Week 5: Eccentrical Loading (Part I)

As with the base of a retaining wall, there are several instances in which foundations are subjected to
moments in addition to the vertical load, as shown in Figure 1. In such cases, the distribution of pressure
by the foundation on the soil is not uniform.

P e

P
M

𝑞𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑞𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥

for e< B/6:

𝑃 6𝑀
𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥 = + ----- EQ 1
𝐵𝐿 𝐵2 𝐿
𝑃 6𝑀
𝑞𝑚𝑖𝑛 = − ------ EQ 2
𝐵𝐿 𝐵2 𝐿

Where:

P = total vertical load

M=moment on the foundation

For e> B/6: qmin will be negative, which means that tension will develop. Because soil cannot take any
tension, there will be a separation between the foundation and the soil underlying it
 4𝑃
𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥 = ------ EQ 3
3𝐿(𝐵−2𝑒)

When the eccentricity e becomes B/6, qmin is 0.

𝑞𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 0

𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥

Meyerhof’s Procedure (effective Area Method)

The following is Meyerhof’s step-by-step procedure for determining the ultimate load that the soil can
support and the factor of safety against bearing capacity failure

1. Determining the distance e, qmax and qmin

The distance e is the eccentricity, or

𝑀
𝑒= ----- Eq 4
𝑃

𝐵
Check: the value of e ≤
6

Substituting Eq 5 in Eqs. 1 and 2 gives:

𝑃 6𝑒
𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥 = (1 + )------EQ 5
𝐵𝐿 𝐵
𝑃 6𝑒
𝑞𝑚𝑖𝑛 = (1 − )------EQ 6
𝐵𝐿 𝐵
 2. Determine the effective dimensions of the foundation as:

P e

B
B’

2e
e L’

B’= effective width = B- 2e

In width direction (B)
L’= effective length = L

Note that, if the eccentricity were in the direction of the length of the foundation, then the value of L’
would be equal to L -2e. The value of B’ would equal B. The smaller of the two dimensions (that is, L’ and
B’) is the effective width of the foundation.

L’= effective width = L- 2e

In length direction (L)
B’= effective length = B

3. Determining the ultimate bearing capacity using Meyerhof’s equation

1
𝑞𝑢′ = 𝑐 ′ 𝑁𝑐 𝐹𝑐𝑠 𝐹𝑐𝑑 𝐹𝑐𝑖 + 𝑞𝑁𝑞 𝐹𝑞𝑠 𝐹𝑞𝑑 𝐹𝑞𝑖 + ɣ𝐵 ′ 𝑁ɣ 𝐹ɣ𝑠 𝐹ɣ𝑑 𝐹ɣ𝑖 ----- EQ 8
2
Use effective dimension to obtain shape factors:

Where:
 𝐹𝑐𝑠 𝐹𝑞𝑠 𝐹ɣ𝑠 = 𝑆ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
𝐹𝑐𝑑 𝐹𝑞𝑑 𝐹ɣ𝑑 = 𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑡ℎ 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠
𝐹𝑐𝑖 𝐹𝑞𝑖 𝐹ɣ𝑖 = load inclination factors

4. Determine the ultimate load

𝑃𝑢′ = 𝑞𝑢′ (𝐵′ 𝑋𝐿′ )

5. The factor of safety against bearing capacity failure

𝑃𝑢 ′
𝐹𝑆 =
𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑙

Illustrative Problem:

1. Assuming one-way eccentric load in B direction check the designed footing safety if FS=2.5

M= 300KN-m
𝑃𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑙 =1200KN

ɣ=18KN/m^3
Df=2
c=0
m
Ø=30°

2mx2m

1. A continuous foundation is shown in Figure

below. Assume that the load eccentricity e
=0.15 m. Determine the ultimate load, 𝑃𝑢