CIVI-6501 Foundation Engineering

3. Shallow Foundations— Bearing Capacity-1

https://www.geostru.eu/bearing-capacity-
for-shallow-foundations/

1
16.1 Introduction
The lowest part of a structure is the foundation.

The function of a foundation is to transfer the load of the structure

to the soil on which it is resting.

Depending on the structure and soil encountered, various types of

foundations are used.

A spread footing 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, it is more economical to

construct the entire structure over a concrete pad.
2
16.1 Introduction
Pile and drilled shaft foundations are used for heavier structures
when great depth is required for supporting the load.

Piles are structural members that transmit the load of the

superstructure to the lower layers of the soil.

According to how they transmit their load into the subsoil, piles
are divided into two categories:

a. Friction piles

b. End-bearing piles

3
16.1 Introduction
Friction piles: The superstructure load is resisted by the shear
stresses generated along the surface of the pile.

End-bearing pile: The load carried by the pile is transmitted at its

tip to a firm stratum.

For drilled shafts, a shaft is drilled into the subsoil and is then
filled with concrete.

4
16.1 Introduction
Spread footings and mat foundations are generally referred to as
shallow foundations, and pile and drilled shaft foundations are
classified as deep foundations.

In general, shallow foundations are foundations that have a

depth-of-embedment-to-width ratio of approximately less than
four.

When the depth-of-embedment-to-width ratio of a foundation is

greater than four, it may be classified as a deep foundation.

5
16.2 Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Shallow
Foundations—General Concepts
Referring to the figure below, at a certain point when the load per
unit area equals qu, a sudden failure in the soil supporting the
foundation will take place.

The failure surface in the soil will extend to the ground surface.

6
16.2 Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Shallow
Foundations—General Concepts
This load per unit area, qu, is usually referred to as the ultimate
bearing capacity of the foundation.

When this type of sudden failure in soil takes place, it is called

general shear failure.

7
16.2 Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Shallow
Foundations—General Concepts
If the foundation rests on sand or clayey soil of medium
compaction, the failure surface in the soil will gradually extend
outward from the foundation.

8
16.2 Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Shallow
Foundations—General Concepts
When the load per unit area on the foundation equals qu(1),
considerable movement of the foundation is required for the
failure surface in soil to extend to the ground surface.

Beyond qu(1), an increase of load will be accompanied by a large

increase of foundation settlement.

The load per unit area of the foundation is referred to as the first
failure load.

A peak value of q is not realized in this type of failure, which is

called local shear failure in soil.

9
16.2 Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Shallow
Foundations—General Concepts
If the foundation is supported by a fairly loose soil, the load-
settlement plot will be like the one in the figure below.

10
16.2 Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Shallow
Foundations—General Concepts
For this the failure surface in soil will not extend to the ground
surface.

Beyond the ultimate failure load, the load-settlement plot will be

steep and practically linear. This type of failure in soil is called
punching shear failure.

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16.2 Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Shallow
Foundations—General Concepts
The figure below involves the following notations:

Dr = relative density of sand, Df = depth of foundation measured

from the ground surface, B = width of foundation, L = length of
foundation

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16.2 Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Shallow
Foundations—General Concepts
From the previous figure we find
æ Df B ö
Nature of failure in soil = f ç Dr , , ÷
è B Lø

For foundations at a shallow depth, the ultimate load may occur at a

foundation settlement of 4% to 10% of B.

For local or punching shear failure, the ultimate load may occur in
settlements of 15% to 25% of the width of foundation (B).

2BL
Note that B* = B* varies between B and 2B, depending on B/L
B+L ratios.

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16.3 Terzaghi’s Ultimate Bearing Capacity Theory
Terzaghi first presented a comprehensive theory for evaluating the
ultimate bearing capacity of rough shallow foundations.

Currently investigators suggest that foundations with Df equal to 3

to 4 times the width of the foundation may be defined as shallow
foundations.

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16.3 Terzaghi’s Ultimate Bearing Capacity Theory
For a continuous or strip foundation, the effect of soil above the bottom
of the foundation may also be assumed to be replaced by an equivalent
surcharge q = g D f .

The failure zone under the foundation can be separated into three
parts:

1. The triangular zone ACD immediately under the foundation

2. The radial shear zones ADF and CDE, with the curves DE and
DF being arcs of a logarithmic spiral

3. Two triangular Rankine passive zones AFH and CEG

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16.3 Terzaghi’s Ultimate Bearing Capacity Theory
Using the equilibrium analysis, Terzaghi expressed the ultimate
bearing capacity in the form
1
qu = c ' N c + qN q +  BN ( strip foundation)
2

Where

c’ = cohesion of soil
g = unit weight of soil
q = g Df
Nc, Nq, Ny = bearing capacity factors that are nondimensional and
are only functions of the soil friction angle, f ' .

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17
Foundation on homogeneous soil

AMH 18
 Idealized failure plan

q = load / area

Surcharge q0

AMH 19
Terzaghi’s Ultimate Bearing Capacity Theory Derivation

D D
Strip Footing B
qu
qs = γD

A E α F x D

= 45 −
I II 2
σh1 σh2
Z = B tan 
Z 
xα  = 45 +
2
B C
At failure:
When the foundation load is qu:
▪ CF in zone I Active
▪ the soil in zone ABCD is in failure condition
▪ CF in zone II Passive
▪ zone I is in the Rankine active condition
zone II is in the Rankine Passive condition

AMH 21
 Bearing Capacity Theory

qu Ka = tan2 (45-f/2)
Kp = tan2 (45+f/2)
Df

qs = Df  = 45 + f/2

 Rankine’s 90 - 
Active zone Z/2 Rankine’s Passive
zone
h1 h2
Z = B tan 

22
GENERAL BEARING CAPACITY THEORY
Assumptions
 Failure mechanism consists of two zones:
Rankine active zone “I” under the ultimate load qu
Rankine passive zone “II” under the surcharge load qs

According to limit equilibrium method of analysis,

h1 = h2

v1.Ka − 2c Ka = v2 K P + 2c K P

AMH 23
 Strip Footing
 B tan   1 1  B tan  
 qu +   − =  +  . tan  + 2c tan 
2
2c q
2  tan  tan  
s
 2 
2

qu B 2c B 3
+ − = D tan 2
 + tan  + 2c tan 
tan 2  2 tan  tan  2

qu  1  1  3 1 
= 2c  tan  +  + D tan 2
 + B  tan  − 
tan 2   tan   2  tan  

( ) 1
(
qu = 2c tan 3  + tan  + D tan 4  + B tan 5  − tan 
2
)
1 Nq N
Nc
2

1
qu = cN c + DN q + BN 
2

AMH 24
16.3 Terzaghi’s Ultimate Bearing Capacity Theory
For square foundations and circular foundations, Terzaghi
suggested the following equations for ultimate soil-bearing
capacity:

The square foundation is

qu = 1.3c'Nc + qNq +0.4g BNg

The circular foundation is

qu = 1.3c'Nc + qNq +0.3g BNg

For both equations, B = diameter of the foundation.

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16.4 Modification to Terzaghi’s Bearing Capacity
Equation
Although the basic nature of the failure surface in soil suggested
a
by Terzaghi is correct, the angle, , shown in the figure below is
closer to 45+ f '/2.

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16.4 Modification to Terzaghi’s Bearing Capacity
Equation
When a = 45+ f '/2 we now have

æ f ' ö p tanf '

Nq = tan ç 45+ ÷ e
2

è 2ø
Nc = (Nq -1)cot f '
Ng = 2(Nq +1)tanf '

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16.4 Modification to Terzaghi’s Bearing Capacity
Equation
1
qu = c ' N c + qN q +  BN ( strip foundation) Eq. (16.3)
2

Figure 16.3)

The form of Eq. (16.3), which is for a strip foundation subjected to vertical
loading, can be generalized by taking into consideration the following:
1.The shearing resistance along the failure surface in soil above the
bottom of the foundation (portion of the failure surface marked
as GI and HJ in Figure 16.3);
2.The width-to-length ratio of rectangular foundations; and
3.Load inclination.
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16.4 Modification to Terzaghi’s Bearing Capacity
Equation

The ultimate bearing capacity equation will take the form

1
qu = c'Nc Fcs Fcd Fci + qNqFqs Fqd Fqi + g BNg Fg s Fg d Fg i (Meyerhof, 1963)
2
With
c '= cohesion
q = effective stress at the level of the bottom of the foundation
g = unit weight of soil
B = width of foundation
Fcs , Fqs ,Fg s = shape factors
Fcd ,Fqd ,Fg d = depth factors
Fci ,Fqi ,Fg i = load inclination factors
N ,N ,N = bearing capacity factors
c q g

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30
16.4 Modification to Terzaghi’s Bearing Capacity
Equation
The net ultimate bearing capacity is the ultimate pressure per unit
area of the foundation that can be supported by the soil in excess
of the pressure caused by the surrounding soil at the foundation
level.

If the difference between the unit weight of concrete and the unit
weight of soil surrounding the foundation is assumed negligible,

then qnet(u) = qu - q

qnet(u) = net ultimate bearing capacity

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16.5 Modification of Bearing Capacity Equations for
Water Table

If the water table is located close to the foundation, some

modifications of the bearing capacity equation are necessary

Case 1:

If the water table is located so that 0 £ D £ D , the factor q in the

1 f
bearing capacity equations takes the form

q = effective surcharge = D1g + D2(g sat - g w )

g sat= saturated unit weight of soil

g w = unit weight of water
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16.5 Modification of Bearing Capacity Equations for
Water Table
Case II:
For a water table located so that 0£ d £ B ,
q = g Df
g
The factor in the last term of the bearing capacity equations must be
replaced by the weighted average value, which can be expressed as
d
g = g '+ (g - g ')
B
(the preceding modifications are based on the assumption that there is
no seepage force in the soil)

Case III:
When the water table is located so that d ³ B, the water will have no
effect on the ultimate bearing capacity.

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16.6 The Factor of Safety
Determining the gross allowable load-bearing capacity of shallow
foundations requires the application of a factor of safety (FS) to
the gross ultimate bearing capacity, or q = q /FS .
all u

Some engineers prefer to use a factor of safety of

net stress increase on soil = net ultimate bearing capacity

FS
We can now write
net stress increase on soil = load from the superstructure per unit
area of the foundation
qu - q
=q
all(net )
=
FS
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