Chapter 5 - Lecture Notes

Bearing Capacity Analysis

PREPARED BY:
JOMMAR V. TAGALOG, CE
Effect of Ground Water Table
Example 5.2
A footing is embedded to a site of sandy clay at a depth of 1.6m below
natural grade line. The soil has the following soil properties: cohesion
is 10kPa, angle of internal friction is 350, specific gravity of soil solids is
2.75, void ratio is 0.55 and water content is 5%. The water table is a
great depth. Consider Terzaghi’s general shear failure and a factor of
safety of 3.5.
a. what will be the allowable load for a 1.2m square footing?
b. what will be the allowable load for a 1.35m diameter footing?
c. what will be the allowable load for a 1.3m wide wall footing per
meter length?
Example 5.3
A circular footing having a diameter of 1.5m has its bottom at a depth of
2.5m below the ground surface. The water table is located at a depth of
1.2m below the ground. The soil has the following properties: specific
gravity of soil solids is 2.72, void ratio is 0.25, cohesion is 25kPa and
angle of internal friction is 200. Assume local shear failure and a factor
of safety of 3.2.
a. determine the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil.
b. determine the allowable bearing capacity of the soil.
c. determine the allowable load on the footing.
Example 5.4
A square footing is shown. The footing will carry a gross load of 700kN. Using a factor
of safety of 3, determine the required value of B. Assume general shear failure.

c=0
Ø = 360
ɣ = 17.4kN/m3
1.2m

B
MEYERHOF’S FACTORS (shape s, depth d, and inclination i factors)

The General Bearing Capacity Equation

  𝑞= 𝑒 𝜋 𝑡𝑎𝑛 ∅ 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 ( 45+ ∅ )

𝑁
2

𝑁
  𝑐 =( 𝑁 𝑞 − 1 ) 𝑐𝑜𝑡 ∅

𝑁
  𝑦 =( 𝑁 𝑞 −1 ) tan ⁡(1.4 ∅ )
Example 5.5

Solve the problem using the general bearing capacity equation.

Example 5.6
Example 5.7