REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

REINFORCED CONCRETE FOOTING

DESIGN
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Lesson Outcome
At the end of this topic, students should be able to:
1 Understand the function of foundation. (CO1-PO2)
2 Estimate suitable footing dimension. (CO2-PO3)
3 Design the bending reinforcement and carry out shear
check of footing. (CO1-PO2, CO2-PO3)
4 Draw the reinforcement details for the footing. (CO2-
PO3)
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Introduction
• A building generally composed of:
1. Superstructure – above the ground
2. Substructure – basement structures, foundation
• The function of a foundation is to transmit the actions from a
structure to the underlying ground through columns or walls in
such a way that the bearing strata taking the actions are not
over-stressed and that undue deformations occur neither in the
structure nor in the ground.
• Most important among the building structural elements. (this is
the last point for the building loads)
• Foundation failure can affect the overall stability of a structure.
(differential settlement, tilting of building, topple)
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Types of Foundation
 Types of foundations that can be applied to a structure are:
1. Pad footing
2. Combined footing
3. Strap footing
4. Strip footing
5. Raft foundation
6. Piled foundation
 Selection of foundation type for a structure depends on:
• Type of structure and loading
• Soil properties and conditions (type and strength of soil, etc.)
• Permissible amount of differential settlement
 It is vital that in all cases a full geotechnical survey be carried out not only to
determine the bearing pressures at the level likely to be needed for the
foundation but also below this level where there is a potential likelihood of
weak or soft strata which will cause problems with long term settlement.
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Foundation (Durability Requirement)

• As the concrete for foundations is subjected to more severe
exposure conditions, a larger nominal cover to the
reinforcement is required.
• Despite the values suggested in Table 4.1 of EC2, established
practice in the UK recommend that the minimum cover should
be:
not less than 75 mm (concrete cast against the ground)
or
not less than 50 mm (concrete is cast against a layer of
blinding concrete)
• A concrete class of at least C30/37 is required to meet
durability requirements.
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Footing Design
EC7 gives 3 alternative methods to design simple spread foundations (strip &
pad footings):
1. Direct method: calculations are required for each limit state using partial
factors of safety.
2. Indirect method: allows for simultaneous blending of ultimate limit state
and serviceability limit state procedures.
3. Prescriptive method: an assumed safe bearing pressure is used to size the
foundations based on the serviceability limit state followed by detailed
structural design based on the ultimate limit state.

In the prescriptive method, the traditional UK approach to the sizing of

foundations is effectively retained such that a suitable base size may be
determined based on the serviceability limit state values for actions and an
assumed allowable safe bearing pressure. In this way settlement will be
controlled, with the exception that for foundations on soft clay full settlement
calculations must be carried out.
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Pad Footing
 Pad footing is selected to support and transmit loads from
piers and columns when:
• the soil that is supporting the structure is relatively strong
to cater for the loadings.
• the building is low rise where the loads acting from the
building is considered low.
• the distances between columns are far enough (enough to
avoid overlapping or footing coalition) (or else, need to
consider using combined, strip or raft footing)
 Soffit of pad footing is usually located at 1.5 m below the
finish ground level (common practice).
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Pad Footing
o Pad footing is the base supporting a single column.
o Pad footing may be square in plan. When there is a large moment acting
about one axis it may be more economical to have a rectangular base.
o Assuming there is a linear distribution, the bearing pressures across the
base will take one of the three forms according to the relative
magnitudes of the axial load, N and the moment, M acting on the base:
N
1. When there is no moment, the pressure is uniform

e=0
hence p = N/BD

where: B = breadth of footing

e = eccentricity = M/N D

p
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Pad Footing
2. With a moment acting, the pressures are given by the equation for axial load plus
bending. This is provided there is positive contact between the base and the ground
along the complete length D of the footing.
?
P = N/BD ± My/I
where: I = 2nd moment area of the base about the axis of bending
y = distance from the axis to where the pressure is being calculated
N
Substituting for I = BD3/12 and y = D/2:
maximum pressure, p1 = N/BD + 6M/BD2
minimum pressure, p2 = N/BD - 6M/BD2 M

There is +ve contact along the base if p2 is positive.

e  D/6
When p2 = 0  N/BD - 6M/BD2 = 0  M/N = D/6 p = N/BD ± 6M/BD2
D
So that for p2 always to be +ve:
M/N or e must never be greater than D/6. p1 p2

In these cases the eccentricity of loading is said to:

lie within the ‘middle third’ of the base.
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Pad Footing
3. When e > D/6  there is no longer a full +ve pressure along the length D  the
pressure diagram is triangular as shown.
Balancing the downward load and the upward pressures

0.5pBY = N
N
 maximum pressure: p = 2N/BY
where: Y = length of +ve contact.
M

The centroid of the pressure diagram must coincide with:

The eccentricity, e of loading e > D/6
in order for the load and reaction p = 2N/BY
D
to be equal and opposite. Where:

Y = 3(D/2 – e) Y/3 e Centroid

 Y/3 = D/2 - e  Y = 3(D/2-e)
p
Therefore, in the case of e > D/6
Y
Maximum pressure: p = 2N/3B(D/2-e)
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Pad Footing
• Determination of the structural strength of footing (thickness and areas of
reinforcements) should be based on the loadings and the resultant ground
pressures corresponding to the ultimate limit state.
• For most designs a linear distribution of soil pressure across the base of the
footing is assumed (as shown in [a]). [Assumption made is based on the soil
acting as an elastic material and the footing is having infinite rigidity.]
• In fact, most soils exhibit some plastic behaviours and all footings have a finite
stiffness, and the distribution of soils pressure varies with time.
• The actual distribution of bearing pressure at any moment may take the form
shown in [b] or [c], depending on the type of soil and the stiffness of the base
and the structure.
• The behaviour of foundations involves many uncertainties regarding the action
of the ground and the loading, it is usually unrealistic to consider an analysis
that is too sophisticated.

[a] Uniform distribution [b] Cohesive soil [c] Sandy soil

REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Critical sections for a Footing

• The critical sections through the base for checking shear, punching shear and
bending are shown below. the shearing force and bending moments are
caused by the ultimate loads from the column and the weight of the base
should not be included in these calculations.
• The thickness, h of the base is often governed by the requirements for shear
resistance.

h d

Maximum
Punching shear perimeter
shear 2.0d
= column perimeter + 4d

Shear

Bending
1.0d
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Design Procedure
Following the Prescriptive Method the principal steps in the design calculations
are as follows:
1. Calculate the plan size of the footing using the permissible bearing pressure and the
critical loading arrangement for the serviceability limit state.
2. Calculate the bearing pressures associated with the critical loading arrangement at
the ultimate limit state.
3. Assume a suitable value for the thickness, h and effective depth, d. Check that the
shear force at the column face is less than 0.5v1 fcd ud = 0.5v1ud(fck /1.5) where u is
the perimeter of the column and v1 is the strength reduction factor
= 0.6(1 – fck /250).
4. Carry out a preliminary check for punching shear to ensure that the footing
thickness gives a punching shear stress which is within the likely range of acceptable
performance (say VRd,c at As,min).
5. Determine the reinforcement required to resist bending.
6. Make a final check for the punching shear.
7. Check the shear force at the critical sections.
8. Where applicable, both foundations and the structure should be checked for overall
stability at the ultimate limit state.
9. Reinforcement to resist bending in the bottom of the base should extend at least
full tension anchorage length beyond the critical section of bending.
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Arrangement of reinforcements
• For a square base the reinforcement to resist bending should be distributed
uniformly across the full width of the footing for both the directions.
• For a rectangular base the reinforcement in the shorter direction (transverse
direction) should be distributed with a closer spacing in the region under and
near the column, to allow for the fact that the transverse moments must be
greater nearer the column.
• It is recommended that at least 2/3 of the
c
reinforcement in the short direction should be
c + 3d Lap length
concentrated in a band width of (c + 3d)
where c is the column dimension in the long 75
h
direction and d is the effective depth.
• The main reinforcements in the long direction D
2/3A
is distributed uniformly across the full width s,trans

of the footing.

As,main
B
As,trans
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Arrangement of reinforcements
• If the footing should be subjected to a large overturning moment so that there
is only partial bearing, or if there is a resultant uplift force, then
reinforcement may also be required in the top face.
• Dowels or starter bars should extend from the footing into the column in
order to provide continuity to the reinforcement. These dowels should be
embedded into the footing and extend into the columns a full lap length.
Sometimes a 75 mm length of the column is constructed into the same
concrete pour as the footing so as to form a ‘kicker’ or support for the
column’s shutters. In these cases the dowel’s lap length should be measured
from the top of the kicker.
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Example 1
A footing is required to resist characteristic axial loads of 1000 kN permanent
and 350 kN variable from a 400 square column. The safe bearing pressure of the
soil is 200 kN/m2 and the characteristic material strengths are fck = 30 N/mm2
and fyk = 500N/mm2.
Assume a footing self-weight of 150 kN so that the total permanent load is 1150
kN and base the design on the Prescriptive Method.
Solution:
For serviceability limit state
total design axial load = 1.0Gk + 1.0Qk = 1150 + 350 = 1500 kN
Required base area = 1500/200 = 7.5 m2
 Provide a 2.8 m sq. base = 7.8 m2
For ultimate limit state ##
column design axial load, NEd = 1.35Gk + 1,5Qk
= 1.35(1000) + 1.5(350)
= 1875 kN
Earth pressure = 1875/2.82
= 239 kN/m2
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522
With trial 450 mm thickness  selfweight of footing
= 0.45 x 7.8 x 25 = 87.75 kN < assumed 150 kN
 OK to proceed.
Assume a 450 thick footing  h = 450 mm
To specify a blinding layer of concrete below the soffit of the footing in the drawing.
 minimum cover, c = 50 mm
 mean effective depth, d = 450 – 50 – 30 = 370 mm
Predicted to use bars with diameter
Reinf’t arranged in two directions. Since reinf’t used in square footing
between 25 mm and 32 mm
are similar in both direction  we take the average effective depth here
 use 30 mm here

Preliminary check on the shear resistance

At the column face: max shear resistance, VRd,max
= 0.5ud[0.6(1 – fck /250]x(fck /1.5)
= 0.5(4 x 400) x 370 x [0.6(1 – 30/250)] x (30/1.5) x 10-3
= 3125 kN > NEd  OK
Preliminary check on punching shear 2.0d = 2 x 370 = 740 mm
critical perimeter = column perimeter + 4d
= 4 x 400 + 4 x 370 = 6249 mm
area within perimeter = (400 + 4d)2 – (4 - )(2.0d)2
= (400 + 1480)2 – (4 - )7402
= 3.06 x 106 mm2
punching shear force, VEd = 239(2.82 – 3.06) = 1142 kN
punching shear stress, vEd = VEd/(perimeter x d)
= 1142 x 103/(6249 x 370) = 0.49 N/mm2
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Since bending reinforcement has not been designed yet

 assume As = As,min = 0.15%  As/bd = 0.0015 = 1

k = 1 + (200/d)1/2  2.0
= 1 + (200/370)1/2 = 1.73

shear stress resistance of the concrete without shear reinforcement

vRd,c = 0.12k(1001fck)1/3  [0.035k3/2fck1/2]
= 0.12x1.73(100x0.0015x30)1/3 or 0.035(1.73)3/2(30)1/2
= 0.34 N/mm2 or 0.43 N/mm2
= 0.43 N/mm2 < 0.49 N/mm2

slightly smaller than vEd  h = 450 mm considered acceptable.

 provided reinf’t must be more than 0.15% (and able to achieve at least vRd,c
= 0.49 N/mm2) to avoid shear reinf’t design.
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Design bending reinforcement

at the column face which is the critical section (refer figure)
MEd = (239 x 2.8 x 1.2) x (1.2/2)
(2.8/2 – 0.4/2) = 1.2
= 482 kNm
K = 482 x 106 / (2800 x 3702 x 30)
= 0.0419 < Kbal (singly reinforced)
z = 0.96d > 0.95d  use 0.95d
As = MEd /0.87fykz
= 482 x 106/(0.87 x 500 x 0.95 x 370) = 3152 mm2
Provide 12H20 bars (at 225 mm centres), As = 3768 mm2 (both directions)
(check for the allowable minimum and maximum As)

crack check:
steel stress, s = fyk(Gk + 0.3Qk)/1.15(1.35Gk + 1.5Qk)
= 500(1000+0.3x350)/[1.15(1.35x1000+1.5x350)]
= 256 N/mm2
Maximum allowable spacing?
Provided bar arrangement OK?
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Final check on punching shear

average steel ratio in both directions, 1 = 3768/(2800x370) = 0.0036 < 2%
the shear resistance of the concrete without shear reinforcement
VRd,c = 0.12k(1001fck)1/3ud  [0.035k3/2fck1/2]ud
= 0.12x1.73(100x0.0036x30)1/3x6249x370x10-3
= 1060 kN or 1008 kN
= 1060 kN < VEd (1142 kN)  punching shear reinf’t req’d

to avoid designing for punching shear reinf’t,

increase reinf’t to 16H20 (5024 mm2)
1 = 5024/(2800x370) = 0.0048 < 2%

VRd,c = 0.12k(1001fck)1/3ud  [0.035k3/2fck1/2]ud

= 1167 kN or 1008 kN
= 1167 kN > VEd (1142 kN)  punching shear reinf’t not req’d

 provide 16H20 for both directions

REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Critical shear check

At the critical section for shear, 1.0d from the column face
Design shear, VEd = 239 x 2.8 x 0.83 = 555.4 kN
VRd,c = 0.12k(1001fck)1/3bd  [0.035k3/2fck1/2]bd
= 0.12x1.73(100x0.0048x30)1/3x2800x370x10-3
= 523 kN or 445 kN
= 523 kN < VEd (critical shear reinforcement is required)

To avoid critical shear reinf’t  increase reinf’t to 20H20 (6280 mm2)  1 = 0.006
(check steel content!)
VRd,c = 563 kN or 445 kN
= 563 kN > VEd (no shear reinforcement is required)

400 sq.
## • EC2 provides guideline for the
required shear reinforcement
calculation and detailing.
• If possible, try to avoid having
h = 450 d = 370
shear reinforcement in footing
50 mm lean concrete due to difficulty in construction.
20H20@140 B.W.

2.8m sq.
Exercise: using similar set of design information, design a
rectangular footing where the length of the footing is 2 times its
width (L = 2B)
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Instead of assuming a footing weight at the start, another way is by using a net safe
bearing pressure, pnet by assuming a preliminary thickness, h.

pnet = soil safe bearing pressure – h x unit weight of concrete

= 188.75 kN/m2 (in this example – try it out yourself)

required base area = 1.0 x column load / pnet

= 7.15 m2

• This example shows how to design a pad footing with a centrally located set of
actions.
• If the actions are eccentric to the centroidal axis of the base,
 when checking of punching shear, maximum shear stress, vEd need to
multiply with an enhancement factor  (> 1).
• This factor accounts for the non-linear distribution of stress around the critical
perimeter due to the eccentricity of loading. (refer to EC2 Cl. 6.4.3)
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN using similar set of design information
in example 1, design a rectangular
footing where the length of the footing
is 2 times its width (L = 2B)

Example 1a (Rectangular) – refer to Example 1 for design info

From 400x400 column: Gk = 1000 kN; Qk = 350 kN
SW of footing = 150 kN (assumed)
fck = 30; fyk = 500; S.B.C. = 200 kN/m2; bar size = 25 mm
Gk + SW = 1000 + 150 = 1150 kN
Total working load (WL) = 1150 + 350 = 1500 kN
Required soil area = WL/S.B.C. = 1500/200 = 7.5 m2

2m
4m
Rectangular base: L = 2B  area req’d = 2B2 = 7.5  Breq = 1.94 m
propose B = 2 m  L = 4 m  base area = 2 x 4 m2

Column ultimate load, NEd = 1.35Gk + 1.5Qk = 1.35(1000) + 1.5(350) = 1875 kN

Ultimate soil pressure, p = 1875/(2x4) = 234.38 kN/m2
With trial 450 mm thickness  selfweight of footing
Assume thickness of footing, h = 450 mm = 0.45 x 2 x 4 x 25 = 90 kN < assumed 150 kN
 OK to proceed.
Specify blinding layer below footing  cnom = 50 mm
dmean = 450 – 50 – 30 = 370 mm d1 = 450 – 50 – 25/2 = 387.5 mm
d2 = 450 – 50 – 1.5(25) = 362.5 mm
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Check maximum shear

VRd,max = 0.5ud x 0.6(1 – fck/250) x fck/1.5
u = (4 x 400)  VRd,max = 3125 kN > NED = 1875 kN  (OK)

Preliminary check on punching shear (2d = 2 x 370 = 740)

 punching shear exists for this footing

 need to check!
1000
740

740 740
Critical perimeter = col. Perimeter + 4d
740

= 4 x 400 + 4 x 370 = 6249 mm

Area within perimeter = 3.06 x 106 mm2
punching shear force, VEd(ps) = 234.38(2x4 – 3.06) = 1158 kN
punching shear stress, vEd(ps) = 1158x103/(6249x370) = 0.5 N/mm2

Assume average bending reinf’t = As,min  ρl = 0.0015

 vRd,c = max{0.34; 0.43} = 0.43 N/mm2
< vEd(ps) = 0.5 N/mm2
 slightly smaller. Acceptable!
(to provide reinf’t to produce vRd,c at least 0.5 N/mm2)
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

b = 2000  As,min = 1162

Bending reinf’t design As,max = 36000
MEd,1 = (234.38 x 2 x 1.8) x 1.8/2 = 759.39 kNm
1800
K = 0.084 (singly)  z = 0.91d
b = 2000

As = 4951 mm2 > As,min

 propose 11H25 (5399)  ρl1 = 0.0070 < As,max
Centroid of upward force b = 4000  As,min = 2175
As,max = 72000
MEd,2 = (234.38 x 4 x 0.8) x 0.8/2 = 300 kNm
800

K = 0.019 (singly)  z = 0.98d > 0.95d

b = 4000 As = 2003 mm2 < As,min  use As = 2175 mm2
 propose 31H12 (3506)  ρl2 = 0.0024 < As,max

Final check on punching shear

ρl ave = (ρl1+ ρl2)/2 = 0.0047 < 0.02; k = 1.73 < 2.0
VRd,c = 1160 kN > VEd(ps) = 1158 kN
 no punching shear reinf’t req’d

bar distribution: 11H25 (equal spacing)

31H12 (2/3As at c + 3d zone)
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Critical shear check (1d from col. Face)

VEd,1 = 234.38 x 2 x 1.43 = 670.33 kN
1430 ρl1 = 0.0070  VRd,c1 = 443 kN < VEd,1 (to avoid shear reinf’t  increase ρl1 )
b = 2000

if ρl1 = 0.015 (1.5%)  VRd,c1 = 546 kN < VEd,1

if ρl1 = 0.02 (2%)  VRd,c1 = 601 kN < VEd,1 (to avoid shear reinf’t, increase h!!)
14800 mm2  provide 19H32 (15280 mm2 < As,max)

h needs to be increased. Say h = 500 or 550 mm

Redesign the footing with new thickness & reinf’t
Or design shear reinf’t for direction 1
430

VEd,2 = 234.38 x 4 x 0.43 = 403.13 kN

b = 4000 ρl2 = 0.0024  VRd,c2 = 581 kN > VEd,2
no shear reinf’t req’d for direction 2
thickness of footing increased to h = 500 mm
New SW = 2 x 4 x 0.5 x 25 = 100 kN < 150 (estimated SW)
 no changes in the working load, required/proposed footing area &
ultimate soil pressure.

dmean = 500 – 50 – 30 = 420 mm d1 = 500 – 50 – 25/2 = 437.5 mm

d2 = 500 – 50 – 1.5(25) = 412.5 mm
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Check maximum shear

VRd,max = 0.5ud x 0.6(1 – fck/250) x fck/1.5
u = (4 x 400)  VRd,max = 3125.76 kN > NED = 1875 kN  (OK)

Check on punching shear (2d = 2 x 420 = 840)

 punching shear line lies beyond footing area
no punching shear check required for this thickness
b = 2000  As,min = 1312
Bending reinf’t design As,max = 40000

1800
MEd,1 = (234.38 x 2 x 1.8) x 1.8/2 = 759.39 kNm
b = 2000

K = 0.066 (singly)  z = 0.937d

As = 4258 mm2 > As,min
 propose 15H20 (4712)  ρl1 = 0.0054 < As,max

b = 4000  As,min = 2475

As,max = 80000
MEd,2 = (234.38 x 4 x 0.8) x 0.8/2 = 300 kNm
800

K = 0.0147 (singly)  z = 0.98d > 0.95d

b = 4000 As = 1760 mm2 < As,min  use As = 2475 mm2
 propose 31H12 (3506)  ρl2 = 0.0021 < As,max
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Critical shear check (1d from col. Face) k = 1.69 (for d = 420)
VEd,1 = 234.38 x 2 x 1.38 = 646.89 kN
ρl1 = 0.0054  VRd,c1 = 449 kN < VEd,1 (to avoid shear reinf’t  increase ρl1 )
b = 2000

1380

if ρl1 = 0.015 (1.5%)  VRd,c1 = 631 kN < VEd,1

if ρl1 = 0.018 (1.8%)  VRd,c1 = 670 kN > VEd,1
15750 mm2  provide 20H32 (16084 mm2 < As,max)

VEd,2 = 234.38 x 4 x 0.38 = 356.26 kN

380

ρl2 = 0.0021  VRd,c2 = 618 kN > VEd,2 (no shear reinf’t req’d for direction 2)
b = 4000

Continue with crack control check!!

400

bar distribution: 20H32 (equal spacing)

4000
?H? (col. Bars) 31H12 (2/3As at c + 3d zone)
1700 C + 3d = 1660  1700
500 20H32
50 mm lean conc.
?H? ?H?
?H?
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Combined Footing
• When 2 columns are close together or the bearing capacity is low, it is
sometimes necessary or convenient to combine their footings to form a
continuous base.
• The dimensions of the footings should be chosen so that the resultant load
passes through the centroid of the base area. This may be assumed to give a
uniform bearing pressure under the footing and help to prevent differential
settlement.
• For most structures the ratios of permanent and variable loads carried by
each column are similar so that if the resultant passes through the centroid
for the serviceability limit state then this will also be true – or very nearly – at
the ultimate limit state, and hence in these cases a uniform pressure
distribution may be considered for both limit states.
• The shape of the footing may be rectangular or trapezoidal. The trapezoidal
base has the disadvantage of detailing and cutting varying lengths of
reinforcing bars; it is used where there is a large variation in the loads carried
by the two columns and there are limitations on the length of the footing.
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Combined Footing
• Sometimes in order to strengthen the base and economise on concrete a
beam is incorporated between the two column so that the base is designed
as an inverted T-section.
• The proportions of the footing depend on many factors. If it is too long, there
will be large longitudinal moments on the lengths projecting beyond the
columns, whereas a short base will have a larger span moment between the
columns and the greater width will cause large transverse moments.
• The thickness of the footing must be such that the shear stresses are not
excessive.
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Example 2
Two columns (300 mm sq. and 400 mm sq.) are arranged so that
they are spaced 3000 mm apart (as shown). Due to the loads (as
shown) carry by these two columns and the soil bearing capacity, a
combined footing is more suitable to support the two columns.
Given: safe bearing pressure = 300 kN/m2; fck = 30 N/mm2; fyk = 500
N/mm2, design the combined footing and draw the details.

Gk = 1000 kN Gk = 1400 kN
Qk = 200 kN Qk = 300 kN
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Solution:
Assume a base thickness, h = 850 mm
Base area
net safe bearing pressure, pnet = 300 – 25h = 300 – 25 x 0.85
= 278.8 kN/m2
total load = 1000 + 200 + 1400 + 300 = 2900 kN
area of base req’d = 2900/278.8 = 10.4 m2
provide a rectangular base, 4.6 m x 2.3 m.  area = 10.58 m2
2.3 m 1.24 m
Resultant of column loads and centroid of base

Resultant
load
Taking moments about the centre line of the
400 mm sq. column:

850
x = 1200 x 3 / (1200 + 1700)
= 1.24 m
the base is centred on this position of the 300 sq. 400 sq.
resultant of the column loads as shown. column column

2.3 m
0.54 m 3.0 m 1.06 m
4.6 m
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Bearing pressure at the ultimate limit state

column loads = 1.35x1000 + 1.5x200 + 1.35x1400 + 1.5x300
= 1650 + 2340 = 3990 kN
 earth pressure = 3990/(4.6 x 2.3) = 377 kN/m2

Assuming d = 790 mm for the longitudinal bars (main) and mean dmean = 780 mm
for punching shear calculations:

At the column face: max. shear resistance, VRd,max = 0.5ud[0.6(1-fck /250)](fck /1.5)

For 300 mm sq. column:

VRd,max = 0.5x1200x780[0.6(1-30/250)](30/1.5)x10-3
= 4942 kN (NEd = 1650 kN)
For 400 mm sq. column:
VRd,max = 0.5x1600x780[0.6(1-30/250)](30/1.5)x10-3
= 6589 kN (NEd = 2340 kN)
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Longitudinal bending moments and shear forces diagrams at the ultimate limit
state for a net upward pressure of 377 kN/m2 are shown below:

Longitudinal bending
maximum moment is at mid-span between the columns
As = MEd /0.87fykz = 679x106/(0.87x500x0.95x790) = 2080 mm2
(proof that z = 0.95d)
As,min = 0.0015bd = 0.0015x2300x790 = 2726 mm2
?
Provide 9 H20 at 270 mm c/c (2830 mm2)
at top and bottom to meet the
minimum area requirements.

Try to carry out analysis by

yourselves in order to get the
similar results as in this example
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

Transverse bending (only for bottom only, top As,min. Why?)

MEd = 377 x 1.152/2 = 249 kNm/m
?

As = MEd /0.87fykz = 249x106/(0.87x500x0.95x770)

= 783 mm2/m
As,min = 0.0015bd = 0.0015x1000x770 = 1155 mm2/m
?
Provide H16 at 150 mm (1340 mm2/m)
the transverse reinforcement should be placed at closer centres under the
columns to allow for greater moments in those regions.

Also: check for the maximum bar size and maximum bar spacing for cracking

Shear check
Punching shear cannot be checked, since the critical perimeter 2.0d from
the column lies outside the base area.

Critical section for shear is taken from 1.0d from the column face.
Design shear, VEd = 1420 – 377x2.3(0.78 + 0.2) = 570 kN
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN CES 522

1 = 0.5(As /bd) = 0.5[2830/(2300x790) + 1340/(1000x770)]

= 0.0016 (= 0.16% < 2.0%) k = 1 + (200/d)1/2  2.0
= 1 + (200/780)1/2 = 1.50

shear resistance of the concrete without shear reinforcement,

VRd,c = 0.12k(1001fck)1/3bd  [0.035k3/2fck1/2]bd
= 0.12x1.5(100x0.0016x30)1/3x2300x780x10-3
= 544.7 kN or 580 kN
= 580 kN> VEd (no shear reinforcement is required)

# Continue with shear check in transverse direction (for both columns) - SCL

COMBINED FOOTING (SECTION) COMBINED FOOTING (PLAN)