Example 9: Footing Design

Example 9: Reinforced concrete footings

This example is conceived as a guide for the user in the design of reinforced concrete footings. The
example will be more effective if the user follows the different steps in the program. Although it only
describes the use of the module as a standalone program, it includes some explanations and remarks
related to the importation of the data from the main program.
The example is an isolated footing with a reinforced concrete column submitted to the action of axial
loads and bending moments at footing-column level, as it is illustrated in the next figure:

Example of Isolated Footing

1
Example 9: Footing Design

1) Starting a new structure

Select the New option in the RE button to create a new footing.

If an opened model exists, the module will ask you if you wish to save your previous model.
Once opened the new file, you can proceed with the introduction of data in the left window,
following the order that is shown next.

2) Entering Units
Select the option Units system. This action will display the following drop down menu.

Select the English units system

3) Design Code
Select the design code to be used.

Select the ACI 318-05 Code.

4) Foundation and column types

Select the foundation type and column type.

Select the Spread footing type and the Concrete column type

2
 Example 9: Footing Design

5) Entering geometry data – Footing data

Select the Geometry option. Note that all the options are of the drop down type.
Go to the Material option of the Footing Data folder. Note that you have several available materials,
for this example use C3-60.

Select material C 3-60 and press OK.

Enter the depth of the base

Note. - The introduced value is in the default units. To enter data in other units of the same system,
type the value followed by the desired units to use and press Enter.
The footing base geometry (length, width and height) is not required to be defined because the
program may suggest it. Only enter values to use fixed and predefined values.

When initiating the module the displayed dimensions are default initial values.

6) Entering geometry data – Column Data

Go to the folder Column Data and enter the column design parameters.

3
Example 9: Footing Design

Select the option Column location relative to footing geometry c.g. to locate the column in the plane
of the footing.
Then choose the Centered option.

Enable the Consider column reinforcement and Show dowels options that will be used to determine
the splice lengths.

Enter the column dimensions.

The dowel reinforcement is defined by the user. Enter the Dowels longitudinal reinforcement.

Next define the Dowel transversal reinforcement (stirrups).

Enter the amount legs for each direction, the bar diameter to be used and the separation
between stirrups.
Note. - The introduction of these data is optional. To disable it, deactivate the check box Consider
column reinforcement and Show dowels.

4
 Example 9: Footing Design

7) Soil Data
The first option in this folder is Calculate soil bearing capacity. By default the program displays the
option disabled. With this option checked the program will require other data necessary for
calculating the soil bearing capacity.

For this example, let this option disabled.

Enter the allowable soil stress. This will define basically the footing dimensions.

Establish the soil unit weight.

Enter the modulus of subgrade reaction; this will be used to determine the base elastic settlements.
Note. –Each variable or option has a sensitive help with its description and definition.

8) Generating load combinations

Before entering the loads, the load conditions and load combinations should be defined. The program
has tools to generate combinations automatically according to the used Specifications.
In order to define the load conditions go to the Load management group in the Home tab and press

the Add and edit load conditions command .

The following window is displayed:

5
Example 9: Footing Design

One load condition (dead load) and two load combinations (service and design) are defined by
default.
In this example we will add manually the condition of live load. Click in the first empty cell of the
column ID, enter an identifier of the condition (i.e., LL). Write a brief description of the load and
finally select a category by double clicking in the cell of the column Category (chose LL).

6
 Example 9: Footing Design

Manually enter the new load condition. Notice that when entering a new load condition this is added
automatically in the combinations.

Note. - Also load conditions can easily be added by pressing the button , this option displays a
list of the more often used load conditions.
Next define the combinations:

7
Example 9: Footing Design

Enter the load factors and define the type (service or design).
To automatically generate load combinations, follow the following steps:
1.- Press the Generate load combinations command in the Load management group on the Home
tab. The dialog to generate the load combinations will appear.

2.- Select the file for the generation, as it is shown in the following figure.

8
 Example 9: Footing Design

Select the load combination according to the code that is being used, in this case ASCE 7-05 service
load combos.rag, and immediately it will obtain a list of service combinations. Press Generate.
A message with the number of generated load combinations will appear. Press OK.
Notes

If the module is run from RAM Elements, the generation of load combinations or conditions will not
be necessary, because the main program may export all the loads directly to the module. In any case
the loads may be edited or changed in the module.
If it requires eliminate load conditions or combinations, this can easily be done by pressing the

button . A window will display where is possible to select the elements to eliminate.

9) Entering Loads
Locate the Loads folder and select the option Forces by load condition.

Click on the option <Loads>

The following window will appear:

9
Example 9: Footing Design

This window is used for entering the forces by load condition.

Note. - In case of combined footing, the program adds a new element to the above window, in order
to define the loads by column.
Select the Load case:

Choose the load case and enter the force data.

Assign the force data for each load case:

Press OK after entering the forces for the different load cases.
Note. – The loads may be imported directly from the main program.
Define the localization of the horizontal forces.

10) Entering the design data

Go to the Design data folder and enter the design data.

Select the data Design criterion of footing dimensions and choose Long/Width Ratio (default value)
from the drop menu.
10
 Example 9: Footing Design

Select a Length/Width ratio = 1 to design a square footing.

Select the dowels force type. Use this option when the load is predominantly in compression.

Select the Bars size for footing optimization to be used in the optimization.

11) Entering Configuration values

This values should be eventually defined or only once. With this option, the user may define general
configuration values for concrete, reinforcement, soil and design.

Press the Advanced command located in the Options group on the Home tab to display the
Advanced options dialog.

11
Example 9: Footing Design

Configuration window. Leave it with the values by default and click in accept.

12) Suggest dimensions

In order to obtain the suggested dimensions of the base, press the Suggest footing dimensions
command located in the Process group on the Home tab.

12
 Example 9: Footing Design

In the data window and in the detailing window the footing dimensions are shown.
Note. – When several load conditions or combinations are used there may be a small delay in the
calculations.

13) Optimizing the reinforcement

Press the Optimize command in the Process group on the Home tab. Note that the
reinforcement obtained will be according to the bars selected for the optimization (see step 10).

13
Example 9: Footing Design

14) Checking the design

Once the dimensions and reinforcement is obtained, the user should verify if such dimensions and

reinforcement fulfill all requirements of the Specifications. Press the Check command in the
Process group on the Home tab.

Check the traffic lights in the status bar located at the lower right of the screen.
Note. - Remember that a yellow traffic light indicates warnings, while a red light indicates errors.

15) FEM diagram

Go to the Soil pressure tab in order to see the following diagram:

FEM Diagram of contact pressures. Also it is possible to see a FEM diagram of settlements.

16) Footing detailing

Once the footing is analyzed and designed, go to the Detailing tab.

14
 Example 9: Footing Design

This screen displays a spreadsheet with the reinforcement data that may be edited or changed
according to your requirements. After modifying the reinforcement, check the design with the Check

command in the Quick access toolbar.

The spreadsheet has two labels: Longitudinal (reinforcement parallel to the length of the footing) and
Transversal (reinforcement parallel to the width one of the footing).
Whenever you change the spreadsheet data, the traffic lights will be off, in order to remind you to
check design.
Notes

If the user wants to return to the initial results of automatic design, the Optimize command can
be used.
If the type of column is pedestal the program may suggest its reinforcement, too.
These diagrams can be exported to a CAD program pressing the RE button and selecting the Export

to DXF option. .

17) Seeing the report

All results and data are included in the report:

15
Example 9: Footing Design

In order to see the report, press the Report command located in the Process group in the Home
tab and in the Quick access toolbar.
The report consists of 3 sections:
• General data. Relative to the base geometry, the used materials, the soil foundation
properties, the provide reinforcement, etc.
• Results. Relative to the footing-soil interaction and the footing strength as a reinforced
concrete element.
• Explanatory notes

Press the Print command located in the group Print in order to print the report
Note.- If you wish to edit the report, you can easily export it to Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel
using the Export group options.

16
Example 9: Footing Design

17