SOIL BEARING

CAPACITY FOR
SHALLOW
FOUNDATIONS
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 2
◦ Its function is to transfer the load of the structure
to the soil on which it is resting
◦ A properly designed foundation transfers the load
throughout the soil without overstressing the soil. Foundation
◦ Overstressing the soil can result in either
excessive settlement or shear failure of the soil,
both of which cause damage to the structure.
Common Types
of Foundation
◦A spread footing is
simply an enlargement
of a load-bearing wall or
column that makes it
possible to spread the
load of the structure over
a larger area of the soil.
Common Types
of Foundation
◦ In soil with low load-bearing
capacity, the size of the spread
footings required is impracticably
large. In that case, it is more
economical to construct the entire
structure over a concrete pad.
◦ This is called a mat foundation.
Common Types
of Foundation
◦ Pile and drilled shaft
foundations are used for heavier
structures when great depth is
required for supporting the load.
Piles are structural members made
of timber, concrete, or steel that
transmit the load of the
superstructure to the lower layers
of the soil.
 ◦Spread footings and mat foundations
generally are referred to as shallow
foundations,
◦whereas pile and drilled-shaft
foundations are classified as deep
foundations.
Foundation ◦In a more general sense, shallow
foundations are foundations that
have a
depth-of-embedment-to-width
ratio of approximately less than
four.
SOIL BEARING
CAPACITY
◦is the capacity of soil to
support the loads applied to
the ground. The bearing
capacity of soil is the
maximum average contact
pressure between the
foundation and the soil
which should not produce
shear failure in the soil.
Terzaghi’s Ultimate Bearing Capacity Equation

◦In 1921, Prandtl published the results of his

study on the penetration of hard bodies
(such as metal punches) into a softer
material.
◦Terzaghi (1943) extended the plastic failure
theory of Prandtl to evaluate the bearing
capacity of soils for shallow strip footings.
◦For practical considerations, a long wall
footing may be called a strip footing.
Terzaghi’s Ultimate Bearing Capacity Equation
 Terzaghi’s bearing-capacity equation.
 

◦For Rectangular Footing

◦For Square Footing

◦For Circular Footing

Effect of Groundwater Table
Effect of Groundwater Table
Factor of Safety
◦ Gross Allowable Bearing Capacity - is the allowable load per unit area to which the soil
under the foundation should be subjected to avoid any chance of bearing capacity failure.

◦ where A = area of the foundation.

◦ The net allowable bearing capacity is the allowable load per unit area of the foundation in
excess of the existing vertical effective stress at the level of the foundation. he vertical
effective stress at the foundation level is equal to q=𝛶Df
EXAMPLE: CE BOARD NOV 2015
◦ A square footing 2m on a side is founded 1.2m below the ground surface for
which the bulk unit weight of soil is 20kN/m3, the cohesion strength is 10kPa
and the angle of internal friction is 15 degrees. Under the condition of general
shear failure, evaluate the soil bearing capacity in kPa. Use Terzaghi’s bearing
capacity factors.
(SATURATED UNIT WEIGHT OF SOIL=22kN/m3)
◦ If the ground water table is more than 2m below the bottom of the footing.
◦ If the ground water table is at the bottom of the footing.
◦ If the ground water table rises to the ground surface.
General Bearing Capacity Equation
Sample Problem
◦ A sandy soil having a cohesion of 24kPa has a bearing capacity factor
Nq=14.72.
◦ Compute the value of the angle of internal friction of the sandy soil.
◦ Compute the value of bearing capacity factor Nc.
◦ Compute the value of the bearing capacity N𝛶.
PLATE NO. 7: Terzaghi’s Bearing Capacity
1. A 1.2x1.2m footing has its bottom at a depth of 2.6m from the ground surface. Under the
condition of general shear failure, evaluate the soil bearing capacity in kPa. Use Terzaghi’s
bearing capacity factors. (∅=28°, cohesion=16.74kPa, 𝛶dry=18.10kN/m3, 𝛶sat=19.30kN/m3
a. If the ground water table is 1m below the bottom of the footing.
b. If the ground water table is at the bottom of the footing.
c. If the ground water table is at 0.5m below the ground surface.
2. A square footing carries an allowable load of 58100kg including its own weight. 𝘱s=1850kg/m3
c’=1600kg/m2, ∅=31°The bottom of the footing is 1m below the ground surface.(use
Reissner/Prandtl/Vesic formula for bearing capacity factors)
a. Compute the effective surcharge(q) at the bottom of the footing.
b. Compute the value of B using a gross factor of safety of 3.
c. Compute the net factor of safety
WORKSHEET 1: Terzaghi’s Bearing
1.Capacity
A 1.2x1.2m footing has its bottom at a depth of 2.6m from the ground surface. Under the
condition of general shear failure, evaluate the soil bearing capacity in kPa. Use Terzaghi’s
bearing capacity factors. (∅=28°, cohesion=16.74kPa, 𝛶dry=18.10kN/m3, 𝛶sat=19.30kN/m3
a. If the ground water table is 1m below the bottom of the footing.
b. If the ground water table is at the bottom of the footing.
c. If the ground water table is at 0.5m below the ground surface.
2. A square footing carries an allowable load of 58100kg including its own weight. 𝘱s=1850kg/m3
c’=1600kg/m2, ∅=31°The bottom of the footing is 1m below the ground surface.(use
Reissner/Prandtl/Vesic formula for bearing capacity factors)
a. Compute the effective surcharge(q) at the bottom of the footing.
b. Compute the value of B using a gross factor of safety of 3.
c. Compute the net factor of safety