3.4 Bearing Capacity-Refresher Notes

Soil Mechanics
3.4 Bearing Capacity
This copy is given to the following student as part of School of PE course. Not allowed to distribute to others.
Sam Nordquist (sam.nordquist@kerkstra.com)
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3.4 BEARING CAPACITY
Learning Learner will be able to:

• Understand different types of foundations and their most
Objectives appropriate use

• Understand the structural demand as it relates to the required soil
bearing capacity
• Calculate the ultimate bearing capacity using Terzaghi Theory for
strip footing
• Apply necessary correction shape factors
• Calculate the allowable and the net allowable bearing capacity
• Understand the effect of shallow groundwater table on the soil
ultimate bearing capacity
• Understand the effect of eccentricity on the soil ultimate bearing
capacity
2
• Foundations may be classified as: Figure 3.17 Shallow Spread Footing

• Shallow foundations Dimensions
• Deep foundations
• Intermediate foundations
Table: 3.2 Foundation Types Correlated

with Soil Conditions
- See Pages 81-83 in the PE Civil Exam

Review Guide: Breadth Book
3
TIP
The selection of the most appropriate type of

foundation depends not only on the subsoil
conditions but also on the structural loads and
tolerable settlement
A foundation designer must exhaust the possibility
of using cheap shallow foundation before jumping
to the more expensive deep foundations
Intermediate foundations in the form of shallow
foundations supported on improved soil may offer
an economical solution if the weak soil is thin
www.schoolofpe.com | 44
3.4.1 Structural Loads (Demand)
• Load transfer through the building Figure 3.17 Shallow Spread Footing
to the foundation Dimensions
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3.4 BEARING CAPACTIY
3.4.2 Soil Bearing Capacity
• The structural demand must be satisfied by the soil bearing

capacity with an appropriate factor of safety
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3.4.3 Terzaghi’s Bearing Capacity Theory
• The ultimate bearing capacity is

Table: 3.3 Bearing Capacity Factors
theoretically the vertical bearing
pressure at which a general shear - See page 85 in the PE Civil Exam Review
failure will occur in the foundation soil Guide: Breadth book
Table: 3.4 Shape Correction Factors
- See page 86 in the PE Civil Exam Review

Guide: Breadth book
Table: 3.5 Estimation of Friction Angel of

Cohesionless Soils from Standard
Penetration Tests
- See page 86 in the PE Civil Exam Review

This copy is given to the following student as part of School of PE course.Guide: Breadth
Not allowed to distribute to others. book
7
8
TIP
Be consistent when utilizing the gross or net

bearing capacities
When utilizing gross loads, use the ultimate and
the allowable bearing capacities
When utilizing net or column loads, use the net and
the net allowable bearing capacities
The shape factor for the middle term of Terzaghi
equation (Sq) is typically taken as unity
• See Examples
• Example 3.8: Bearing Capacity (pg. 86 of the PE-CERG-BR)
10
3.4.3.1 Bearing Capacity in Clay
• For bearing capacity in cohesive soils, where ϕ=0, the bearing

capacity factors Nq=1 and Nγ=0:
• The undrained shear strength (su) of clay is equal to the

cohesion (c), which is one-half of the unconfined compressive
strength (qunc):
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3.4.3.1 Bearing Capacity in Clay
• See Examples
• Example 3.9: Bearing Capacity in Clay (pg. 87 of the PE-CERG-BR)
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3.4.3.2 Bearing Capacity in Sand
• For bearing capacity in cohesionless soils, where c=0, the

cohesion term of the bearing capacity equation will be zero:
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3.4.3.2 Bearing Capacity in Sand
• See Examples
• Example 3.10: Bearing Capacity in Stand (pg. 88 of the PE-CERG-BR)
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3.4.4 Effect of Groundwater Table on Bearing Capacity
• Case 1: The water table is located at or

above the base of the footing (Df ≥ D1 ≥ 0): Figure 3.18 Effect of Water table on the
Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Soils
• The factor γDf in the Nq term is the effective
vertical stress σ′D at the base of the footing:
• The value of γ in the Nγ term is the submerged

(effective) unit weight:
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• Case 2: The water table is located

between the base of the footing and a Figure 3.18 Effect of Water table on the
depth of B below the base of the footing (B
> d > 0):
• The value of γ in the Nγ term is taken as a
weighted-average unit weight between the dry
and the submerged unit weights:
16
• Case 3: The water table is located below

the base of the footing at a depth greater Figure 3.18 Effect of Water table on the
than or equal to B (d ≥ B):
• When the water table is located below the base
of the footing by a depth greater than or equal
to B, the water table effect is negligible
17
TIP
If the groundwater table is within the influence

zone of the bearing capacity, its effect on the
ultimate bearing capacity must be taken into
consideration. It typically decrease the soil bearing
capacity
The permanent groundwater table should be taken
into account rather than the temporary water table
during dewatering activities
• See Example
• Example: 3.11 Effect of Groundwater on Bearing Capacity (pg. 89 of the
PE-CERG-BR)
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3.4.5 Eccentric Loads on Rectangular Shallow Spread Footings
• Effect of Eccentricity on the Demand- Figure 3.19 Eccentrically Loaded

Structural Loads Foundations
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• Effect of Eccentricity on Supply-Soil Figure 3.19 Eccentrically Loaded

Bearing Capacity Foundations
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• See Example
• Example 3.12: Safety Factor (pg. 91 of the PE-CERG-BR)
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Recap
• Foundation may be classified into shallow, intermediate, and deep
foundation
• Shallow is the most economical followed by intermediate then deep
foundations
• Terzaghi bearing capacity modified with shape factors might be utilized to
estimate the ultimate bearing capacity for clays, sands, and mixed soils
• Appropriate safety factors need to be applied to both allowable and net
allowable bearing capacities
• The effect of groundwater table and eccentricity should be taken into account
when estimating the ultimate bearing capacity
23
• Workshop Problems # 3.4.1, 3.4.2, 3.4.3, 3.4.4
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3.4 Bearing Capacity-Refresher Notes

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Soil Mechanics

3.4 Bearing Capacity

Learning Learner will be able to:

Objectives appropriate use

• Foundations may be classified as: Figure 3.17 Shallow Spread Footing

Table: 3.2 Foundation Types Correlated

- See Pages 81-83 in the PE Civil Exam

The selection of the most appropriate type of

• The structural demand must be satisfied by the soil bearing

• The ultimate bearing capacity is

Table: 3.4 Shape Correction Factors

- See page 86 in the PE Civil Exam Review

Table: 3.5 Estimation of Friction Angel of

- See page 86 in the PE Civil Exam Review

Be consistent when utilizing the gross or net

• For bearing capacity in cohesive soils, where ϕ=0, the bearing

• The undrained shear strength (su) of clay is equal to the

• For bearing capacity in cohesionless soils, where c=0, the

• Case 1: The water table is located at or

• The value of γ in the Nγ term is the submerged

• Case 2: The water table is located

• Case 3: The water table is located below

If the groundwater table is within the influence

• Effect of Eccentricity on the Demand- Figure 3.19 Eccentrically Loaded

• Effect of Eccentricity on Supply-Soil Figure 3.19 Eccentrically Loaded

• Workshop Problems # 3.4.1, 3.4.2, 3.4.3, 3.4.4

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