The rectangular footing should have the reinforcement bars in the longer direction, to efficiently

transfer the loads in similar manner to that of shorter direction. In the longer direction of the footing, some
part of the total reinforcement placed in the short direction is placed in the middle portion. This portion is
referred as band width and the length equal to smaller side of the footing. In rectangular footing, the flexural
bars are provided in longer direction while in shorter direction the shrinkage reinforcement is provided. In
some cases, for longer direction of footing, reinforcement is placed in shorter direction at the middle position.
Rectangular footing is provided when one of the projections of the footing is restricted or the width of the
footing is restricted.

Figure 1: Rectangular Footing

The footing is also subjected to transverse bending and this bending is spread over a transverse strip near
the column.

Figure 2: (a) Spread Footing and (b) Deformed Spread Footing

Table 1: Minimum Depth for Rectangular Footings
Load P (kips) Minimum Depth (in) Load P (kN) Minimum Depth (mm)
0 - 65 12 0 - 300 300
65 - 140 18 300 – 500 400
140 – 260 24 500 – 800 500
260 – 420 30 800 – 1100 600
420 – 650 36 1100 – 1500 700
1500 – 2000 800
2000 – 2700 900
2700 - 3500 1000

Table 2: Advantages and Disadvantages of Rectangular Footing

Advantages Disadvantages

The soil needs stable all around the base of the

Isolate footings are economical and easy to
structure and to cope with the high load, it can be
construct
very large in size.

Separate foundations make this design weak

This type of footings are suitable for stable sites
against the differential settlement that may affect
that are flat or sloping.
the building.

They have an advantage over spot footing since

Separate foundations make this design weak
the weight of the building is spread continuously
against differential settlement that may affect the
across the entire building footprint instead of a
building.
single point of contact with the foundation.

Weak against uplift forces, wind forces and

Can be designed to accommodate tight sites.
earthquake forces.

Reinforcement for tension and shear can be

added.
The depth to which foundations shall be carried is to satisfy the following:

a. Ensuring adequate bearing capacity

b. In the case of clay soils, footings are to penetrate below the zone where shrinkage and swelling
due to seasonal weather changes are likely to cause appreciable movement.
c. The footing should be located sufficiently below maximum scouring depth.
d. The footing should be located away from top soils containing organic materials.
e. The footing should be located away from unconsolidated materials such as garbage.

All footings shall extend to a depth of at least 0.50 meter below natural ground level. On rock or such other
weather-resisting natural ground, removal of the top soil may be all that is required. In such cases, the
surface shall be cleaned, so as to provide a suitable bearing. Usually footings are located at depths of 1.5
to 2.0 meters below natural ground level.
The base area of the spread footing is calculated using the following formula.

Here, Qt = the total load coming on the spread footing

q = bearing capacity of soil,

A = base area of the spread footing.

Size is based on the total load applied to the soil and its allowable bearing capacity.

The weight of footing and the soil above should be heavy enough to offset the uplift forces from wind or
seismic.

Wt.  U * F.S

Where:
Wt. = Total Weight of Footing
U = Uplift Force
F.S. = Factor of Safety

This situation usually occurs at column at building bracing location. The factor of safety for uplift force in
most of building codes is 1.5.
Terzaghi's bearing capacity has been modified for other types of foundations specifically Rectangular
Foundations

where B = width or diameter, L = length of footing.

Punching shear force resisted by concrete Vc is given as the smallest of:

When β = 2, equations (11.7) and (11.8) give the same value, if β > 2 Eq. (11.7) gives smaller value than
that evaluated using Eq. (11.8).
Since there are two layers of reinforcement, an average value of d may be used. The average effective
depth is given as
davg = hc -7.5cm – db, where db is bar diameter.
Increase footing thickness if additional shear strength is required.
 Figure 4: Critical section for punching and beam shears (Rectangular Footing)

For rectangular footings, ACI Code 15.4.4 specifies that the reinforcement in the long direction is uniformly
distributed while portion of the total reinforcement in the short direction, γs As g is to be distributed uniformly
over a band width, centered on centerline of column, equal to the length of the short side of footing.
Remainder of reinforcement required in short direction, (1 - γs) As is to be distributed uniformly outside center
band width of footing as shown in Figure 3
where As is the total reinforcement required in the short direction, β equals the ratio of the long side to the
short side of the footing and γs is given as

2
γs =
1+ β

The reinforcement ratio is calculated based on rectangular section design, where the minimum
reinforcement ratio r min is not to be less than 0.0018.
 Figure 4: Flexural Reinforcement for Rectangular Footing

When bearing strength is exceeded, reinforcement in the form of dowel bars must be provided to transfer the
excess load. A minimum area of reinforcement must be provided across the interface of column or wall and
footing, even where concrete bearing strength is not exceeded.
For columns, minimum dowel reinforcement is given by ACI Code 15.8.2.1 as
As, min = 0.005Ag
where Ag = column gross cross-sectional area
Required dowel reinforcement is given by
(𝑃𝑢− 𝛷𝑃𝑛)
As, req =
𝛷𝑓𝑦

Designing procedure:

Service load design:

1. Determine required footing size from required footing area and limitation of footing width.
Reinforced concreter design:
2. Determine footing depth for punching shear and direct shear in the longitudinal direction.
3. Determine footing reinforcement for longitudinal direction.
4. Determine footing reinforcement for transverse direction. Distribute reinforcement based on length
to width aspect ratio.
5. Determine column dowel to transfer column load.
Example: Design of a rectangular footing
Given:
 Column loads:
 Live load: 60 kips
 Dead load: 100 kips
 Footing uplift: 0 kips
 Column size: 1 ft 6 in. x 1 ft.
 Footing information:
 One side of footing is limited to 5’ due to property line
 Soil information:
 Allowable soil bearing capacity: 3500 psf
 Soil cover above footing: 1 ft
 Unit weight of soil: 100 pcf
 Materials used:
 Concrete strength at 28 day = 3000 psi
 Yield strength of rebars = 60 ksi

Design code: ACI-318-05, 08, 11

Requirement: Determine size, depth, and reinforcement for a square footing.

Solution:

Service load design

1. Determine footing sizes

1. Assume a footing depth of 18”, net soil bearing capacity,

2. Qnet = 3500 – 150*18/12 - 100*1 = 3175 psf
3. Required footing are, A = (60 + 100) (1000) / 3175 = 50.4 ft2
4. Since one side of the footing is limited to 5', the length of footing is
5. L = 50.4/5 = 10.1'
Use 10’, the footing area is 50 ft2.

Reinforced concrete design:

2. Determine footing depth

The factored footing pressure can be calculated as

Qu = (1.2 x 100 + 1.6 x 60) / 50 = 4.32 psf

a. Check punching shear

Assume the reinforcements are #8 bars, the effective depth

d = 18" - 3" (cover) - 1" (one bar size) = 14" = 1.16'

The punch shear stress can be calculated as

vu = (4.32) [50-(1.5 + 1.6) (1 + 1.16)] (1000)/[(2)(1.16)(1.5 + 1.16 + 1.16) (144)] = 118 psi

The shear strength of concrete is Φvc = 0.75 x 4 x (3000)1/2 = 164 psi O.K.

b. Check direct shear:

1. The distance from the critical section of direct shear to the edge of the footing,
2. l = (10 – 1.5)/2 – 1.16 = 3.09'
3. The direct shear stress is vu = (4.32) (1000) (3.09) / (12) (14) = 79.4 psi per foot width of footing.
4. The shear strength for direct shear is Φvc = 0.75 x 2 x (3000)1/2 = 82 psi > 79.4 psi O.K.

3. Determine footing reinforcement.

Longitudinal direction
The distance from face of column to the edge of the footing is

l = (10– 1.5)/2 =4.25 '

The factored moment at the face of the column is

Mu = (4.32) (4.25)2/2 = 39 k-ft. per foot width of footing

Factor Rn = (39) (1000) (12)/ [(0.9) (12) (142)] = 221.1 psi

Factor m = 60000/ [(0.85) (3000)] = 23.5

The reinforcement ratio is = (1/23.5) {1-√ [1-(2) (23.5) (221.1)/60000]} = 0.00386

Minimum reinforcement ratio,

Ρ = 0.0033 Ρ < Ρ = 0.00386

Use calculated reinforcement

As = (0.00386) (5) (12) (14) = 3.24 in2.

Use 5#8, As = 0.79*5 = 3.95 in2.

4. Transverse direction
The distance from face of column to the edge of the footing is

l = (5 – 1)/2 =2'

The factored moment at the face of the column is

Mu = (4.32) (2)2/2 = 8.6 k-ft. per foot width of footing

Factor Rn = (39) (1000) (12)/ [(0.9) (12) (142)] = 48.8 psi

Factor m = 60000/ [(0.85) (3000)] = 23.5

The reinforcement ratio is P= (1/23.5) {1-√ [1-(2) (23.5) (48.8)/60000]} = 0.00082

Minimum reinforcement ratio,

P = 0.0033 or Pmin = (4/3) *0.00082=0.001

Use Pmin =0.0011

As = (0.0011) (10) (12) (14) = 1.9 in2.

Use 11 #4 bars, As = 0.2*11=2.2 in2.

Distribute reinforcements
1. The aspect ratio, P = 10/5=2
2. The distribution ratio, P = 2/ (2+1) = 0.67
3. The reinforcement in the 5’ width center band is
4. N=11*0.67=7.4
5. Use 7 #4 in the center 5’ band, spacing = 5*12/7 = 8.6 in. O.K.
6. Use 2#4 each side
7. Maximum spacing = [(10*12-5*12)/2 –3 (cover)]/2=13.5 in. O.K.
5. Designing column dowels.

1. The bearing capacity of concrete at column base is

2. Pc = (0.65) (0.85) (3) (18) (12) = 359.1 kips
3. The factor column load is
4. Pu = (1.2) (100) + (1.6) (60) = 216 kips < 359.1 kips
5. Use minimum dowel area,
6. As,min = (0.0005)(18)(12) = 1.08 in2
7. Use 4 - #5 dowels As = 1.2 in2
8. The footing is shown in below