Example for bearing capacity of soil

1.Determine allowable soil bearing capacity using terzaghi’s equation if it is given

Soil type sand (cohesionless soil)
Cohesion = 0
∅ = 360
Unit weight of soil = 20 KN /m3
2.5 m wide square footing, bottom of footing at 1.5 m below ground level
Factor of safety = 3
Assume General share failure
No effect of ground water
Solution
For ∅ = 360 , Nc = 64.4 ,Nq = 49.4 Nϒ = 54
Ultimate bearing capacity using Terzaghi’s bearing capacity equation for square footing
qult = 1.3cNc + γDf Nq + 0.4γBNγ
qult = 1.3 ∗ 0 ∗ 65.4 + 20 × 1.5 × 49.4 + 0.4 × 20 × 2.5 × 54
qult = 0 + 1482 + 1080 = 2562 kN/𝑚2
𝑞𝑢𝑙𝑡 2562
𝑞𝑎𝑙 = = = 854 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2
𝐹. 𝑆 3
5) determine allowable soil bearing capacity using terzaghi’s equation if it is given
Soil type: - cohesionless soil
∅ = 250
Unit weight of soil = 16 kN /m3
2.5 m wide square footing, depth of footing is 1.5 m, factor of safety = 3
Assume local shear failure and there is no ground water effect
Solution

For ∅ = 250 , Nc = 14.8 ,Nq = 5.6 Nϒ = 3.2

Ultimate bearing capacity using Terzaghi’s bearing capacity equation for square footing
qult = 1.3cNc + γDf Nq + 0.4γBNγ
qult = 1.3 ∗ 0 ∗ 14.8 + 16 × 1.5 × 5.6 + 0.4 × 16 × 2.5 × 3.2
qult = 0 + 134.4 + 51.2 = 185.6 kN/𝑚2
𝑞𝑢𝑙𝑡 185.6
𝑞𝑎𝑙 = = = 61.8 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2
𝐹. 𝑆 3
5.1 If you consider general shear failure what is the ultimate and allowable bearing capacity of
soil?
Solution
For ∅ = 250 , Nc = 25.1 ,Nq = 12.7 Nϒ = 9.7
qult = 1.3cNc + γDf Nq + 0.4γBNγ
qult = 1.3 ∗ 0 ∗ 25.1 + 16 × 1.5 × 12.7 + 0.4 × 16 × 2.5 × 9.7
qult = 459.9 ≈ 460 kN/𝑚2
𝑞𝑢𝑙𝑡 460
𝑞𝑎𝑙 = = = 153.33 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2
𝐹. 𝑆 3
6. Determine ultimate bearing capacity using terzaghi’s equation, the following information was
obtained from the designer, the footing is rested on the cohesive soil, the depth and width of
square footing is 2 m and 3 meter respectively. The value of cohesion 80 kN /m2, unit weight of
soil = 15 kN/m3

Solution
For pure clay soil ∅ = 00
For ∅ = 00 , Nc = 5.7 ,Nq = 1 Nϒ = 0
qult = 1.3cNc + γDf Nq + 0.4γBNγ

qult = 1.3 × 80 × 5.7 + 15 × 2 × 1 + 0

622.8 kN/m2

7. Determine the ultimate bearing capacity of a square footing of 1.5 m size, at a depth of 1.5 m, in a pure clay
with an unconfined strength of 150 kN/m2. φ = 0° and γ = 17 kN/m3.

8. A side of square foundation is 2 m installed 1.2 m below the surface of a uniform sandy gravel having a density
of 19.2 kN/m3, above the water table and a submerged density of 10.1 kN/m3. The strength parameters with
respect to effective stress, φ′ = 30° (Nc = 30.2, Nq=22, Nγ=20). Find the ultimate bearing capacity for the
following conditions:

(i) Water table is well below the base of the foundation (i.e., the whole of the rupture zone is above the water
table);

(ii) Water table rises to the level of the base of the foundation

(iii) The water table lies 0.5 m below ground level

(iv) The water table rises to ground level.

Solution

Given Square b = 2 m, Df = 1.2 m, c = 0, ᶲ = 30, ϒ= 19.2 kN/m3,𝛾 ′ = 10.1 kN/m3, For φ′ = 30°,
Nc = 30.2, Nq=22, Nγ=20.
Case 1 the water table below the base of foundation, in this case there is no modification of
bearing capacity
qult = 1.3cNc + γDf Nq + 0.4γBNγ
qult = 0 + 19.2 × 1.2 × 22 + 0.4 × 19.2 × 2 × 20

qult = 506.88 + 814.1 = 1320.98 𝑘𝑁⁄ 2

𝑚
Case 2 water table rises to the base of foundation, in this case there is modification of bearing
capacity

qult = 1.3cNc + γDf Nq + 0.4𝛾 ′ BNγ

qult = 0 + 506.88 + 0.4 × 10.1 × 2 × 20
qult = 0 + 506.88 + 161.6

qult = 668.48 𝑘𝑁⁄ 2

𝑚
qult = cNc𝑆𝑐 𝑑𝑐 𝑖𝑐 𝑔𝑐 𝑏𝑐 + γDf Nq 𝑆𝑞 𝑑𝑞 𝑖𝑞 𝑔𝑞 𝑏𝑞 + 0.4𝛾 ′ BNγ 𝑆𝛾 𝑑𝛾 𝑖𝛾 𝑔𝛾 𝑏𝛾

Case 3 the water table lies 0. 5 m below the ground surface

In the total depth of foundation (1.2m), 0.7 m of footing is submerged to water

q ult = 1.3cNc + (0.5γ + 0.7𝛾 ′ )Nq + 0.4𝛾 ′ BNγ

 q ult = 0 + (0.5 ∗ 19.2 + 0.7 ∗ 10.1)22 + 0.4 ∗ 10.1 ∗ 2 ∗ 20

q ult = 0 + 366.74 + 161.6

q ult = 528.34 𝑘𝑁⁄ 2
𝑚
Case 4 is the water table rise to the ground

q ult = 1.3cNc + 𝛾 ′ 𝐷𝑓 Nq + 0.4𝛾 ′ BNγ

q ult = 0 + 10.1 ∗ 1.2 ∗ 22 + 0.4 ∗ 10.1 ∗ 2 ∗ 20
q ult = 0 + 266.64 + 161.6
q ult = 428.24 𝑘𝑁⁄ 2
𝑚
9. A circular footing is resting on a stiff saturated clay with qu = 250 kN/m2. The depth of foundation is 2 m.
Determine the diameter of the footing if the column load is 600 kN Assume a factor of safety as 2.5. The bulk
unit weight of soil is 20 kN/m3.

Solution

For pure clay soil ∅ = 00

For ∅ = 00 , Nc = 5.7 ,Nq = 1 Nϒ = 0

qu = 250 kN/m2, Cohesion (c) = qu /2 = 250/2 = 125 kN/m2 Df = 2 m

Column Load = 600 kN, factor of safety = 2.5, ϒ = 20 kN/m3

step 1 calculate ultimate bearing capacity

qult = 1.3cNc + γ𝐷𝑓 Nq + 0.3γDNγ

q ult = 1.3 ∗ 125 ∗ 5.7 + 20 ∗ 2 ∗ 1 = 966 𝑘𝑁⁄𝑚2

Step2 calculate net ultimate bearing capacity

q nu = q ult − γ𝐷𝑓
 q nu = 966 − 40 = 926 kN/m2

Calculate Safe bearing capacity

𝑞𝑛𝑢 926
q safe = + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 = + 40 = 410 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2
𝐹. 𝑠 2.5

𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑
q safe =
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎

𝜋𝐷2 𝐶𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛 𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 600

= = = 1.463
4 𝑞𝑠𝑎𝑓𝑒 410

𝐷2 = 1.864 𝑚2

𝐷 = 1.365 𝑚 ≈ 1.4𝑚

Question 10
Question 11

(I) The value of bearing capacity factor for ϕ = 200

(II) Shape factor

(III) Depth factor

Question 13

Question 14
Solution
Question 15
A square footing is shown in figure below. the footing will carry a gross mass of 30000kg. Using a factor of
safety of 3, determine the size of the footing (B)

Solution
Question 16