Foundation Engineering

Lecture #05

Bearing Capacity of Soils

on

Eccentrically Loaded Footings

L. Prieto-Portar, 2008
 Foundations with a One-Way Eccentricity.

In most instances, foundations are subjected to moments in addition to the vertical load
as shown below. In such cases the distribution of pressure by the foundation upon the soil
is not uniform. Q M e

The effective
width is now,

B B B’ = B - 2e
B X L

F o r e < B /6
whereas the
Figure 6. An effective length is
q m in
eccentrically q m ax e Still,
loaded
footing. F o r e > B /6 L’ = L

q m ax

(a) (b )
The distribution of the nominal pressure is :
Q 6M
qmax = + 2 (14)
BL B L
and
Q 6M
q min = − 2 (15)
BL B L
where Q is the total vertical load and M is the moment on the footing in one axis.

Figure 6b shows a force system equivalent to that in Figure 6a. The distance e is the
eccentricity of the load, or
M
e= (16)
Q
Substituting equation 16 in equations 14 and 15 yields:

Q 6e
qmax = 1+ (17 a)
BL B
and
Q 6e
q min = 1− (17 b)
BL B
Note that in these equations, when the eccentricity e becomes B/6, qmin is zero. For e >
B/6, qmin will be negative, which means that tension will develop. Because soils can sustain
very little tension, there will be a separation between the footing and the soil under it.
Also note that the eccentricity tends to decrease the load bearing capacity of a
foundation. In such cases, placing foundation column off-center, as shown in Figure 7 is
probably advantageous. Doing so in effect, produces a centrally loaded foundation with a
uniformly distributed pressure.
M

Figure 7. A footing with the column off-center to preserve a uniform pressure on the soil.
The general bearing capacity equation is therefore modified to,

qu’ = c Nc Fcs Fcd Fci + q Nq Fqs Fqd Fqi + γ B’ Nγ Fγs Fγd Fγi

and Qu = qu’ B’ L’
Foundations with Two-way Eccentricities.

Consider a footing subject to a vertical ultimate load Qult and a moment M as shown in
Figures 8a and 8b. For this case, the components of the moment M about the x and y axis
are Mx and My respectively. This condition is equivalent to a load Q placed eccentrically
on the footing with x = eB and y = eL as shown in Figure 8d.

Q u lt
M
y

eB

My Mx eL
L x
Qult Qult My Qult
B X L
B B
(a ) (b) (c) (d)

Figure 8. Analysis of a footing with a two-way eccentricity.

Note that,

My Mx
eB = and eL = (18)
Qult Qult
If Qult is needed, it can be obtained as Qult = q 'u A' where,
1
q 'u = cNc Fcs Fcd Fci + qNq Fqs Fqd Fqi + B ' N Fγ s Fγ d Fγi (19)
2
and A' is the effective area B'L'

Finally Qult = qu (A')

As before, to evaluate Fcs , Fqs , and Fγs , use the effective length (L') and the effective width
(B') dimensions instead of L and B, respectively. To calculate Fcd , Fqd ,and Fγ d ,do not replace
B with B'. In determining the effective area (A'), effective width (B'), and the effective (L'),
four possible cases may arise (Highter and Anders, 1985).
 B1

eB
Effective
Qult
area
eL
L L1

eL 1 e 1
Figure 9. Case I. The effective area for the case of ≥ and B ≥ .
L 6 B 6
 eL 1 e 1
Case I : ≥ and B ≥ .
L 6 B 6

1
The effective area for this condition is A' = B1 L1 (20)
2
3eB 3e
where B1 = B 1.5 − and L1 = L 1.5 − L (21 a and b)
B L
The effective length L', is the larger of the two dimensions B1 or L1.
Therefore, the effective width is:
A'
B' = (22)
L'

eL 1 e 1
Case II : < and 0 < B < . The effective area for this case is shown in Figure 10a,
L 2 B 6
1
A ' = ( L1 + L2 ) B (23)
2
The magnitude of L1 and L 2 can be determined from Figure 10b. The effective width is,
A'
B' = (24)
L1 or L2 ( whichever is l arg er )
The effective length is L ' = L1 or L2 ( whichever is l arg er ) (25)
 B

L2 eB
Effective
Qult
area
Figure10. Case II. eL
L L1
eL 1 e 1
Effective area for the case of < and 0 < B < (After Highter and Anders, 1985)
L 2 B 6
A'
The effective width is B' = and the effective length is L' = L.
L

(a)
L1 and L2 can be determined from the figure, 0.5

A' eB/B =
B' = 0.167
L1orL2 0.4
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
using in the denominator the largest 0.3
value of L, that is,
eL/L

0.2
L’ = L1 or L2 whichever is larger
0.16
0.14
0.12

0.
0.10
0.0

02
0.0
0.0

0.
01
0.1

6
4
For For
eB/B =

0.
obtaining obtaining

0.0

01
2
L2/L L1/L
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
L1/L , L2/L
(b)
 eL 1 e 1
Case III : < and 0 < B < . The effective area is shown in Figure 11a.
L 6 B 2
1
A ' = ( B1 + B2 ) L (26)
2
The effective width is,
A'
B' = (27)
L
The effective length is equal to L' = L (28)
The magnitudes of B1 and B2 can be determined fron Figure 11b.

eL 1 e 1
Case IV : < and B < . The effective area is shown in Figure 12a.
L 6 B 6
B e
The ratio 2 and thus B2 can be determined by using the L curves that slope upward.
B L
L e
Similarely, the ratio 2 and thus L 2 can be determined by using the L curves that slope downward.
L L
The effective area is then,
1
A ' = L2 B + ( B + B2 )( L − L2 ) (29)
2
 B
B1

eB
Effective
Qult
area
eL
L
Foundation with Two-way Eccentricity, Case III
e 1 e 1
Figure11. Effective area for the case of L < and 0 < B <
L 6 B 2
(After Highter ans Anders, 1985). B2
(a)
0.5

eL/L =
0.167
0.4
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.3
eB/B
0.2
0.16
0.14
0.12

0.
0.10
0.0

02
0.0
0.0

0.
01
0.1

6
4
For For
eL/L =

0.
obtaining obtaining

0 .0

01
2
B2/B B1/B
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
B1/B , B2/B
(b)
 B

eB
L2 Effective
area
eL
L

Qult
Foundation with Two-way Eccentricity, Case IV
e 1 e 1
Figure 12. Effective area for the case of L < and B < B2
L 6 B 2
(a)
(After Highter ans Anders, 1985)
0.20
For obtaining B2/B

0.16
0.14
0.12
0.15 0.10 0.08
0.06
0.
08
0.1 0.14

eB/B
0.10 0.04
0.0
6
0.0
4
0.05 0.02 = eL/L

eL/L = 0.02
For obtaining L2/L
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
B2/B , L2/L
(b)
Example 7.

A square foundation is shown in Figure 13. Assume that the one- way load eccentricity e
is 0.15 m. Determine the ultimate load Qult.

Solution : With c = 0, equation 19 becomes:

q 'u = qN q Fqs Fqd Fqi + 1

2 B'N Fγ s Fγ d Fγ i
and q = γ Df = ( 0.7 )(18 ) = 12.6 kN m 2

sand
γsat =18kN/m3
0.7 m φ = 30°
c=0
For = 30º, Nq = 18.4 and N = 22.4 1.5 m x 1.5 m

B’ = 1.5 – 2(0.15) = 1.2 m

L’ = 1.5 m
Figure 13.
 B' 1 .2
Fqs = 1 + ta n φ = 1 + ta n 3 0 ° = 1 .4 6 2
L' 1 .5

Fqd = 1 + 2 ta n φ (1 - s in φ )
2 D f
= 1 +
( 0 .2 8 9 )( 0 .7 ) = 1 .1 3 5
B 1 .5
B' 1 .2
Fγ s = 1 - 0 .4 = 1 - 0 .4 = 0 .6 8
L' 1 .5
Fγ d = 1
So
q 'u = (1 2 .6 )(1 8 .4 )(1 .4 6 2 )(1 .1 3 5 ) + 1
2 (1 8 )(1 .2 )( 2 2 .4 )( 0 .6 8 )(1 )
= 3 8 4 .7 + 1 6 4 .5 0 = 5 4 9 .2 k N m2
H ence
Q u lt = B 'L ' ( q 'u ) = (1 .2 )(1 .5 )( 5 4 9 .2 ) ≈ 988 kN
Example 8.

Using the data from Example 5, and having a two-way eccentricity, for Figure 14,
determine the ultimate load Qult.

Solution :
eL 0 .3
= = 0 .2 e B = 0 .1 5 m
L 1 .5
eB 0 . 15
= = 0 .1
B 1 .5 e L = 0 .3 m
1 .5 m
FromEq .( 3 . 51 )
1
A '= (L 1 + L 2 ) =
2
1
(1.275 + 0.315)(1.5 ) = 1.193m 2

2 1 .5 m

Figure 14.
 A' 1.193
From equation 24 B' = = = 0.936
L' 1.275
From equation 25, L' = L 1

S ince c = 0
q 'u = qN q Fqs Fqd Fqi + 1
2 B 'N Fγ s Fγ d Fγ i

and q = γ D f = (0.7 )(18) = 12.6 kN /m 2

For φ = 30 ° , N q = 18.4 and N γ = 22.4

B' 0.936
Fqs = 1 + tan φ = 1 + tan 30 ° = 1.424
L' 1.275
B' 0.936
Fγ s = 1 − 0.4 = 1 − 0.4 = 0.706
L' 1.275
D (0.289)(0.7 )
Fqd = 1 + 2 tan φ (1 − sin φ ) 2 f = 1 + = 1.135
B 1.5
Fγ d =1
1
∴ Q ult = A ' q 'u = A '( qN q Fqs Fqd + γ B ' N γ Fγ s Fγ d ) =
2
= (1.193)[(12.6) (18.4)(1.424)(1.135) + (0.5)(18)(0.936)(22.4)(0.706)(1)]
= 606 kN
References:

1. J. Bowles, “Foundation Analysis and Design”, McGraw-Hill;

2. B. Das, “Principles of foundation Engineering”, Thompson;
3. Liu, Everett, “Soils and Foundations”, Prentice Hall;