Design of Combined Footings in Windows Environment

D C Sharma, Non-member
R Chalisgaonkar, Non-member
R Verma, Non-member

After the advent of Windows Operating System (OS), the computers are being used in almost all human endeavours.
Now-a-days, it is very easy to learn and use the computers to carry out the desired work because of interactive and user
friendly environment. This paper illustrates an application of computer assisted design of combined footings in
Windows environment. It is expected that the worksheet and the symbolic reinforcement diagram will be very useful to
the field engineer for constructing and designing combined footings.

Keywords: Computer aided design; Structural design; RCC footing; Footing shape; Reinforcement arrangement

INTRODUCTION worksheet. The problem has been formulated for rectangular

Footings belong to the category of shallow foundations and
are used when soil of sufficient strength is available within a
short depth below the ground level. The shallow foundation
has a large plan area in comparision with the cross sectional
area of the column it supports. For structures located on
reasonably firm soil, a separate footing is provided for each
column. However, in some cases, it may not be convenient to
provide separate isolated footings for the columns and hence,
combined footing for columns are provided. The combined
footings are frequently provided under the columns in various
buildings when the
l columns are spaced so closely that separate footing
would overlap and hence not practicable,
l exterior column is so close to an adjacent property
that limitations of property line or other similar
restrictions make it difficult to provide a symmetrical
footing for the exterior column, and
l bearing capacity of the soil is so low that individual
column footing work out to be of uneconomical size.
With the advent of personal computers, Windows OS and
user-friendly software, the application of computers has
increased tremendously in the analysis/design of civil
engineering structures and many other fields. Now-a-days, it is
very easy to learn and use the computers to carry out the
desired work because of interactive and user friendly
environment. The paper illustrates the application of
computer for carrying out the design of combined footings
using Microsoft (MS) excel software. The entire design has
been translated into simple functions and used in the
D C Sharma, R Chalisgaonkar and R Verma are with the Irrigation
Research Institute, Roorkee 247 667.
This paper (modified) is based on the article presented and discussed at the
National Seminar on ‘Planning and Construction of Buildings in Modern India’
held concurrently with the 20th National Convention of Architectural
Engineers organised by Roorkee Local Centre at IIT Roorkee during
November 1-2, 2004. Written discussion on the paper will be entertained till
August 31, 2006.
footings with and without central beam and a trapezoidal
footing. However, the design of slab type rectangular
combined footing has been discussed and presented in detail.
GEOMETRY OF COMBINED FOOTINGS
The shape of the combined footing is so proportioned that the
centre of gravity of the area of footing coincides with the
centroid of the column loads. By doing so the distribution of
soil pressure is assumed to be fairly uniform, which is
desirable in order to avoid possible tilting of the footing.
Moreover, the dimensions of the footing are so adjusted that
the developed pressure does not exceed the bearing capacity of
the resting soil.
The combined footing may have any reasonable shape
(rectangular, trapezoidal etc) as long as the resultant of column
loads is collinear with the resultant of a uniform soil pressure
and it satisfies the basic requirements. Examples of two-
column combined footings are shown in Figure 1. The footing
may be rectangular or trapezoidal in shape, depending on the
relative magnitudes of loads on the two-columns which the
footing supports.
DESIGN OF FOOTINGS
The various steps to be followed in design of combined
footing1 include:
q Determine the total column loads;
q Determine the area of the footing by dividing the sum
of the total column loads and self weight of footing
(assumed as 10% of total column loads) by the bearing
capacity of soil;
q Decide plan dimensions of the footing and obtain the
value of uniform net upward pressure;
q Calculate shear force (SF) at different sections and
establish point of zero SF;
q Calculate bending moment at columns and a point of
zero SF;

22 IE (I) Journal—AR
 P1
P1 P2 P2

Individual footing areas Property line

Central
beam, if
required

(a) Rectangular shape (b) Trapezoidal shape

Figure 1 Combined footings

q Find points of contraflexure and calculate values of analysis results, reinforcement details are self explanatory and
shear force at these points; the designer needs no explanation. The reinforcement
arrangement developed is depicted in Figure 2.
q Calculate the depth of footing from maximum BM
consideration and check the adequacy of the depth; CONCLUSION
q Calculate area of reinforcement by limit state method The worksheet and chart presented in the paper will be very
or working stress method for hogging and sagging BM useful to the field engineer for designing/constructing
in the longitudinal direction; combined footings. Some of the advantages of computer
assisted design of combined footings’ spreadsheet are
q Provide shear reinforcement as per IS code2 ;
l it is not necessary that the person using the computer
q Calculate transverse reinforcement required under should have a knowledge of computer programming,
each column; and
l MS Excel software is very user-friendly and one can
q Prepare a detailed drawing indicating the arrangement learn basics of it in a very short time, and
of reinforcement and bar spacings. l calculations can be checked by the user at any stage
with little know-how and necessary corrections can
COMPUTER ASSISTED DESIGN OF COMBINED
be made.
FOOTINGS
Availability of user-friendly software in Windows OS has REFERENCES
increased the application of computers tremendously in the 1. R Chandra. ‘Limit State Design.’ Standard Book House, New Delhi, 1990.
analysis/design of civil engineering structures and many other
2. ‘IS-456: Plain and Reinforced Concrete — Code of Practice.’ Bureau of Indian
fields. Application of MS Excel electronic spread sheet
Standards, New Delhi, July 2000.
software has been illustrated in the paper to carry out the
design of combined footings. The entire design1 has been ANNEXURE 1
translated into simple functions and used in the work sheet on SLAB TYPE RECTANGULAR COMBINED FOOTING
the basis of the design steps described earlier. The problem has
been formulated for rectangular footings with and without Input Data
central beam and a trapezoidal footing. However, the design (i) Load on column on A = 670 kN
of slab type rectangular combined footing for two columns has
(ii) Load on column on B = 670 kN
been discussed and presented in this paper. The critical shear
forces and bending moments have been considered in carrying (iii) Centre to centre distance (L3) = 8m
out the design by limit state design method. Reinforcement (iv) Distance of centre of column A
drawing for the slab type rectangular combined footing with from property line (L1) = 0.3 m
bar arrangements has also been developed so that an engineer
can carryout the work easily at site. (v) Size of column A l1 = 450 mm

b1 = 300 mm
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE
(vi) Size of column B l2 = 450 mm
The Annexure 1 illustrates a design of slab type rectangular
combined footing for two column loads. The input data, b2 = 300 mm

Vol 87, April 2006 23

 75 7550
75
450 450

790

8600
Section 1 - 1
X= 0.075 I1= 0.45 m
Y= 0.075 I2= 0.45 m
Z= 7.55 D= 0.79 m
B= 1.65 L= 8.60 m

429 26 Nos 20.00 dia bars

407

1 1

1650

8600
19 Nos
Plan showing top reinforcement
20 dia bars

4 Nos 20 dia bars

1051
1073

1650

8600
8 Nos
20 dia bars Plan showing bottom reinforcement

Figure 2 Arrangement of reinforcement in slab type rectangular combined footing

(vii) Bearing capacity of soil characteristic = 100 kN/m2 Distance of centre of column B from right side = 0.3 m

Strength of concrete characteristic fck = 20 N/mm2 Assume weight of footing and earth above it = 67 kN

Strength of steel fy = 415 N/mm2 Total load on earth = 1407 kN

(viii) Width of pedestal = 300 mm Width of footing = 1.65 m

Design Factored load on column A = 1005 kN

Length and Width of Footing Factored load on column B = 1005 kN

Centre of gravity of loads from property line x = 4.30 m Net upward soil pressure = 141.65 kN/m2

Length of footing = 8.60 m Say 142 kN/m2

24 IE (I) Journal—AR
 L2 E = 4.289 DE = 3.764
L1 L3
F = 8.075 EF = 3.786
B/2
A B G = 8.519 FG = 0.444
c1 c2
b1 b2
H = 8.525 GH = 0.006
B/2 I1 I2
Bending Moments at Various Points (Negative sign indicates hogging
moments)

B = 0.66 kNm B (ABS) = 0.66

C = 0.74 kNm C (ABS) = 0.74

D = – 193.84 kNm D (ABS) = 193.84

E = – 1853.91 kNm E (ABS) = 1853.91

F = – 175.04 kNm F (ABS) = 175.04

G = 21.74 kNm G (ABS) = 21.74

H = 0.66 kNm H (ABS) = 0.66

Point of contraflexure from right face of column A

2233 333333 kN/m 2233.333 kN/m
A = 1 B = – 7.52875 C = – 1.65

B2 – 4AC = 63.30037494 B = 7.52875

234.3 kN/m2 x = – 0.21 m

x = 7.74 m

Structural Details

886.9725 kN Depth of footing – B M = 138 * fck * b * d2

17,5725 kN
d2 = 407095
A B C D E F G H J
d = 638.04 mm

d = 640 mm
12.5925 kN
881 9925 kN
Adopt overall depth (D) = 790 mm

Adopt effective depth (d) = 740 mm

Main negative longitudinal reinforcement (Hogging moments)

BM = 87 * fy * Ast (d– (fy * Ast/fck * b))

Shear force diagram
A = 4.54 B = 267177 C = 1853909731.11

B2 – 4AC = 37713009330
Net upward soil pressure per unit length = 234.3 kN/m
Ast = 8036 mm2 Ast = 0.62%
Factored Shear Force at Following Points
Ast (min) = 2501 mm2 Ast (min) = 0.20%
B = 17.5725 kN F = 886.973 kN
then Ast = 8036 mm2
D = – 881.9925 kN H = – 12.5925 kN
Bar dia, c/s (bar), Req ast, Bar req Bar prov Prov ast,
D = 881.9925 kN H = 12.5925 kN (mm) (mm) (mm2) (mm2)
Shear force changes sign at C (BC) 0.009 m 12 113.04 8036 71.09 72 8139
Shear force changes sign at E (DE) 3.764 m 16 200.96 8036 39.99 40 8038
Shear force changes sign at G (FG) 0.444 m 20 314.00 8036 25.59 26 8164
The distance of following points from left edge, m Providing 20 mm bar
B = 0.075 AB = 0.075 Check for development length
C = 0.084 BC = 0.009 Let n be the no of 20 mm bars required at the point of
D = 0.525 CD = 0.441 contraflexure to satisfy the relation.

Vol 87, April 2006 25

 M1/V + Lo ≥ Ld M1 = (Ld – Lo) * V Number of bars to be curtailed = 4.98

Shear force at point of Say 4.00

contraflexure = 932.06 kN
Hence, out of 8 nos 20 mm bars, 4 nos can
M1 = 186631123.6 Nmm
be curtailed after extending the bar for a distance of 740 mm
A = 4.54 B = 267177 C = 186631123.59
beyond the point of contraflexure towards either edge of footing.
B2 – 4 AC = 67993971829
Curtailed bar at distance from A = 1.05 m
Ast = 707 mm2 Ast = 0.06%
J = 1.07 m
Ast (min) = 2501 mm2 Ast (min) = 0.20%
Check for Two Way Shear under Column A
then Ast = 2501 mm2 bo = 1640 mm lo = 1790 mm
Number of bars to be curtailed = 7.96 Perimeter = 6860 mm
Say 7.00 Vo = 588.1448 kN
Hence, out of 26 nos 20 mm bars, 7 nos can Nominal shear stress Tv = 0.12 N/mm2
be curtailed after extending the bar for a distance of 740 mm Permissible shear stress Tc = 1.12 N/mm2
beyond the point of contraflexure towards either edge of footing.
Tc = ks*T c′
Curtailed bar at distance from left edge, ie, A – 0.43 m
ks = (B + 0.5) ≤ 1 B = 0.66667
Curtailed bar at distance from right edge, ie, J – 0.41 m
hence ks = 1.17 Tc′ = 0.25 * (fck)1/2
Main negative longitudinal reinforcement (sagging moments)

under Column A/Column B adopt ks = 1 Tc′ = 1.12 N/mm2

BM = 87 * fy * Ast (d– (fy * Ast/fck * b)) Tc > Tv hence adopted depth is OK, otherwise section is redesigned

A = 4.54 B = 267177 C = 193835531.25 Check for Two Way Shear under Column 2

B2 – 4AC = 67863126032 bo = 1640 mm lo = 1790 mm

Ast = 735 mm2 Ast = 0.06% Perimeter = 6860 mm

Ast (min) = 2501 mm2 Ast (min) = 0.20% Vo = 588.14 kN

then Ast = 2501 mm2 Nominal shear stress Tv = 0.12 N/mm2

Bar dia, c/s (bar), Req ast, Bar req Bar prov Prov Ast, Permissible shear stress Tc = 1.12 N/mm2
(mm) (mm) (mm2) (mm2)
Tc = ks*T c′
12 113.04 2501 22.12 23 2600
ks = (B + 0.5) ≤ 1 B = 0.66667
16 200.96 2501 12.44 13 2612
hence ks = 1.17 Tc′ = 0.25 * (fck)1/2
20 314.00 2501 7.96 8 2512

Providing 20 mm bar adopt ks = 1 Tc′ = 1.12 N/mm2

Check for development length Tc > Tv hence adopted depth is OK otherwise section is redesigned

Let n be the no of 20 mm bars required at the point of Check for One Way Shear in Cantilever Portion on Left Side of Column 1
contraflexure to satisfy the relation. Critical section from face
M1/V + Lo ≥ Ld M1 = (Ld – Lo) * V of column 1 = 740.00 mm
Vo = – 155.8095 kN B = 11.34
Shear force at point of
contraflexure = 932.06 kN Maximum shear
capacity of section = 2.80 (0.8 * fck)1/2 = 4
M1 = 186631123.6 Nmm
Nominal shear
A = 4.54 B = 267177 C = 186631123.59
stress Tv = – 0.13 N/mm2 (1 + 5 * B)1/2 = 7.595337
B2 – 4 AC = 67993971829 Pencentage of steel = 0.20
Ast = 707 mm2 Ast = 0.06% For M20, Tc = 0.33
Ast (min) = 1564 mm2 Ast (min) = 0.12% Tc max > Tv, hence adopted section is OK, but Tc < Tv hence shear
then Ast = 1564 mm2 reinforcement is provided

26 IE (I) Journal—AR
 Shear resistance of concrete without shear reinforcement Tc max > Tv, hence adopted section is OK, and Tc > Tv hence no shear
Vc = 402.49 kN reinforcement is required. Only nominal shear reinforcement is
provided.
Shear reinforcement
is needed for Vs = – 558.30 kN Using 4 legged 10 mm bar
for stirrups (Asu) = 314.16 mm2
Using 4 legged 10 mm bar
for stirrups (Asu) = 314.16 mm2 Spacing for shear stirrups = 197.54 mm
Spacing for shear stirrups = – 150.34 mm Maximum spacing of shear stirrups
Maximum spacing of shear stirrups
sv = 555 mm
sv = 555 mm
sv = 450 mm
sv = 450 mm
sv = 197.54 mm
sv = 197.54 mm
Hence provide 4-legged 10 mm shear stirrups at 197.00 mm c/c
Hence provide 4-legged 10 mm shear stirrups at – 150.00 mm c/c
Check for One Way Shear in Cantilever Portion on Left Side of Column 2
Check for One Way Shear in Cantilever Portion on Right Side of Column 1
Maximum shear force
Maximum shear force
under column 1 = 886.97 kN B = 11.34
under column 1 = 881.99 kN B = 11.34
Maximum shear
Maximum shear
capacity of section = 2.80 (0.8 * fck)1/2 = 4
capacity of section = 2.80 (0.8 * fck)1/2 = 4
Nominal shear
Nominal shear
stress Tv = 0.73 N/mm2 (1 + 5 * B)1/2 = 7.595337
stress Tv = 0.72 N/mm2 (1 + 5 * B)1/2 = 7.595337
Pencentage of steel = 0.20
Pencentage of steel = 0.20
For M20, Tc = 0.33
For M20, Tc = 0.33
Tc max > Tv, hence adopted section is OK, but Tc < Tv hence shear
Tc max > Tv, hence adopted section is OK, but Tc < Tv hence shear
reinforcement is provided
reinforcement is provided
Shear resistance of concrete without shear reinforcement
Shear resistance of concrete without shear reinforcement
Vc = 402.49 kN
Vc = 402.49 kN
Shear reinforcement
Shear reinforcement
is needed for Vs = 484.49 kN
is needed for Vs = 479.51 kN
Using 4 legged 10 mm bar
Using 4 legged 10 mm bar
for stirrups (Asu) = 314.16 mm2
for stirrups (Asu) = 314.16 mm2
Spacing for shear stirrups = 173.25 mm
Spacing for shear stirrups = 175.05 mm
Maximum spacing of shear stirrups
Maximum spacing of shear stirrups
sv = 555 mm
sv = 555 mm
sv = 450 mm sv = 450 mm

sv = 197.54 mm sv = 197.54 mm
Hence provide 4-legged 10 mm shear stirrups at 175.00 mm c/c Hence, provide 4-legged 10 mm shear stirrups at 173.00 mmc/c
Check for One Way Shear in Cantilever Portion on Right Side of Column 2 Transverse Reinforcement under Column C1
Critical section from Footing slab projection beyond the face of column = 0.68 m
face of column 2 = 740.00 mm
Width of bending strip = 1.78 m
Vo = – 155.8095 kN B = 11.34
Net upward pressure = 342.19 kN/m2
Maximum shear
Consider the strip of footing one metre wide
capacity of section = 2.80 (0.8 * fck)1/2 = 4
Bending moment at face of column = 77.95 kNm
Nominal shear
stress Tv = – 0.13 N/mm2 (1 + 5 * B)1/2 = 7.595337 Effective depth = 714.00 mm

Pencentage of steel = 0.20 BM = 87 * fy * Ast (d– (fy * Ast/fck * b))

For M20, Tc = 0.33 A = 4.54 B = 257790 C = 77954226.25

Vol 87, April 2006 27

 B2 – 4AC = 65039731856 Effective depth = 714.00 mm

Ast = 304 mm2 Ast = 0.03% BM = 87 * fy * Ast (d– (fy * Ast/fck * b))

Ast (min) = 2501 mm2 Ast (min) = 0.20% A = 4.54 B = 257790 C = 77954226.25

then Ast = 2501 mm2 B2 – 4AC = 65039731856

Bar dia, c/s (bar), Req ast, Bar req Bar prov Prov Ast, Ast = 304 mm2 Ast = 0.03%
mm mm mm2 mm2 Ast (min) = 2501 mm2 Ast (min) = 0.20%

12 113.04 2501 22.12 23 2600 then Ast = 2501 mm2

16 200.96 2501 12.44 13 2612 Bar dia, c/s (bar), Req ast, Bar req Bar prov Prov Ast,
mm mm mm2 mm2
20 314.00 2501 7.96 8 2512
12 113.04 2501 22.12 23 2600
Transverse Reinforcement under Column C2
16 200.96 2501 12.44 13 2612
Footing slab projection beyond the face of column = 0.68 m
20 314.00 2501 7.96 8 2512
Width of bending strip = 1.78 m
Provide 16 mm bar for which required development length
Net upward pressure = 342.19 kN/m2
should be 752 mm while available free length is 1389 mm
Consider the strip of footing one metre wide
including effective depth. If free length is less than development length, then
Bending moment at face of column = 77.95 kNm bar should be bend in U shape.

28 IE (I) Journal—AR