HOW TO CALCULATE BEARING

CAPACITY OF SHALLOW FOUNDATION

IN SAND FROM SPT VALUES OR NVALUES (IS-6403)
Step-by-Step Procedure for Calculation of Bearing Capacity
from Standard Penetration Test Values or N-values
Step-1
Perform standard penetration test on the location for which you want to calculate bearing
capacity. This is done as per standard procedure given in IS-2131. Standard penetration test must
be done at every 75 cm in vertical direction.

Step-2
Decide the depth, width and length of foundation for initial calculation. This is a trial and error
process. In the first attempt, you can never get the exact size of foundation which will satisfy all
of your needs.

Step-3
Apply necessary corrections to the standard penetration test values. Calculate the cumulative
average value of corrected SPT values from the base level of foundation to a depth equal to 2
times the width of foundation.

Step-4
Correlate the above cumulative average SPT value with the fig given below to find out the
corresponding angle of shearing resistance ().

Relation between phi and

SPT value (N)

Step-5

Calculate effective surcharge at the base level of foundation by multiplying the effective unit
weight of soil with the depth of the foundation i.e.
q = *Df
Where,
q = Effective surcharge at the base level of foundation, in kgf/cm2
= Unit weight of soil, in kgf/cm3
Df = Depth of foundation, in cm

Step-6
For the angle of shearing resistance value () as calculated in step-4, find out the corresponding
values of bearing capacity factors (i.e. Nq & N) from the table given below. For the intermediate
values of , make linear interpolation.

Bearing Capacity Factors

Step-7
Calculate shape factors (i.e. sq & s) using formula given below.

Where,
B = Width of foundation, in cm
L = Length of foundation, in cm

Step-8
Calculate depth factors (i.e. dq & d) using following formula.
dq=d=1 (for < 100)
dq = d = 1+0.1(Df/B)(N)1/2 (for >100)
N is calculated using following formula
N = tan2[(/4)+(/2)]

Step-9
Calculate inclination factors (i.e. iq & i) using the formula given below

Where,
= Inclination of the load to the vertical in degrees
= Angles of shearing resistance in degrees

Step-10
Calculate the correction factor for location of water table using the following formula
W = 0.5+0.5[Dw/(Df+B)]
Where,
W = Correction factor for location of water table
Dw = Depth of water table, in cm
Df = Depth of foundation, in cm

Step-11
Using the equation given below calculate the net ultimate bearing capacity.

Where,
qd = Net ultimate bearing capacity of foundation, kgf/cm2
q = Effective surcharge at base level of foundation, in kgf/cm2 (Refer step-5)
Nq & N = Bearing capacity factors (Refer step-6)
sq & s = Shape factors (Refer step-7)
dq & d = Depth factors (Refer step-8)
iq & i = Inclination factors (Refer step-9)
W = Correction factor for location of water table (Refer step-10)
B = Width of foundation, in cm
= Bulk unit weight of foundation soil, in kgf/cm3.