Koya University

Faculty of Engineering
Civil department
High Diploma

Design of Reinforced Combined Footing

By Rawaz Kanabie Mohammed Ameen

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Introduction
Footings are structural elements that transmit column or wall loads to the underlying soil
below the structure. Footings are designed to transmit these loads to the soil without
exceeding its safe bearing capacity, to prevent excessive settlement of the structure to a
tolerable limit, to minimize differential settlement, and to prevent sliding and overturning.
The choice of suitable type of footing depends on the depth at which the bearing stratum
is localized, the soil condition and the type of superstructure. The foundations are classified
into superficial and deep, which have important differences: in terms of geometry, the
behavior of the soil, its structural functionality and its constructive systems. Superficial
foundations may be of various types according to their function; isolated footing, combined
footing, strip footing, or mat foundation.(1)
In some cases, it may be inconvenient to provide separate isolated footings for columns (or
walls) on account of inadequate areas available in plan. This may occur when two or more
columns (or walls) are located close to each other and/or if they are relatively heavily
loaded and/or rest on soil with low safe bearing capacity, resulting in an overlap of areas if
isolated footings are attempted.(2)
Often, the term ‘combined footing’ is used when two columns are supported by a common
footing, the term ‘continuous strip footing’ is used if the columns (three or more in number)
are aligned in one direction alone, and the term ‘raft foundation’ (‘mat foundation’) is used
when there is a grid of multiple columns. The combining of footings contributes to
improved integral behavior of the structure.(2)
A combined footing is a long footing supporting two or more columns in (typically two)
one row. The combined footing may be rectangular, trapezoidal or T-shaped in plan.
Rectangular footing is provided when one of the projections of the footing is restricted or
the width of the footing is restricted. Trapezoidal footing or T-shaped is provided when one
column load is much more than the other. As a result, both projections of the footing beyond
the faces of the columns will be restricted. See Fig 1.(1)
A two-column combined footing, in which there is a ‘property line’ which restricts the
extension of the footing on one side. In this case, the non-availability of space near the
exterior column is circumvented by combining the footing with that of an interior column.
The width of the footing may be kept uniform or tapered, as shown. The trapezoidal shaped
footing (with a larger width near the exterior column) is required when the exterior column
is more heavily loaded than the interior column. Another option is a combined footing
which is T shaped. It is sometimes economical to provide a central beam interconnecting
the column bases; this causes the base slab to bend transversely, while the beam alone
bends longitudinally.(2)
When a column is located near a property line, part of the single footing might extend into
the neighboring property. To avoid this situation, the column may be placed on one side or
edge of the footing, causing eccentric loading. This may not be possible under certain
conditions, and sometimes it is not an economical solution. A better design can be achieved
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by combining the footing with the nearest internal column footing, forming a combined
footing. The center of gravity of the combined footing coincides with the resultant of the
loads on the two columns.(3)
An alternative to the conventional combined footing is the strap footing, in which the
columns are supported essentially on isolated footings, but interconnected with a beam,(2)
Another case where combined footings become necessary is when the soil is poor and the
footing of one column overlaps the adjacent footing.(3)

Fig 1. General Slab Shapes of combined footings

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Combined footings are constructed for two or more columns when they
are close to each other and their foundations overlap.
Combined footings are provided only when
1. When two columns are close together, causing overlap of adjacent isolated footings
2. When one column is very close to a property line, causing the usual isolated footing to
extend across the line. For this situation, the footing for the exterior column may be
combined with the one for an interior column.
3. Where soil bearing capacity is low causing overlap of adjacent isolated footings.

Fig. 4 Using of combined footings

The main purpose of using combined footing is to distribute uniform pressure under
the footing.
 To achieve this, the center of gravity of the footing area should coincide with the center
of gravity of the two columns loads.
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Geometry of Two-Column Combined Footings

Examples of two-column combined footings are shown in Fig. 2. The geometry of the
footing base should preferably be so selected as to ensure that the centroid of the footing
area coincides with the resultant of the column loads (including consideration of moments
if any, at the column bases). This will result in a uniform distribution of soil pressure, which
is desirable in order to avoid possible tilting of the footing.
The footing may be rectangular or trapezoidal in shape [Fig. 2], depending on the relative
magnitudes of loads on the two columns which the footing supports. When the exterior
column (which has the space limitation for an independent footing) carries the lighter load
(x̅ > s/2), a rectangular footing [Fig. 2(b)] or a trapezoidal footing (with a reduced width
under the exterior column) as shown in Fig. 2(c) may be provided. On the other hand, when
the exterior column carries the heavier load [ x̅ < s/2 in Fig. 2(e)], the wider end of the
trapezoidal footing should be located under the exterior column.(2)

Fig. 14.17 Geometry of two-column combined foo ngs

Fig. 2 Geometry of two-column combined footings

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Following are the different types of combined footing

1. Slab type combined footing
2. Slab and Beam type combined footing
3. Strap type Combined footing.

Fig 4. different types of combined footing

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Bending , critical section for Shear and Moment

• Longitudinally, the footing acts as an upward loaded beam spanning between columns
and cantilevering beyond. Using statics, the shear force and bending moment diagrams in
the longitudinal direction are drawn. Moment is checked at the faces of the column. Shear
force is critical at distance ‘d’ from the faces of columns or at the point of contra flexure.
Two-way shear is checked under the heavier column.
• The footing is also subjected to transverse bending and this bending is spread over a
transverse strip near the column.

Fig.5. Bending shapes in two directions

Fig 6. critical section for Shear and Moment

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Design procedure:
1. Select a trial footing depth.
2. Establish the required base area of the footing:
Uniform soil pressure is achieved by making the resultant of the service column loads
coincide with the centroid of the footing base.
3. Evaluate the net factored soil pressure.
4. Check footing thickness for punching shear.
5. Draw S.F.D and B.M.D for footing:
The shear force and bending moment diagrams for the footing are to be drawn. Considering
the footing as an inverted beam subjected to distributed load. Column loads may be
considered as concentrated loads to simplify the analysis.
6. Check footing thickness for beam shear.
Beam shear capacity is checked against critical factored shear evaluated from S.F.D. Depth
of footing may be increased to satisfy beam shear requirement.
7. Compute the area of flexural reinforcement:
Flexural reinforcement required in the longitudinal direction is evaluated. Furthermore, the
areas of flexural reinforcement under columns in the transverse direction are computed. In
computing this reinforcement, it will be assumed that each column load is uniformly
distributed over a band centered on the column and having a width extending a distance
d/2 from its face. This area of reinforcement is to be uniformly distributed a cross the band
width (C2+d) and the rest of the footing is to be provided with shrinkage and temperature
reinforcement.
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Example:
Design an appropriate footing/footings to support two columns A and B spaced at distance
2.1 m center-to-center. Column A is 20 cm × 30 cm and carries a dead load of 20 tons and
a live load of 10 tons. Column B is 20 cm × 40 cm in cross section but carries a dead load
of 30 tons and a live load of 15 tons. Width of footing is not to exceed 1.0 m, and there is
no property line restriction.
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Solution:
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3- Evaluate the net factored soil pressure

Pu = 1.2 D + 1.6 L
PAu = 1.2(20) + 1.6(10) = 45 Tons
PBu = 1.2(30) + 1.6(15) = 67.5 Tons
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Conclusion:

In summary, the design of reinforced combined footings plays a critical role

in ensuring the stability and durability of structures supported by multiple
columns. By carefully considering factors such as soil conditions, structural
loads, and reinforcement strategies, engineers can develop efficient and
reliable designs. Through ongoing research and innovation, advancements in
design techniques continue to enhance the performance and cost-effectiveness
of combined footings, ultimately contributing to the safety and longevity of
civil engineering projects.
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References:

1. Luevanos-Rojas A, Barquero-Cabrero JD, Lopez-Chavarria S,

Medina-Elizondo M. A comparative study for design of boundary combined
footings of trapezoidal and rectangular forms using new models. Coupled
Systems Mechanics. 2017;6(4):417-37.
2. Punmia B. Reinforced Concrete Structures Vol. I: Firewall Media;
1992.
3. Hassoun MN, Al-Manaseer A. Structural concrete: theory and design:
John wiley & sons; 2020.
4. Reinforced Concrete Design II by Dr. Nader Okasha at university of
Palestine.