Appendix - 1

Typical calculation of Safe Bearing Capacity for a square footing from shear strength parameters based on IS 6403 - 1981

The Net Safe Bearing Capacity is given by :

qd/F = (cNc scdcic + q(Nq-1) sqdqiq + 0.5gBNgsgdgigW')/F ………(1) (General Shear Failure)

q'd/F = (0.67cN'c scd'cic + q(N'q-1) sqd'qiq + 0.5gBN'gsgd'gigW')/F ………(2) (Local Shear Failure)

c is cohesion in tons/m 2 N'c , N'q , N'g , are bearing capacity factors depending on the f' value
f is angle of internal friction of soil sc , sq , sg , are shape factors for square footing
g is Bulk unit weight of soil in tons/m
3
dc , dq , dg , and d'c, d'q, d'g are depth factors
D is depth of footing from ground level, in m ic , iq , ig , are inclination factors

B is width of footing in m W' is correction factor for location of water table

L is Length of Footing in m F is Factor of Safety = 2.5
q is the effective overburden pressure at the footing

f g
Depth, m

Foundation W' c Bearing Capacity Bearing Capacity Shape Factors Depth Factors GSF Depth Factors LSF qd, q'd, Net Safe
Foundation

dimensions Factors GS Factors LS GSF LSF Bearing

shape

Capacity

o
B, m L, m T/m 2 T/m 3 Nc Nq Ng N'c N'q N'g sc sq sg dc dq dg d'c d'q d'g T/m
2
T/m
2
T/m
2

12 24 Rectangle 1.2 0.5 0 30 1.93 30.1 18.4 22.4 16 7.2 6.3 1.1 1.1 0.8 1.03 1.02 1.02 1.03 1.01 1.01 51 10.4 30.7
12 24 Rectangle 1.4 0.5 0 30 1.93 30.1 18.4 22.4 16 7.2 6.3 1.1 1.1 0.8 1.04 1.02 1.02 1.03 1.02 1.02 52.5 12.3 32.4
12 24 Rectangle 1.6 0.5 0 30 1.93 30.1 18.4 22.4 16 7.2 6.3 1.1 1.1 0.8 1.04 1.02 1.02 1.04 1.02 1.02 54 14 34
12 24 Rectangle 1.8 0.5 0 30 1.93 30.1 18.4 22.4 16 7.2 6.3 1.1 1.1 0.8 1.05 1.02 1.02 1.04 1.02 1.02 55.4 15.8 35.6