FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

Bearing Capacity Calculation

Shallow Foundation
Terzaghi Bearing Capacity Equation

The terms used in the Terzaghi bearing capacity equation are the ultimate bearing
capacity, the cohesion term, the surcharge term, and the density term.

- The ultimate bearing capacity (qult) of a foundation is the load beyond which a
foundation would fail and no longer be useful.
- Cohesion (c) is a chemical process. Clay particles tend to adhere to each other due to
electrical charges present in clay particles.
- Unlike cohesion, friction is a physical process. The higher the friction between particle
the higher the capacity of the soil to carry footing loads. Usually, sands and silts inherit
friction. For all practical purposes, clays are considered to be friction-free. The friction a
soil is represented by the friction angle ∅, where B is the width of the footing, and the
angle of the soil pressure triangle is given by 45 + ∅/2.

Cohesion Term
The cohesion term represents the strength of soil due to cohesion

c - cohesion of the soil

Nc- Terzaghi bearing capacity factor
sc - shape factor
Surcharge Term

The surcharge term represents the bearing capacity strength developed due to
surcharge. The surcharge load is the pressure exerted due to soil above the bottom of
thefooting. The effective stress is given as q = γ d
 q = the effective stress at bottom of footing
d - distance from ground surface to the bottom of the footing
γ = effective density of soil

Nq = Terzaghi bearing capacity factor

If one places the bottom of the footing deeper, the d term in the equation would
increase. Hence the bearing capacity of the footing would also increase. Placing the
footing deeper is a good method to increase the bearing capacity of a footing. This
may not be a good idea when softer soils are present at deeper elevations.

Density Term

The density term represents the strength due to the density of soil.
B = width of the shorter dimension of the footing
Nγ = Terzaghi bearing capacity factor, dependent on the friction angle of soil,
γ = effective density of soil
sγ = shape factor

If the soil has a higher density, the bearing capacity of the soil would be higher.
Principles Terzaghi Bearing Capacity Equation

- When the footing load (P) is increased, the pressure triangle that is below the footing would be
pressed down. The soil on the sides would get pushed upward. At failure, soil from the sides of
the footing would be heaved (lifted)

- If there is a larger surcharge, or the dimension d increases, the soil will be locked in and the
bearing capacity would increase. It is possible to increase the bearing capacity of a footing by
increasing d.

- An increase of bearing capacity when a layer of thickness X is added. The first and third terms
i.e. cohesion term and density term will not undergo any change due to the addition of the new
soil layer. Only the second term, surcharge term ( total depth = d + x)

- All of the bearing capacity coefficients (Nc, Nq, and Nγ ) are obtained using the friction angle.
The higher the friction angle, the higher will be the bearing capacity factors. Hence, the effect
of the friction angle is indirectly incorporated into the Terzaghi bearing capacity coefficients.

- Cohesion in sandy soils and nonplastic silts is considered to be zero.

Example Calculation

1. This example concerns a column footing in a homogeneous sand layer. Find the ultimate bearing
capacity of a (1.5 m x 1.5 m) square footing placed in a sand layer. The density of the soil is found to be
18.1 kN/m3 and the friction angle is 30 deg. Also, determine the allowable bearing capacity for the given
factor of safety and allowable vertical load

Terzaghi Bearing Capacity Factors at 30o angle of internal friction.

Shape factor for square footing

Calculate the surcharge q

q = γ d = 18.1 KN/m3 (1.2m) = 21.7 KPa

Apply the Terzaghi Bearing Capacity Equation

qult = ( 0 kPa)(37.2)(1.3) + (21.7 kPa)(22.5) + (0.5)(1.50m)(19.7)(18.1 kN/m3)(0.8)

= 702.2 kPa

Compute for the allowable bearing capacity for FOS of 3.0

FOS = qult / qallow
3.0 = 702.2 kPa / qallow , therefore qallow = 234.1 kPa

Compute for the allowable vertical load Qallow

Qallow = ( size of footing) ( qallow) = (1.5m x 1.5m) ( 234.1 kPa)
= 526.7 kN
Bearing Capacities (Rules of Thumb)
Many engineers use the bearing capacity equations developed by Terzaghi, Hansen, Meyerhoff,
and Vesic to find the bearing capacity of foundations. On the other hand, there are rule of thumb
methods that have been used for many years by engineers.

Bearing Capacity in Medium to Coarse Sands

Bearing capacity of coarse to medium sands (allowable) = 9.6 x Naverage , in kPA

(not to exceed 575 kPa).

Bearing Capacity in Fine Sands

Bearing capacity of coarse to fine sands (allowable) = 9.6 x Naverage , in kPA

(not to exceed 380 kPa).

Note: If the average SPT (N) value is less than 10, the soil should be compacted.
Example Calculation:

A shallow foundation is placed on coarse to medium sand. The SPT (N) values below the footing
are as shown. The footing is 2m x 2m. The bottom of the footing is 1.5 m below the ground surface.
Find the allowable load bearing capacity of the footing.

Average SPT (N) value below the footing to a depth that is equal to the width of the footing.

Average SPT(N) = (10 + 12 + 15 + 9 + 11 + 10)/6 = 11

Allowable Bearing Capacity

= 9.6 x 11 = 105.6 kPa

Allowable Vertical Load

= (allowable bearing capacity) x (area of footing)

= (105.6 kPa) x ( 2m x 2m)

= 422.4 kN
Bearing Capacity from SPT Number

Meyerhof’s equations: Bowles’ equations:

For footing width,4 feet or less: For footing width, 4 feet or less:

Qa = ( ) K Qa = ( ) K
.

For footing width, greater than 4 For footing width, greater than 4
ft: ft:

( ) 2 ( ) 2
Qa = ( )[ ] K Qa = ( )[ ] K

Where

Qa: Allowable soil bearing capacity, in kips/ft2.

N: SPT numbers below the footing.

B: Footing width, in feet

K = 1 + 0.33(D/B)  1.33

D: Depth from ground level to the bottom of footing, in feet.

Example Calculation:

Given:

 Soil SPT number: 20

 Footing type: 8 feet wide square footing, bottom of footing at 4 ft below ground
surface.

Requirement:

Estimate allowable soil bearing capacity based on Meyerhof’s equation and Bowles
equation

Solution:

Meyerhof’s equation

K = 1+0.33(D/B) = 1+0.33*(4/8) = 1.17

( ) 2 ( ) 2
Qa = ( )[ ] K = ( )[ ] (1.17) = 4.93 kips/ft2

Bowles’ equation:

( ) 2 ( ) 2
Qa = ( )[ ] K = ( )[ ] (1.17) = 7.4 kips/ft2
 Foundation Engineering Exercise No. 3 (Bearing Capacity Calculation)
Direction: Answer the following questions, please write your solutions on the space provided and
encircle your final answer. Submit thru our MS Teams on the Assignment tab.
Name_________________________________________________ Course/Yr/Section ______________

1. This example explores a column footing in a homogeneous clay layer. Find the ultimate bearing
capacity, allowable bearing capacity and allowable load of a 1.2 m x 1.2 m square footing placed in a clay
layer. The density of the soil is found to be 17.7 kN/m 3 and the cohesion was found to be 20 kPa.
2. Determine soil bearing capacity by SPT numbers. Given:

Soil SPT number: 10

Footing type: 3 feet wide strip footing, bottom of footing at 2 ft below ground surface.