📘 Lecture: Eccentric Forces on Footings
1. Introduction
In an ideal case, a column load is concentric with the centroid of its footing.
In practice, loads are often eccentric due to:
o Architectural/structural requirements (columns near property line).
o Wind or seismic forces causing overturning moments.
o Unequal spans of beams supported by the column.
o Construction tolerances.
When a concentric load is applied → soil pressure is uniform.
When an eccentric load is applied → soil pressure becomes non-uniform, possibly leading to
tilting or uplift.
2. Eccentricity and Its Definition
Eccentricity eee is the distance between:
The line of action of the load, and
The centroid of the footing area.
e=MPe = \frac{M}{P}e=PM
Where:
MMM = applied moment (kNm)
PPP = vertical column load (kN)
3. Soil Pressure Under Eccentric Loading
For a footing subjected to vertical load PPP and moment MMM, the soil pressure distribution
is:
q(x)=PA±MI⋅yq(x) = \frac{P}{A} \pm \frac{M}{I} \cdot yq(x)=AP±IM⋅y
Where:
A=B×LA = B \times LA=B×L = footing area
III = moment of inertia of footing area
yyy = distance from centroid
This gives a linear (trapezoidal) soil pressure distribution.
4. Cases of Pressure Distribution
Case 1: Small Eccentricity (e < L/6)
Entire footing area in compression.
Soil pressure distribution is trapezoidal.
Both minimum and maximum pressures are positive (no uplift).
qmax=PA(1+6eL)q_{max} = \frac{P}{A}\left(1 + \frac{6e}{L}\right)qmax=AP(1+L6e)
qmin=PA(1−6eL)q_{min} = \frac{P}{A}\left(1 - \frac{6e}{L}\right)qmin=AP(1−L6e)
Case 2: Large Eccentricity (e > L/6)
Part of footing lifts off → soil cannot take tension.
Soil pressure distribution becomes triangular.
Effective bearing area is reduced.
Maximum pressure:
qmax=2P3A′q_{max} = \frac{2P}{3A'}qmax=3A′2P
Where A′A'A′ is the reduced (compressed) soil area.
Case 3: Bi-Axial Eccentricity
When eccentricity occurs in both directions (ex and ey):
Pressure distribution becomes plane linear (tilted surface).
Equation:
q(x,y)=PA(1±6exB±6eyL)q(x,y) = \frac{P}{A} \left(1 \pm \frac{6e_x}{B} \pm \frac{6e_y}{L}\
right)q(x,y)=AP(1±B6ex±L6ey)
5. Middle Third Rule
To avoid soil tension, the line of action of the load must lie within the middle third of the
footing.
For a rectangular footing:
o Along length: ex≤L/6e_x \leq L/6ex≤L/6
o Along width: ey≤B/6e_y \leq B/6ey≤B/6
If load falls outside → soil tension develops → triangular distribution is used.
6. Design Considerations for Eccentric Footings
Soil Bearing Pressure Check
Ensure qmax≤qallowableq_{max} \leq q_{allowable}qmax≤qallowable.
Stability Check
Footing must resist overturning moments without sliding or rotation.
Structural Design of Footing
o Bending moment increases due to eccentric load.
o Reinforcement must be designed accordingly.
Settlement Check
Non-uniform pressure may cause differential settlement.
7. Special Types of Footings for Eccentric Loads
1. Combined Footing
o Used when two columns are close, and loads are eccentric.
o Footing designed as a single slab.
2. Strap Footing (Cantilever Footing)
o Used when a column is near a property line.
o A strap beam connects the eccentric footing to an interior footing, balancing
moments.
3. Trapezoidal Footing
o Used when column loads differ, ensuring uniform soil pressure.
8. Example Calculation
Column load P=1000 kNP = 1000 \, \text{kN}P=1000kN
Footing size = 2.5 m × 2.5 m → A=6.25 m2A = 6.25 \, \text{m}^2A=6.25m2
Moment about center = 200 kNm
Soil allowable = 250 kN/m²
Eccentricity:
e=MP=2001000=0.2 me = \frac{M}{P} = \frac{200}{1000} = 0.2 \, \text{m}e=PM=1000200=0.2m
Check middle third rule:
L/6=2.5/6=0.417 m(0.2<0.417 →within middle third, safe)L/6 = 2.5/6 = 0.417 \, \text{m} \quad
(0.2 < 0.417 \, → \text{within middle third,
safe})L/6=2.5/6=0.417m(0.2<0.417→within middle third, safe)
Soil pressures:
qavg=PA=10006.25=160 kN/m2q_{avg} = \frac{P}{A} = \frac{1000}{6.25} = 160 \,
\text{kN/m}^2qavg=AP=6.251000=160kN/m2 qmax=160(1+6(0.2)2.5)=160(1.48)=237
kN/m2q_{max} = 160 \left(1 + \frac{6(0.2)}{2.5}\right) = 160(1.48) = 237 \, \text{kN/m}^2qmax
=160(1+2.56(0.2))=160(1.48)=237kN/m2 qmin=160(1−6(0.2)2.5)=160(0.52)=83 kN/m2q_{min} =
160 \left(1 - \frac{6(0.2)}{2.5}\right) = 160(0.52) = 83 \, \text{kN/m}^2qmin=160(1−2.56(0.2)
)=160(0.52)=83kN/m2
✅ Both values within soil allowable (250 kN/m²). Safe footing.
9. Summary
Eccentric loads on footings cause non-uniform soil pressure distribution.
Small eccentricity (within middle third) → trapezoidal pressure distribution.
Large eccentricity (outside middle third) → triangular pressure distribution (partial
uplift).
Design must ensure:
o Soil pressure ≤ safe bearing capacity.
o No tension in soil (or accounted for).
o Footing stability against overturning and sliding.
o Adequate reinforcement for bending and shear.
✅ Proper treatment of eccentric forces on footings ensures stability of structures near
boundaries, under wind/seismic loads, and in cases where architectural constraints force off-
center columns.
