Introduction

Spread footing is a type of the shallow foundation. It is defined as the structural members used to
support the column and walls as well as transmit and distribute the load coming on the structure to the soil
beneath it. A spread footing simply is an enlargement of a load-bearing wall or column that makes it possible
to spread the load of the structure over a larger area of the soil. In soil with low load-bearing capacity, the
size of the spread footings required is impracticably large. The spread footing behaves like an inverted
cantilever with loads applied in the upward direction. Spread footings are normally used under individual
columns of buildings and bridge piers. They are economical to use and are applicable for any soil conditions
where the bearing capacity for the applied loads is adequate. The lower the load-bearing capacity of the soil,
the wider the spread footing needs to be to avoid dramatic settlement.

(a) (b)

Figure 1: (a) Spread Footing and (b) Deformed Spread Footing

As a rule, a spread footing is a quite rigid element therefore, the applied soil stresses are almost
linear and in case of a symmetric (with respect to the pedestal) footing, they are orthogonal. These soil
pressures are the loads carried by the footing that behaves like a slab and is deformed by the way shown at
the figure. The real deformation is in the order of a millimeter and although it is not visible to the human eye,
it always has that same form. The reinforcement is placed at the lower surface of the footing both along the
x and y axis. The footing is reinforced with an orthogonal rebar grid that may have bars of different diameter
and spacing in either direction. Bending the rebar ends helps in the proper anchorage of the reinforcement.
Column loads act at the center of the footing, creating a uniform surface for the soil underneath the footing
area. The distribution of pressure depends on the composition of the soil and on the degree of flexibility of
the footing.
Table 1: Minimum Depth for Spread (Square) 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

Figure 2: Typical Detailing of Spread Footing

Benefits of providing the spread footing as foundation in the building

 The spread footing transmits and distributes the load from structure over the larger area of soil
beneath it for providing greater stability.
 Spread footing has very less risk of the failure as compared to other types of footing.
 Spread footing increases the life of the buildings by controlling the damage in the structures.
 Spread footing has number of points of contact with the structure and it will be able to provide support
to the structure continuously.
 While traditional spot footings only have a single point of contact with the foundation, spread footings
extend support continuously across the entire building layout.
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.

Determine depth of spread footings for shear

This portion of reinforced concrete design of spreading footing follows the requirement of ACI code 318-
99. Factored loads should be used instead of service load. Factored footing pressure is used to determine
footing depth and reinforcement.

Determine depth of footing for punching shear and direct shear

The depth of footing usually governs by punching shear and direct shear because shear reinforcement is
normally not used. For a square footing, punching shear usually governs the design. For a rectangular
footing, direct shear may be more critical.
Punching shear (Two-way shear)

The critical section of punching shear is located at one half effective distance from the faces of column. Shear
strength of concrete should be larger than factored shear stress at critical section as

The punching shear strength f vc for normal weight concrete in ACI 318-05-08-11 is

where f = 0.75 for shear, c is the ratio of long to short sides of column, and f’c is the compressive strength of
concrete.

For sand light weight concrete, f vc shall be multiplied by 0.85. For all light weight concrete, it shall be
multiplied by 0.7.

The punching shear stress is factored shear force at the critical section divided by the perimeter of the critical
section and the effective depth of the footing. The factored shear force at the critical section is factored
column load minus factored footing pressure under the critical section. It can be calculated as

where

vu = punching shear stress,

Qu = factor footing pressure,
B, L = width and length of footing,
b, c = width and length of square column
d = effective depth of the footing.
 Figure 3: Critical sections of punching shear

Direct shear (One-way shear)

The critical section of direct shear is at one effective distance from the face of column. The direct shear
strength of normal weight concrete specified in ACI 318-05-08-11 is

The factored shear stress at the critical section is the factored shear force divided by the width and depth of
the footing at the critical section. The factored shear force at the critical section is the area from the critical
section to the edge of the footing multiply average factored footing pressure in the area.
 Figure 4: Critical section of direct shear

One of the most common ways to support the column is spreading the column load over a large footing
area. There two parts in spread footing design:

Service load design:

1. The footing area should be large enough so that soil pressure under the footing is not larger than
allowable soil bearing pressure
2. The weight of footing should be able to out-weigh column uplift due to wind or seismic forces
safely.
Reinforced concreter design:

1. The footing depth should be deep enough to resisting punching shear and direct shear transferred
from column load
2. The reinforcement in the footing should be designed to resist bending moments.
3. The dowels at the column-footing interface should be sufficient to transfer column loads.

The Objective of the Design of Isolated Footings is to Determine:

 Area of footing
 Thickness of footing
 Reinforcement Details of footing with a satisfying moment and shear force consideration.
 Check for development length and shearing stresses.

All these things carried out with considering the loads on footings, Safe bearing capacity (SBC) of the soil,
Grade of concrete and Steel. Minimum cover to main reinforcement shall not be less than 50mm on the
surface of the contact with the earth face. The diameter of main reinforcement shall not be less than 10mm.
The Design Steps followed in the Design of Footings are:
 Find out an area of footings based on factored loads.
 Assume suitable thickness of footing
 Find out critical section for flexure and shear
 Find out bending moment and shear forces at critical section
 Check the adequacy of the assumed thickness
 Find out reinforcement detail
 Check for bearing stresses
 Check for development length
 EXAMPLE CALCUATIONS:
Example No. 1: Determine footing sizes for axial loads and uplift.

Given:
 Column loads:
Live load: 25 kips
Dead load: 25 kips
 Uplift = 20 kips
 Factor of safety for uplift = 1.5
 Footing information:
Top of footing at 1 ft below ground surface, unit weigh weight of soil: 100 lbs/ft3.
Allowable soil bearing capacity = 3000 psf
Unit weight of concrete: 150 lbs/ft3.

Requirement: Determine footing sizes for axial loads and uplift.

Solution:

1. Total column service load = 25 + 25=50 kips

2. Assume a footing depth of 1 ft,
3. Net allowable soil bearing capacity = 3000 - 150*1 - 100*1 = 2750 psf
4. Required footing area = 50*1000/2750 = 18.2 ft2.
5. Try 4’6” x 4’6” footing, footing area = 20.2 ft2.
6. Required weight of footing to offset uplift = 20*1.5 = 30 kips
7. Weight of footing above footing = 100*4.5*4.5/1000 = 2.0 kips
8. Required weight of footing = 30 – 25 – 2 = 3 kips
9. Required volume of footing = 3/0.15 = 20 ft3.
10. Required depth of footing = 20/20.2 = 1 ft
11. Use 4’6” x 4’6”x1’ footing.

Example No. 2: Check footing depth for punching shear and direct shear for footing subjected to
axial column load only

Given:
 Column loads:
 Live load: 25 kips
 Dead load: 25 kips
 Footing and column information:
 Footing sizes = 4 ft x 4 ft x 1ft
 Column size: 1 ft x 1 ft
 Concrete strength at 28 day = 3000 psi

Design code: ACI 318-05

Requirement: Check if the footing depth is adequate for punching shear and direct shear.

Solution:

1. Factored column load, Pu = 1.2*25 + 1.6*25 = 70 kips

2. Factored footing pressure, Qu= 70/16 = 4.38 ksf
3. Effective footing depth d = 12”-3” (cover) – 0.5” (assumed diameter of #4 bar) = 8.5”
4. Check punching shear:
5. Area under critical section A = [(12” + 8.5”)/12]2 = 2.92 ft2.
6. Factored shear force at critical section Vu= 70 - 4.38*2.92 = 57.2 kips
7. Perimeter of critical section p= 4 (12” + 8.5”) = 82”
8. Factor shear stress at critical section vu= 57200/ (82*8.5) = 82.1 psi
9. Punching shear strength of concrete vc= 0.75*(43000) = 164 psi > 82.1 psi O.K.
10. Check direct shear:
11. Distance from critical section to edge of footing l = 4/2 - ½ - 8.5/12 = 0.83’
12. Factored shear force Vu= 4.38*0.83*4 = 14.5 kips
13. Factored shear stress vu= 14500/ (4*12*8.5) = 35.6 psi
14. Director shear stress of concrete vc= 0.75*(23000) = 82 psi > 35.6 psi O.K.

Example No. 3: Check footing depth for punching shear and direct shear for footing subjected to
axial column load and moment

Given:
 Column loads:
Live load: 25 kips
Dead load: 25 kips
Live load moment = 25 ft-kips
Dead load moment = 25 ft-kips
 Footing and column information:
Footing sizes = 6 ft x 4 ft x 1ft
Column size: 1 ft x 1 ft
Concrete strength at 28 day = 3000 psi

Design code: ACI 318-05

Requirement: Check if the footing depth is adequate for punching shear and direct shear.

Solution:

1. Factored column load = 1.2*25 + 1.6*25 = 70 kips

2. Factored column moment = 1.2*25 + 1.7*25 = 70 ft-kips
3. Eccentricity of factored column load = 70/70 = 1 ft
4. Maximum footing pressure = [70/(4x6)][1+1*6/6] = 5.83 ksf
 5. Minimum footing pressure = [70/(4x6)][1 - 1*6/6] = 0 ksf
6. Effective footing depth = 12” - 3” (cover) – 0.5” (assumed diameter of #4 bar) = 8.5”
7. Check punching shear:
8. Average factored footing pressure = (5.83 + 0)/2 = 2.92 ksf
9. Area under critical section = [(12” + 8.5”)/12]2 = 2.92 ft2
10. Factored shear force at critical section = 70 - 2.92*2.92 = 61.5 kips
11. Perimeter of critical section = 4 (12” + 8.5”) = 82”
12. Factor shear stress at critical section = 61500/ (82*8.5) = 88.2 psi
13. Punching shear strength of concrete = 0.75*(43000) = 164 psi > 88.2 psi O.K.
14. Check direct shear:
15. Distance from critical section to edge of footing = 6/2 - 1/2 8.5/12 = 1.83’
16. Distance from critical section to edge of footing with maximum footing pressure = 6 - 1.83 = 4.17’
17. Factor footing pressure at the location of critical section = 5.83*4.17/6 = 4.05 ksf
18. Factored shear force = [(5.83+4.05)/2]*1.83*4 = 36.1 kips
19. Factored shear stress = 36100/ (4*12*8.5) = 88.5 psi
20. Director shear stress of concrete = 0.75*(23000) = 82 psi < 8.5 psi
N.G. Need to increase footing depth.

Example No. 4: Design of a square footing

Given:

 Column loads:
 Live load: 80 kips
 Dead load: 120 kips
 Footing uplift: 0 kips
 Column size: 1 ft. x 1 ft.
 Soil information:
 Allowable soil bearing capacity: 4000 psf
 Soil cover above footing: 1 ft
 Unit weight of soil: 120 pcf
 Materials used:
 Concrete strength at 28 day = 3000 psi
 Yield strength of rebars = 60 ksi

Design code: ACI 318-05

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 = 4000 – 150*18/12 - 120*1 = 3655 psf
3. Required footing are, A = (100+100) (1000) / 3655 = 54.7 ft2
4. Use 7'-6" by 7'-6" square footing. The footing area is 56.3 ft2.

Reinforced concrete design:

2. Determine footing depth
The factored footing pressure can be calculated as
Qu = (1.2 x 120 + 1.6 x 80) / 56.3 = 4.83 psf
a. Check punching shear
1. Assume the reinforcements are #6 bars, the effective depth
2. d = 18" - 3" (cover) - 0.75" (one bar size) = 14.3 " = 1.2'
3. The punch shear stress can be calculated as
4. vu = 4.83 [7.52 - (1+1.2)2]*1000 / [4 x 1.2 x (1 + 1.2) x 144] = 163.3 psi
5. The shear strength of concrete is vc = 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 = 7.5/2 - 1/2 – 1.2 = 2.05'
3. The direct shear stress is
4. vu = (4.83) (1000) (2.05) / (12) (14.3) = 57.7 psi per foot width of footing.
5. The shear strength of concrete for direct shear is
6. vc = 0.75 x 2 x (3000)1/2 = 82 psi > 57.7 psi O.K.

3. Determine footing reinforcement

1. The distance from face of column to the edge of the footing is
2. l = 7.5/2 – 1/2 = 3.25'
3. The factored moment at the face of the column is
4. Mu = (4.83) (3.25)2/2 = 25.5 k-ft. per foot width of footing
5. Factor Rn = (25.5) (1000) (12)/ [(0.9) (12) (14.32)] = 1 39.5 psi
6. Factor m = 60000/ [(0.85) (3000)] = 23.5
7. The reinforcement ratio is = (1/23.5) {1- [1-(2)(23.5)(139.5)/60000]} = 0.0024
8. Minimum reinforcement ratio, = 0.0033 or = (4/3)*0.0024 = 0.0032
9. As = (0.0032) (7.5) (12) (14.3) = 4.1 in2.
10. Use 10 - #6 bars in both directions, As = 4.4 in2.
4. Designing column dowels:
1. The bearing capacity of concrete at column base is
2. Pc = (0.65) (0.85) (3) (12) (12) = 238.7 kips
3. The factor column load is
4. Pu = (1.2) (120) + (1.6) (80) = 272 kips
5. The required area of column dowels is
6. As = (272 - 238.7) / 60 = 0.56 in2
7. The minimum dowel area is
8. As,min = (0.0005)(12)(12) = 0.72 in2
9. Use 4 - #4 dowels As = 0.8 in2
10. The footing detail is shown below: