Determine soil bearing capacity by SPT numbers (English units)

Meyerhof’s equations:
For footing width, 4 feet or less:
Qa = (N/4) / K
For footing width, greater than 4 ft:
Qa = (N/6)[(B+1)/B]2 / K

B: Footing width, in feet

K = 1 + 0.33(D/B) £ 1.33
D: Depth from ground level to the bottom of footing, in feet

Mayerhof Equation Mayerhof Equation

if B≤4 if B>4
SPt Value N 10 SPt Value N
Width, B, ft 3 Width, B, ft
Depth D,ft 2 Depth D,ft
K 1+.33*D/B 1.22 K 1+.33*D/B

Qa= (N/4)/K 2.05 Qa= (N/6)[(B+1)/B]2 / K

Bowles’ equations:
For footing width, 4 feet or less:
Qa = (N/2.5) / K
For footing width, greater than 4 ft:
Qa = (N/4)[(B+1)/B]2 / K

B: Footing width, in feet

K = 1 + 0.33(D/B) £ 1.33
D: Depth from ground level to the bottom of footing, in feet.

Bowles' Equation Bowles' Equation

if B≤4 if B>4
SPt Value N 10 SPt Value N
Width, B, ft 3 Width, B, ft
Depth D,ft 2 Depth D,ft
K 1+.33*D/B 1.22 K 1+.33*D/B
Qa= (N/2.5)/K 3.28 Qa= (N/4)[(B+1)/B]2 / K
35 7 245
250
50
30
70
400
 (N/6) [(B+1)/B] [(B+1)/B]2
20 3.333333 1.125 1.265625
8
4
1.165

3.62

(N/4) [(B+1)/B] [(B+1)/B]2

20 5 1.125 1.265625
8
4
1.165
5.43
The buoyant unit weight must be used if the groundwater table is at or above the base of
zw < D), for in this case the whole of the potential slip mechanism below the footing base is
the depth of the slip mechanism is of the order of B below the base of the foundation (that
D + B), if the water table is below this depth, the material unit weight must be used. A simp
be used for water table depths between D and D + B.

definitions:

zw = depth to the water table from ground

B = footing width

D = depth of embedment