BEARING CAPACITY

Other portions, i.e., basic items already dicussed in the regular classes in both the sections of
8th Sem B.Tech. Civil Engg.

EFFECT OF WATER TABLE ON BEARING CAPACITY

The Terzaghi equation for bearing capacity,

𝑞𝑢𝑙𝑡 = 𝑐𝑁𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 + 0.5𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾
contains the unit weight (γ) and the cohesion (c) of the soil directly, and its angle of
shearing resistance (φ) indirectly, since the bearing capacity factors 𝑁𝑐 , 𝑁𝑞 and 𝑁𝛾 depend
upon the value of φ. Water in soil is known to affect its unit weight and also the shear
parameters c and φ. When the soil is submerged under water, the effective unit weight γ′ is
to be used in the computation of bearing capacity. Similarly, the effective stress parameters
c′ and φ′, obtained from an appropriate test in the laboratory on saturated sample of the soil,
are to be used.
However, the effect of water table on the shear parameters of the foundation soil is usually
considered small and hence, ignored. But the effective unit weight γ′ is roughly half the
saturated unit weight. Consequently there will be about 50% reductions in the value of the
corresponding term in the bearing capacity formula. It should be now obvious that the
location of the ground water table and its seasonal fluctuations have a bearing on the
capacity of a foundation. There will be no effect or reduction in the bearing capacity if the
water table is located at a sufficient depth below the base of the footing. In fact, this
minimum depth below the base of the footing is fixed at a value equal to the width of the
footing since the maximum depth of the zone of shear failure below the base is not expected
to exceed this value, ordinarily. If the water table is above this level, there will be
areduction in the bearing capacity. If the water table is at the level of the base of the footing,
γ ′ is to be used for γ in the third term, which indicates the contribution of the weight of the
soil inthe elastic wedge beneath the base of the footing; since the entire wedge is
submerged. That means, a reduction factor of 0.5 is to be applied to the third term. For any
location of the watertable intermediate between the base of the footing and a depth equal to
the width of the footing below its base, a suitable linear interpolation of the necessary
reduction is to be made..

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If the water table is above the base of the footing, the reduction factor for the third term is
obviously limited to the maximum of 0.5. Further, in such a case reduction will be
necessary for the second term, which indicates the contribution to the bearing capacity of
the surcharge due to the depth of the foundation. With a similar logic, it may be concluded
that the maximum reduction of 0.5 is indicated for the second term when the water table is
at the ground level itself or, above it; since γ ′ is to be used for γ in the second term. While
no reduction in the second term is required when the water table is at or, below the base of
the footing, a proportionate reduction with a suitable linear interpolation is to be made when
the water table is at a level intermediate between the ground level and the base of the
footing. Thus, both the second and third terms will be modified in this case.
The first term c 𝑁𝑐 , does not get affected significantly by the location of the water table,
except for the slight change due to the small reduction in the value of cohesion in the
presence of water. In the case of purely cohesive soils, since φ ≈ 0°, 𝑁𝑞 = 1 and 𝑁𝛾 = 0, the
net ultimate bearing capacity is given by c 𝑁𝑐 , which is virtually unaffected by the water
table, if it is below the base of the footing. Even if the water table is at the ground level,
only the gross bearing capacity is reduced by 50% of the surcharge term γ𝐷𝑓 (𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒, 𝑁𝑞 =
1), while the net value is again only c 𝑁𝑐 . In the case of purely cohesionless soils, since c =
0, and φ > 0, and 𝑁𝑞 and 𝑁𝛾 are significantly high, there is a substantial reduction in both the
gross and net values of the bearingcapacity if the water table is at or near the base of the
footing and more so if it is at or near the ground surface.
For locations of ground water table within a depth of the width of the foundation below the
base and the ground level, the equation for the ultimate bearing capacity may be modified as
follows:
𝑞𝑢𝑙𝑡 = c′𝑁𝑐 + γ𝐷𝑓 𝑁𝑞 Rq+ 0.5γB 𝑁𝛾 𝑅𝛾
where
c′ = effective cohesion (may be taken as c itself, in the absence of sufficient data).
𝑁𝑐 , Nq and 𝑁𝛾 = bearing capacity factors based on the effective value of friction angle
φ′ and,
𝑅𝑞 (𝑜𝑟, 𝑊𝑞) and 𝑅𝛾 (or, Wγ) = reduction factors for the terms involving 𝑁𝑞 and 𝑁𝛾 owing to
the effect of water table.

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Problem 1: What is the minimum depth required for a foundation to transmit a pressure 60
kN/m2 in a cohesionless soil with γ = 18 kN/m3 and φ = 18° ? What will be the bearing
capacity if a depth of 1.5 m is adopted according to Rankine’s approach ?

Solution: Minimum depth of foundation, according to Rankine,

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𝑞 1−sin 𝜑 2 60 1−sin 180
𝑫𝒇 = ( ) = 18 (1+sin 180 ) = 0.93 m
𝛾 1+sin 𝜑

If 𝐷𝑓 = 1.5 m,

1 + sin 𝜑 2
𝒒𝒖𝒍𝒕 = 𝐷𝑓 × 𝛾 ( )
1 − sin 𝜑
2
1+sin 180
= 1.5 × 18 ( ) = 96.8 kN/m2
1−sin 180

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