"SPRING-K" --- SOIL SPRING CONSTANTS FOR FOUNDATIONS

Program Description:

"SPRING-K" is a spreadsheet program written in MS-Excel for the purpose of determining the soil spring
constants for foundations for the vertical direction (Z), as well as for the horizontal directions (X and Y).
Specifically, the soil spring constants, both at the surface and at a user input embedment depth, are determined
in the analysis. The soil spring constants obtained from the analysis can then be readily used and input into
RISA-3D finite element analysis computer models of foundations, mats, and bases of pits or tanks.
(Note: instructions for use are provided at the end of the calculation worksheet.)

This program is a workbook consisting of two (2) worksheets, described as follows:

Worksheet Name Description

Doc This documentation sheet
Soil Spring Constants Soil spring constants analysis for foundations, mats, and bases of pits/tanks

Program Assumptions and Limitations:

1. This program is based on the following references:

a. Washington State Dept. of Transportation (WSDOT) - Bridge Design Manual - M 23-50.13 (Feb. 2014)
b. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Report No. 356 (Nov. 2000) -
"Prestandard and Commentary for the Seismic Rehabilitation of Buildings" - Section 4.4.2.1.2
(Note: FEMA 356 supercedes FEMA 273 - "NEHRP Guidelines for the Seismic Rehabilitation of
Buildings" - Oct. 1997)
c. "Foundation Analysis and Design", Fifth Edition - by Joseph E. Bowles, P.E., S.E. (McGraw-Hill, 1997)
d. "Vibrating Machinery Foundations on Soil (Using Frequency Dependent Criteria)" -
Guideline 000.215.1233 (Aug. 18, 2005) - Fluor Corporation
2. While the instructions herein are specifically noted for use with the RISA-3D computer analysis software
(by RISA Technologies, LLC), the results should be equally applicable for use in most other finite element
computer analysis software programs.
3. If the unit soil spring constant for the z-direction (vertical) has been provided by the geotechnical consultant,
then that value obtained from a plate load test should be adjusted to reflect the plan size of the foundation.
Finally, that adjusted value may then be multiplied by the Embedment Factor, bz, (from the calculation
worksheet) to arrive at the design value for the z-direction to reflect embedment, in lieu of using the value
obtained from the calculation worksheet.
(Note: Refer to section on adjusting the Geotechnical Consultant provided plate load test k-value to reflect
the full plan size (area) of the foundation. This section is located off of the page and to the right.)
4. This program contains “comment boxes” which contain a wide variety of information including explanations
of input or output items, equations used, data tables, etc. (Note: presence of a “comment box” is denoted by
a “red triangle” in the upper right-hand corner of a cell. Merely move the mouse pointer to the desired cell to
view the contents of that particular "comment box".)
 "SPRING-K.xls" Program
Version 1.0

SOIL SPRING CONSTANTS FOR FOUNDATIONS

for Use in RISA-3D Finite Element Analysis Modeling
of Foundations, Mats, and Bases of Pits or Tanks
Job Name: Subject:
Job Number: Originator: Checker:

Input Data:

Foundation Length, L = 40.0000 ft.

Foundation Width, B = 25.0000 ft.
Foundation Thk., d = 2.5000 ft.
Soil Unit Weight, g = 0.120 kcf
Embedment Depth, D = 5.000 ft.
Soil Shear Modulus, G = 5000 psi
Poisson's Ratio, m = 0.35

Results:
Nomenclature
Foundation Area and Effective Embedment:
Foundation Area, Af = 1000.00 ft.^2 Af = L*B
Eff. Embed. Depth, h = 3.750 ft. h = D-d/2, for D >= d/2 (Note: for D < d/2, neglect embedment)

Correction Factors for Embedment:

Embedment Factor, bz = 1.133 bz = (1+1/21*D/B*(2+2.6*B/L))*(1+0.32*(d*(B+L)/(B*L))^(2/3))
Embedment Factor, bx = 1.422 bx = (1+0.21*SQRT(D/B))*(1+1.6*(h*d*(B+L)/(B*L^2))^(0.4))
Embedment Factor, by = 1.463 by = (1+0.21*SQRT(D/L))*(1+1.6*(h*d*(B+L)/(L*B^2))^(0.4))

Soil Spring Constants of Entire Foundation at Surface:

Stiff. @ Surface, Kz(sur) = 83217.2 k/ft. Kz(sur) = G*B/(1-m)*(1.55*(L/B)^(0.75)+0.8)
Stiff. @ Surface, Kx(sur) = 63434.6 k/ft. Kx(sur) = G*B/(2-m)*(3.4*(L/B)^(0.65)+1.2)
Stiff. @ Surface, Ky(sur) = 66052.8 k/ft. Ky(sur) = G*B/(2-m)*(3.4*(L/B)^(0.65)+0.4*L/B+0.8)

Soil Spring Constants of Entire Foundation Considering Embedment:

Stiff. using Emb., Kze = 94293.8 k/ft. Kze = bz*Kz(sur)
Stiff. using Emb., Kxe = 90215.9 k/ft. Kxe = bx*Kx(sur)
Stiff. using Emb., Kye = 96654.6 k/ft. Kye = by*Ky(sur)

Unit Values of Soil Spring Constants:

Z-dir. Spring Stiff., kz1 = 94.29 kcf kz1 = Kze/Af (Z-dir. spring constant per square foot of foundation)
X-dir. Spring Stiff., kx1 = 90.22 kcf kx1 = Kxe/Af (X-dir. spring constant per square foot of foundation)
Y-dir. Spring Stiff., ky1 = 96.65 kcf ky1 = Kye/Af (Y-dir. spring constant per square foot of foundation)

Instructions: 1. Take above "kz1", "kx1" and "ky1" values and multiply them by tributary area for each joint of
foundation modeled by FEA with plates to determine spring support values to be input.
2. Then in RISA-3D, specify "Compression Spring" (CS) for Z-direction and specifiy (two-way)
"Spring" (S) for both X-direction and Y-direction.

References: 1. Washington State Dept. of Transportation (WSDOT) - Bridge Design Manual -

M 23-50.13 (Feb. 2014)
2. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Report No. 356 (Nov. 2000) -
"Prestandard and Commentary for the Seismic Rehabilitation of Buildings" - Section 4.4.2.1.2

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 "SPRING-K.xls" Program
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(Note: FEMA 356 supercedes FEMA 273 - "NEHRP Guidelines for the Seismic Rehabilitation of Buildings" - Oct. 1997)
(continued:)

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 "SPRING-K.xls" Program
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From Reference 1:

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