CEEN 324: GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

The below for Nov 4th 2021

Terzaghi Bearing capacity Theory (shallow footings)

Water table effect

Based on the Terzaghi Bearing capacity Theory (shallow footings) equation,
Ultimate bearing capacity for strip footing (q u) = c Nc + q Nq + 0.5 γ B Nγ for water table condition,
saturated clay (fine-grained) the equation for undrained condition the internal angle of friction= 0
and qu = cu Nc, + q where cu is cohesion in undrained condition shear strength & Nq =1, this could be
applied e.g after the construction stage.
For coarser grained soils, that drain easily, cohesion (effective) is zero, the equation reduce to:
qu =q Nq + 0.5 γ B Nγ where the Nq, Nγ are based on effective internal angle of friction and q is
effective load, and unit weight γ is also effective value.

Where:- Depth of water table from base of footing < width use equation:- unit wieght
submerged unit weight + (Depth of water table from base of footing/width)*(Dry unit weight –
submerged unit weight)

Assume, based on Terzaghi theory, calculate the capacity, of strip

foundation 0.75m wide, a depth of 0.6m, on dry sand, assuming: (i)
Water table at depth of 0.45m below the surface (ii) Water table at a
depth of 0.4m below the footing base. Saturated unit weight of soil
19.2 KN/m³, dry unit wieght of soil is 17.3 KN/m³ & unit weight of
water at 9.81 KN/m³, given that

Nq = 52.4
Nγ = 66
Answers
i) Ultimate bearing strength 714.14 KN/m²

ii) Ultimate bearing strength

880.73 KN/m²

The above for Nov 4th 2021

Calculate the ultimate bearing capacity of an assumed strip footing 1.2 m wide, having a depth
of 0.9m to base of footing, below surface, on clay soil that is saturated assuming water table is
0.55m below surface, ignore factor for depth, in i) undrained condition ii) Drained condition;
given & Base on Terzaghi:
Saturated unit weight of clay: 19.5 KN/m³
Cohesion (undrained) 22.5 KN/m²
Unit weight water 9.81 KN/m³
Cohesion (drained) 11.3 KN/m²
internal angle of friction (effective 15 Degrees
stress):
Nc (undrained condition) 5.7

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Nc (drained condition) 12.9

Nq (drained condition) 4.4
Nγ (drained condition) 2.5
Water table depth 0.55 m

Answers

Ulitimate bearing capacity (undrained condition)

142.4 KN/m²

Drained condition 222.4 KN/m²

Consideration for shapes, depth and inclination factor based on Hansen (1957, 1970), correction for
Terzaghi equation, for internal angle of friction is greater than 1
= c Nc Sc dc ic + q Nq Sq dq iq + 0.5 γ B Nγ Sγ dγ iγ
s, d & i are respective shape depth and inclination factors respectively, Nc, Nq & Nγ are bearing
capacity factors by Hansen other, refer to previous Terzaghi equation. Hansen equation is similar to
Meyerhof (1963). Meyerhof analysis for strip footing, with eccentric loading, the width (W) and
length (Lt) are adjusted to W’ & Lt’, where:
W’ = W – 2 eccx
Lt’ = Lt – 2 eccy
Where eccx & eccy are eccentricity in the same direction as W and Lt respectively.

For internal angle of friction is 0, Hansen recommended

c Nc (1+Sc + dc - ic )+ q

Boussinesq Equation(s)- and derivation

Boussinesq (1885), gave equations of stress for sub-grade material. Point Load (see figure) at a
depth D, :
Normal stress (σD) = PL * Cb/ D2 Where Cb= 3*(1/[1+(R/D)2])5/2/(2π) is the influencing factor
Shear at depth (D) = 3PL [RD2/(R2 + D2)5/2]/(2π); where R:- is horizontal length between loading and
soil element;

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Normal stress for Line Load (see figure):

Normal stress for line load (σD) = 2LL Cos4 θc/(πD) or 2LL {1/(1+[L/D]2)}2/(πD) Where L is the
vertical distance from centre of load to the soil element; R:- is horizontal length between loading
and soil element;
Normal stress for strip load at D (σD) = LS (θ1 + Sin θ1 Cos 2θc )/π
if θc=0 i.e. directly below centre of srip the normal stress becomes: LS (θ1 + Sin θ1)/π

Assume a point load of 62 KN would act on the surface of your proposed transportation project. Determine
the normal stress at a depths of 2.2m, 4.4m, 6.6m, 8.8m & 11m directly underneath the load sketch (not to
scale) the stress (x axis) against depth (y axis reverse scale), . Determine the normal stress due to the point
load, at depth 1.2m, 2.4m and 4.8m and for each the horizontal distances of 0, 0.7m, 1.4m and 2.1m from the
point load on each side of the point load. Sketch the variation horizontal distances (x) and stress (y)

ANSWERS
Depth
Stress (N/
Depth (m) m2)
0
2.2 6116
4.4 1529
6.6 680
8.8 382
11 245

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At depth 1.2 m
Horizontal Stress (N/
Cb Distance m2)
0.4775 0 20558
0.2296 0.7 9885
0.0557 1.4 2400
0.0144 2.1 618

At depth 2.4000 m
Horizontal Stress (N/
Cb Distance m2)
0.4775 0 5139
0.3893 0.7 4191
0.2296 1.4 2471
0.1153 2.1 1241

At depth 4.8000 m
Horizontal Stress (N/
Cb Distance m2)
0.4775 0 1285
0.4530 0.7 1219
0.3893 1.4 1048
0.3082 2.1 829

Read: Newmark influence chart

Reference
Gopal Ranjan & ASR Rao, Basic applied soil mechanics (Revised second edition), 2000, New age
international publishers.

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