness of compressible layer
C = a coefficient or correction factor depending upon the
geometry of the footing and the history of loading on the clay
(i.e. on the pore pressure coefficient A)
In the absence of any other data C may be taken as unity for the
clay

Permissible Settlements
Terzaghi and Peck (1948) specify a permissible differential settlement
of 20 mm between adjacent columns and recommend that
foundations on sand be designed for a total settlement of 25 mm.
Skempton and MacDonald (1956) specify that the angular rotation or
distortion between adjacent columns in clay should not exceed
1/300, although the total settlement may go up to 100 mm.
Bozozuk (1962) summarised his investigations in Ottawa as follows:

Remedial Measures Against Harmful Settlements

Removal of soft soil strata, consistent with economy.
The use of properly designed and constructed pile foundations
Provision for lateral restraint against lateral expulsion of soil mass
from underneath the footing of a foundation.
Building slowly on cohesive soils to avoid lateral expansion of a soil
mass and to give time for the pore water to be expelled by the
surcharge load.
Reduction of contact pressure on the soil; more appropriately, proper
adjustment between pressure, shape and size of the foundation in
order to attain uniform settlements underneath the structure.
Preconsolidation of a building site long enough for the expected load,
depending upon the tolerable settlements; alternatively, any other
method of soil stabilization