3-14 Geotechnical Engineering Handbook

Load inclination factors (Hansen 1970):

 H 
i c = 0.5 + 0.5 1 −  for φ = 0 (3.40)
 cBL 

1 − iq
ic = iq − for φ > 0 (3.41)
Nq − 1
5
 0.5H 
iq = 1 −  (3.42)
 V + cBL cot φ 

5
  θ°  
  0.7 − H 
 450 
iγ = 1 −  (3.43)
 V + cBL cot φ 
 
 

The cohesion mobilized at the footing-soil contact area must be used for c in Equations 3.40,
3.42, and 3.43. The U.S. Army (1993) recommends using adhesion or a reduced value of
cohesion.

Base inclination factors (Hansen 1970):

θ°
bc = 1 − (3.44)
147

bq = exp( − 0.0349θ° tan φ) (3.45)

b γ = exp( − 0.0471θ° tan φ) (3.46)

Ground inclination factors (Hansen 1970):

β°
gc = 1 − (3.47)
147

g q = g γ = (1 − 0.5 tan β)5 (3.48)

3.3.5 Vesic’s Bearing Capacity Equation

Vesic’s bearing capacity equation is the same as Hansen’s, but with slight differences in the
bearing capacity factor N γ and the last three inclination factors (i, b, and g ), which are less
conservative.

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Design of Shallow Foundations 3-15

Shape factors (Vesic 1975):

 B   Nq 
sc = 1 +  
 L   Nc 
(3.49)

 B 
sq = 1 +   tan φ (3.50)
 L 

 B 
s γ = 1 − 0.4   (3.51)
 L 

Depth factors (Vesic 1975):

Df
d c = 1 + 0.4 for φ = 0 (3.52)
B

1 − dq
dc = dq − for φ > 0 (3.53)
Nq − 1

Df
dq = 1 + 2 tan φ (1 − sin φ)2 (3.54)
B

dγ = 1 (3.55)

When Df > B, the factor Df 兾B should be replaced by tan−1 (Df 兾B).

Load inclination factors (Vesic 1975):

If V and H are the components of the load perpendicular and parallel to the base of the footing,
the load inclination factors i c , i q , and i γ are given by:

mH
ic = 1 − for φ = 0 (3.56)
AcNc

1 − iq
ic = iq − for φ > 0 (3.57)
Nq − 1
m
 H 
iq =  1 −  (3.58)
 V + cBL cot φ 

m +1
 H 
iγ =  1 −  (3.59)
 V + cBL cot φ 

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3-16 Geotechnical Engineering Handbook

where

2 + B 兾L
m =
1 + B 兾L

if the load is inclined in the direction parallel to the breadth and

2 + L 兾B
m =
1 + L 兾B

if the load is inclined in the direction parallel to the length. The cohesion mobilized at the
footing-soil contact area must be used for c in Equations 3.56, 3.58, and 3.59. The U.S. Army
(1993) recommends using adhesion or a reduced value of cohesion.

Base inclination factors (Vesic 1975):

φ°
bc = 1 − for φ = 0 (3.60)
147

1 − bq
bc = bq − for φ > 0 (3.61)
Nq − 1

2
 θ ° tan φ 
bq = b γ =  1 −  (3.62)
 57 

where θ is the inclination (in degrees) of the base of the footing to horizontal (see Figure 3.10).

Ground inclination factors (Vesic 1975):

β°
gc = 1 − for φ = 0 (3.63)
147

1 − gq
gc = g q − for φ > 0 (3.64)
Nq − 1

g q = g γ = (1 − tan β)2 (3.65)

where β is the inclination of the slope in degrees, β < φ, and θ + β ≤ 90° (see Figure 3.10). On
a sloping ground, when φ = 0, Ng = −2 sin β.
It should be noted that the ultimate bearing capacity equation for clays under undrained
conditions (φu = 0) sometimes is given in the literature slightly differently as (Aysen 2002;
Bowles 1988)

q ult = (1 + s c + d c − i c − bc − g c ) cu Nc + γ D f (3.66)
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Design of Shallow Foundations 3-17

and consequently the reported correction factors for Equation 3.32 are slightly different (U.S.
Army 1993; Cernica 1995; Coduto 2001; McCarthy 2007; European Committee for
Standardisation 1995).

3.3.6 Gross and Net Pressures and Bearing Capacities

The ultimate bearing capacities computed using Equations 3.10–3.12, 3.17, 3.33, and 3.66 are
all gross ultimate bearing capacities. There already is an overburden pressure of γDf acting at
the foundation level. The net ultimate bearing capacity is the maximum additional soil
pressure that can be sustained before failure. Therefore, net ultimate bearing capacity is
obtained by subtracting the overburden pressure from the gross ultimate bearing capacity.
Similarly, the net applied pressure is the additional pressure applied at the foundation level in
excess of the existing overburden pressure. The safety factor with respect to bearing capacity
failure is therefore defined in terms of the net values as:

q ult,net q ult,gross − γ Df
F = = (3.67)
q applied,net q applied,gross − γ Df

In most spread footing designs, the gross pressures are significantly larger than the over-
burden pressures. Only in problems that involve removal of large overburden pressures, such
as foundations for basements, can gross and net pressures be significantly different. In clays
under undrained conditions (φu = 0), Nc = 5.14, Nq = 1, and N γ = 0. Therefore, the net ultimate
bearing capacity of a shallow foundation can be written as:

 Df   B 
q ult,net = 5.14c u  1 + 0.2   1 + 0.2  (3.68)
 B   L 

3.3.7 Effects of the Water Table

When computing the ultimate bearing capacity in terms of effective stress parameters, it is
necessary to use the correct unit weights, depending on the location of the water table. If the
water table lies at or above ground level, γ ′ must be used in both terms in the bearing capacity
equation (Equation 3.10). If the water table lies at the footing level, γm must be used in the
second term and γ ′ in the third term in the bearing capacity equation. It can be seen from
Figure 3.7 that the failure zone within the soil is confined to a depth of B below the footing
width. Therefore, if the water table lies at B or more below the footing, the bulk unit weight
(γm ) must be used in both terms in the bearing capacity equation. Terzaghi and Peck (1967)
stated that the friction angle is reduced by 1–2° when a sand is saturated. Therefore, if a future
rise in the water table is expected, the friction angle may be reduced slightly in computing the
ultimate bearing capacity.

3.3.8 Presumptive Bearing Pressures

Presumptive bearing pressures are very approximate and conservative safe bearing pressures
that can be assumed in preliminary designs. They are given in building codes and geotechnical
textbooks (see U.S. Army 1993; Bowles 1988). Here, the specified values do not reflect the site

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