Bearing Capacity Examples

Example 1

A continuous footing is 1.8 m wide by 0.5 m deep and is founded at a depth of 0.75 m in a clay of
characteristic weight density, k = 20 kN/m3 and characteristic undrained shear strength, cu.k = 30 kPa. The
foundation is to carry a vertical line load, composed of a characteristic permanent load of 30 kN/m run and
a characteristic variable load of 20 kN/m run. The characteristic weight density of concrete is 25 kN/m3.

Determine the utilisation factor for EC 7 Design Approach 1, Combinations 1 and 2 for this foundation.

Example 2

Using the data from Example 1, recalculate the utilisation factor if the foundation soil is clayey gravel rather
than clay. The clayey gravel has the following strength properties; an apparent cohesion, ck = 5 kPa and a
characteristic angle of friction, k of 320. The characteristic weight density of the gravel is k = 21 kN/m3.

Example 3

Determine the size of a square pad foundation required to carry a variable load of 450 kN and a permanent
load of 800 kN. The soil characteristics are: k’ = 350, ck’ = 0 kPa, k = 18 kN/m3 and concrete,k = 25 kN/m3.

Assume the foundation thickness is 0.5 m and the foundation is founded at ground level.

All calculations should be preformed in accordance with EC7 Design Approach 1.

Example 4

Using the data in Example 3, determine the size of the circular foundation required to carry the loadings.

All calculations should be preformed in accordance with EC7 Design Approach 1.

Example 5

Determine the size of a square pad foundation required to carry a variable load of 100 kN and a permanent
load of 200 kN. The soil characteristics are: cu,k = 65 kPa, k = 18 kN/m3 and concrete,k = 18 kN/m3.

Assume the foundation thickness is 0.5 m and the foundation is founded at ground level.

All calculations should be performed in accordance with EC7 Design Approach 1.

Example 6

A strip footing 3 m wide is to be founded at a depth of 2 m in a saturated soil of k = 19 kN/m3. Testing of

the soil found the following strength characteristics for the soil cu,k = 65 kPa and k’ = 280, ck’ = 5 kPa.
Determine a value, using EC7 Design Approach 1, for the bearing capacity of the foundation.