Tutorial Problems on Bearing Capacity

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1. A footing 2 m square, subjected to a centric vertical load, is located at a depth of 1.0 m
below the ground surface in a deep deposit of compacted sand ф’ = 35°, and sat = 18
kN/m3. The groundwater level is 5 m below the ground surface. Determine the allowable
bearing capacity for a factor of safety of 3 using:

a) Terzaghi’s bearing capacity equation.

b) Meyerhoff’s bearing capacity equation.

Strategy It is a good policy to sketch a diagram illustrating the conditions given (see Figure-
1). The groundwater level is located at (5 m - 1 m) = 4 m from the footing base. That is, the
groundwater level is more than B = 2 m below the base. We can neglect the effects of
groundwater.
Solution
a) Terzaghi’s method.
Step 1: Determine the bearing capacity factors. Assume rough footing.
For ф’p = 35°; Nc= 57.8, Nq=41.4, N=42.4
Step 2: Calculate the ultimate bearing capacity.
Terzaghi’s ultimate bearing capacity equation for square footing is given by:
qu  1.3c' N c  DN q  0.4BN 
qu  1.3  0  57.8  18  1 41.4  0.4  2  18  42.4  0  745.2  610.6  1355.8
qu 1355.8
qa    452kPa
FS 3
b) Meyerhof’s method.
qu  c' N c sc d c ic  DN q sq d q iq  0.5BN  s d  i
Step 1: Determine the bearing capacity factors. Assume rough footing.
For ф’ = 35°; Nc= 46.4, Nq=33.5, N=37.6
Step 2: Calculate the shape factor, depth factor and inclination factor.
 '   35 
 K p  tan 2  45    tan 2  45    3.69
 2  2
 Shape factor
B 2
o s c  1  0.2 K p
 1  0.2  3.69   1.74
L 2
B 2
o For '  100 s q  s  1  0.1K p  1  0.1  3.69   1.37
L 2
 Depth factor

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Tutorial Problems on Bearing Capacity
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D 1
o d c  1  0.2 K p  1  0.2  3.69   1.19
B 2
D 1
o For  ' 100 , d q  d   1  0.1 K p  1  0.1  3.69   1.1
B 2
 Inclination factor
For vertical load, ic = iq = i  = 1

Step 3: Calculate the ultimate bearing capacity.

Meyerhof’s ultimate bearing capacity equation is given by:

qu  c' N c sc d c ic  DN q sq d q iq  0.5BN  s d  i

qu  0  18  1 33.5  1.37  1.1 1  0.5  2  18  37.6  1.37  1.1 1  908.7  1019.9  1929kPa
qu 1929
qa    643kPa
FS 3

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Tutorial Problems on Bearing Capacity
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The shape, inclination and depth factors are according to Meyerhof

Shape Depth Inclination

2
B D  0 
Any  ' s c  1  0 .2 K p d c  1  0.2 K p ic  iq  1  0 
L B  90 
For  '  0 sq = s  = 1 dq = d  = 1 i = 0
2
B D  0 
For  ' 10 0
s q  s  1  0.1K p d q  d   1  0.1 K p i  1  0 
L B  ' 
 ' 
K p  tan 2  45   ,  =angle of resultant measured from vertical axis.
 2

 B '
when triaxial  ' is used for plane strain, adjust  ' to obtain  '  1.1  0.1 triax ial
 L

2. Determine the dimension of a square footing using Terzaghi’s equation. The base of the
foundation is at a depth of 2m below the ground level. The footing is subjected to a
central vertical force of 600kN. The soil parameters are c = 15kN/m2, , =
3
18kN/m . Use a factor of safety of 3.

Solution
Step 1: Determine the bearing capacity factors. Assume rough footing.
For ф’ = 25°; Nc= 25.1, Nq=12.7, N=9.7

Step 2: Determine the dimension from the ultimate bearing capacity equation.
qu  1.3c' Nc  DNq  0.4BN  1.3 15 25.1  18 2 12.7  0.4  B 18 9.7
qu  489.45  457.2  69.8B  947  70B (1)
q Q  FS 600  3 1800
Qall  qall  A  u  A  qu  all   (2)
FS A B L B B

Equating (1) and (2)

1800
947  70B   1800  B 2 (947  70B)  B  1.35m
B B

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Tutorial Problems on Bearing Capacity
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3. What will be the ultimate bearing capacity of sand having ϕ = 35o and γd =
19 kN/m3 for:
i. 1.5 m strip foundation and
ii. 1.5 m x 1.5 m square footing.
The footings are placed at a depth of 1.5 m below ground level. Assume FS =
2.5. Use Terzaghi’s equations.
B = 1.5 m For ϕ = 35o
D = 1.5 m Nc = 57.8, Nq = 41.4, Nγ = 42.4
3
γ = 19 kN/m
i. Strip Footing
qult  cN c  DN q  0.5BN 
qult  0  57.8  19  1.5  41.4  0.5  19  1.5  42.4  1769.85kPa
ii. Square Footing
qult  1.3cN c  DN q  0.4BN 
qult  1.3  0  57.8  19  1.5  41.4  0.4  19  1.5  42.4  1651.86kPa
4. A square footing is to be constructed on a deep deposit of sand at a depth of
1.2 m to carry a design load of 400 kN with a factor of safety of 2.5. The
ground water table may rise to the ground level during rainy season. Design
the plan dimension of footing using Terzaghi’s equation given γ = 18 kN/m3
γsat = 20 kN/m3, ϕ = 250.
c=0 For ϕ = 250 Q = 400kN
FS = 2.5
Nc = 25.1
D = 1.2 m
Nq = 12.7
γ = 18 kN/m3
Nγ = 9.7
γsat = 20 kN/m3
ϕ = 250
D = 1.2m

B=L=?
Since the ground water table rises to the ground surface during rainy season the
appropriate unit weight should be used in the bearing capacity equation.
Qall Qall 400
q all   2  2 (i)
A B B
q 1.3cN   ' DN q  0.4 ' BN 
 u 
c
q all
FS FS
1.3  0  25.1  (20  9.81)  1.2  12.7  0.4  (20  9.81)  B  9.7
q all  (ii)
2.5
Equating (i) and (ii) we get
15.81B 3 6  2.12B 2  400  0
B = 2.06 m  Use B = L = 2.10m

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Tutorial Problems on Bearing Capacity
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5. A strip footing 2 m wide carries a load intensity of 400 kPa at a depth of
1.2m in sand. The saturated unit weight of sand is 19.5kN/m3 and unit
weight above water table is 16.8kN/m3. If c = 0 and ϕ = 35o, determine the
factor of safety with respect to shear failure for the following locations of
water table.
a. Water table is 4 m below Ground Level
b. Water table is 1.2 m below Ground Level
c. Water table is 2.5 m below Ground Level
d. Water table is at Ground Level.
Using Terzaghi’s equation, take Nq = 41.4 and Nγ = 42.4.
Data
C=0 For ϕ = 35o
ϕ = 35o Nc = 0
B=2m Nq = 41.4
D = 1.2 m Nγ = 42.4
3
γb = 19.5 kN/m (bottom)
γt = 16.8 kN/m3 (top)
Allowable load intensity = 400 kPa
q cN c  DN q  0.5BN 
FS  ult 
qall 400
a. Water table is 4 m below Ground Level
The ground water level is at a depth of (4-1.2) =2.8m >B=2m, it has
no effect on the bearing capacity of the soil.
q 16.8  1.2  41.4  0.5  16.8  2  42.4
FS  ult   3.87
qall 400
b. Water table is 1.2 m below Ground Level
The ground water level is at the base of the footing and the effective
unit weight (γ’) is used in the soil unit weight (third) term of the
equation.
q cN c  DN q  0.5 ' BN 
FS  ult 
qall 400
qult 16.8 1.2  41.4  0.5  (19.5  9.81)  2  42.4
FS    3.1
qall 400
c. Water table is 2.5 m below Ground Level
The ground water level is at a depth of (2.5-1.2) =1.3m below the base
of the footing. If the groundwater level is at a depth z below the base,
such that z < B, then the term γB is γz+ γ’(B-z).

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Tutorial Problems on Bearing Capacity
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qult cN c  DN q  0.5z   ' ( B  z )N
FS  
qall 400
qult 16.8 1.2  41.4  0.516.8 1.3  (19.5  9.81)(2  1.3)42.4
FS    3.76
qall 400

d. Water table is at Ground Level

q cN c   ' DN q  0.5 ' BN 
FS  ult 
qall 400
qult (19.5  9.81) 1.2  41.4  0.5  (19.5  9.81)  2  42.4
FS    2.23
qall 400
6. A strip footing 1 m wide and a square footing 1 m side are placed at a depth
of 1.3 m below the ground surface. The foundation soil has cohesion of 12
kPa, angle of friction of 25o and unit weight of 18kN/m3. Calculate the
allowable bearing capacity using Terzaghi’s theory. Use factor of safety of 3.
ϕ Nc Nq Nγ
25o 25.1 12.7 9.7

B=1m
D=1m
γ= 18 kN/m3
Strip footing
qult cN c  DN q  0.5BN 
q all  
FS 3
12  25.1  18  1.3  12.7  0.5  18  1  9.7
q all   228.56kPa
3
Square footing
qult 1.3cN c  DN q  0.4BN 
q all  
FS 3
1.3  12  25.1  18  1.3  12.7  0.4  18  1  9.7
q all   252.86kPa
3

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Tutorial Problems on Bearing Capacity
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Exercise problems
1. Calculate the ultimate bearing capacity of 2 m wide square footing resting on
the ground surface of sand deposit with the following properties; unit weight
18.5 kN/m3, angle of internal friction 30o. Also calculate ultimate bearing
capacity if same footing is placed at a depth of 1 m below ground surface.
2. Determine the allowable bearing capacity of a square footing 1.8 m x 1.8 m
placed at a depth of 1.5 m in a soil with a moist unit weight of 17.5 kN/m 3, c
= 15 kPa and ϕ = 20o. Use (a) Terzaghi’s and (b) Meyerhof’s bearing
capacity equation. What is the change in allowable bearing capacity if the
water table rises to 0.5 m above footing base and if FS = 3.
3. What will be the ultimate bearing capacity of sand having ϕ = 36o and dry
unit weight of 19 kN/m3 for the following cases
a. 1.5 m wide strip foundation
b. 1.5 m x 1.5 m square footing
c. 0.75 m radius circular footing
The footings are placed at a depth of 1.5 m from ground surface. Assume
factor of safety of 1.5 and use Terzaghi’s bearing capacity equations
4. A circular footing is proposed on a cohesive ground with c = 8 kPa, ϕ = 30o,
and γ = 16.5 kN/m3. Find the allowable load carried by the footing if the
diameter is 2.5 m.
5. The following are the results of plate load test on granular soil.
P (kN) 5 10 20 30 40 50 60
Δ (mm) 0.15 0.3 0.62 0.91 1.22 3.85 7.67
Find the allowable bearing pressure if B = 2 m, Bp = 0.3 m, permissible
settlement in field = 12 mm.

Additional Questions
1) Distinguish general shear failure from local shear failure.
2) Mention the limitation of Terzaghi’s bearing capacity theory.
3) How does ground water table influence bearing capacity? Explain
4) Explain the effect of eccentricity of footing on its load carrying capacity.
Describe the influence of one way and two way eccentricities.
5) What are the advantages of Brinch Hansen’s Theory over Terzaghi’s
theory of bearing capacity?
6) Briefly explain Terzaghi’s bearing capacity theory.
7) Briefly explain Brinch Hansen’s bearing capacity theory.
8) A footing is designed to carry a specific load of superstructure. It is
decided to redesign the same to carry double the load. What actions
would you take?
9) Discuss the factors influencing bearing capacity of soil.
10) What is the ultimate bearing capacity?

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