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Analysis
Slope Stability
Qa Qu Qa Allowable bearing capacity kN m2 or
Soil
lb ft2 Stabilization
FS Subsurface
Investigations
Where
Tunneling
Qu ultimate bearing capacity kN m2 or lb ft2 See below for theory
FS Factor of Safety See information on factor of
 safety Other Geotechnical

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Qu c Nc  D Nq 0 5  B N
Other Geotechnical
Ultimate bearing capacity equation for shallow strip footings kN m2 lb ft2 Resources

Qu 1 3 c Nc  D Nq 0 4  B N Geotechnical
Ultimate bearing capacity equation for shallow square footings kN m2 lb ft2 Forum
Geotechnical
Qu 1 3 c Nc  D Nq 0 3  B N
Glossary
Ultimate bearing capacity equation for shallow circular footings kN m2 Publications
lb ft2 Software
Geotechnical
Where
Training
Career
c Cohesion of soil kN m2 lb ft2
Development
 effective unit weight of soil kN m3 lb ft3 see note below
Geotechnical
D depth of footing m ft
Societies and
B width of footing m ft
Institutes
Nc cot Nq 1 see typical bearing capacity
Teaching
factors
Resources
Nq e2 3 4  2 tan 2 cos2 45  2 see typical bearing capacity
Services and
factors Supplies
N 1 2 tan kp cos2  1 see typical bearing capacity Other Quality
factors Geotechnical
e Napier s constant 2 718 Websites
kp passive pressure coefficient and Engineering
 angle of internal friction degrees Marketing
Average
Notes
Salaries
Effective unit weight  is the unit weight of the soil for soils above the water table and
capillary rise For saturated soils the effective unit weight is the unit weight of water
w 9 81 kN m3 62 4 lb ft3 subtracted from the saturated unit weight of soil Find
more information in the foundations section

Meyerhof Bearing Capacity Theory Based on Standard Penetration Test Values

Qu 31 417 NB ND kN m2 metric

Qu NB ND tons ft2 standard

10 10

For footing widths of 1 2 meters 4 feet or less

Qa 11 970N kN m2 metric
Qa 1 25N tons ft2 standard
10

For footing widths of 3 meters 10 feet or more

Qa 9 576N kN m2 metric

Qa N tons ft2 standard

10

Where

N N value derived from Standard Penetration Test SPT

D depth of footing m ft and
B width of footing m ft

Note All Meyerhof equations are for foundations bearing on clean sands The first
equation is for ultimate bearing capacity while the second two are factored within the
equation in order to provide an allowable bearing capacity Linear interpolation can be
performed for footing widths between 1 2 meters 4 feet and 3 meters 10 feet
Meyerhof equations are based on limiting total settlement to 25 cm 1 inch and
differential settlement to 19 cm 3 4 inch

Ultimate Bearing Capacity for Deep Foundations Pile

Qult Qp Qf

Where

Qult Ultimate bearing capacity of pile kN lb

Qp Theoretical bearing capacity for tip of foundation or end bearing kN lb
Qf Theoretical bearing capacity due to shaft friction or adhesion between foundation
shaft and soil kN lb

End Bearing Tip Capacity of Pile Foundation

Qp Apqp

Where

Qp Theoretical bearing capacity for tip of foundation or end bearing kN lb

Ap Effective area of the tip of the pile m2 ft2

For a circular closed end pile or circular plugged pile Ap  B 2 2 m2 ft2

qp DNq

Theoretical unit tip bearing capacity for cohesionless and silt soils kN m2 lb ft2
qp 9c

Theoretical unit tip bearing capacity for cohesive soils kN m2 lb ft2

 effective unit weight of soil kN m3 lb ft3 See notes
below
D Effective depth of pile m ft where D Dc
Nq Bearing capacity factor for piles

c cohesion of soil kN m2 lb ft2

B diameter of pile m ft and
Dc critical depth for piles in loose silts or sands m ft
Dc 10B for loose silts and sands
Dc 15B for medium dense silts and sands
Dc 20B for dense silts and sands

Skin Shaft Friction Capacity of Pile Foundation

Qf Afqf for one homogeneous layer of soil

Qf pqfL for multi layers of soil

Where

Qf Theoretical bearing capacity due to shaft friction or adhesion between foundation

shaft and soil kN lb
Af pL Effective surface area of the pile shaft m2 ft2

qf k tan  Theoretical unit friction capacity for cohesionless soils kN m2 lb ft2

qf cA k tan  Theoretical unit friction capacity for silts kN m2 lb ft2

qf Su Theoretical unit friction capacity for cohesive soils kN m2 lb ft2

p perimeter of pile cross section m ft
for a circular pile p  B 2
for a square pile p 4B
L Effective length of pile m ft See Notes
below
 1 0 1 Suc 2 adhesion factor kN m2 ksf where Suc 48 kN m2 1 ksf

 1 09 0 3 Suc 1 kN m2 ksf where Suc 48 kN m2 1 ksf

Suc

Suc 2c Unconfined compressive strength kN m2 lb ft2

cA adhesion
c for rough concrete rusty steel corrugated metal
0 8c cA c for smooth concrete
0 5c cA 0 9c for clean steel

c cohesion of soil kN m2 lb ft2

 external friction angle of soil and wall contact deg
 angle of internal friction deg
 D effective overburden pressure kN m2 lb ft2
k lateral earth pressure coefficient for piles
 effective unit weight of soil kN m3 lb ft3 See notes below
B diameter or width of pile m ft
D Effective depth of pile m ft where D Dc
Dc critical depth for piles in loose silts or sands m ft
Dc 10B for loose silts and sands
Dc 15B for medium dense silts and sands
Dc 20B for dense silts and sands
 summation of differing soil layers i e a1 a2 an

Notes Determining effective length requires engineering judgment The effective length
can be the pile depth minus any disturbed surface soils soft loose soils or seasonal
variation The effective length may also be the length of a pile segment within a single
soil layer of a multi layered soil Effective unit weight  is the unit weight of the soil
for soils above the water table and capillary rise For saturated soils the effective unit
 weight is the unit weight of water w 9 81 kN m3 62 4 lb ft3 subtracted from the
saturated unit weight of soil

Meyerhof Method for Determining qp and qf in Sand

Theoretical unit tip bearing capacity for driven piles in sand when D 10
B
qp 4N c tons ft2 standard

Theoretical unit tip bearing capacity for drilled piles in sand

qp 1 2N c tons ft2 standard

Theoretical unit friction bearing capacity for driven piles in sand

qf N tons ft2 standard

50

Theoretical unit friction bearing capacity for drilled piles in sand

qf N tons ft2 standard

100

Where

D pile embedment depth ft

B pile diameter ft
Nc Cn N
Cn 0 77 log 20

N N Value from SPT test
 D effective overburden stress at pile embedment depth tons ft2
 w D effective stress if below water table tons ft2

 effective unit weight of soil tons ft3

w 0 0312 tons ft3 unit weight of water

Examples for determining allowable bearing capacity

Example 1 Determine allowable bearing capacity and width for a shallow strip footing
on cohesionless silty sand and gravel soil Loose soils were encountered in the upper 0 6
m 2 feet of building subgrade Footing must withstand a 144 kN m2 3000 lb ft2
building pressure

Given

bearing pressure from building 144 kN m2 3000 lbs ft2

unit weight of soil  21 kN m3 132 lbs ft3 from soil testing see typical 
values

Cohesion c 0 from soil testing see typical

cvalues
 angle of Internal Friction  32 degrees from soil testing see typical  values

footing depth D 0 6 m 2 ft because loose soils in upper soil

strata

Solution

Try a minimal footing width B 03m B 1 foot

Use a factor of safety F S 3 Three is typical for this type of application See factor of
safety for more information

Determine bearing capacity factors N Nc and Nq See typical bearing capacity factors relating
to the soils angle of internal friction

N 22
Nc 35 5
Nq 23 2

Solve for ultimate bearing capacity

Qu c Nc  D Nq 0 5  B N strip footing eq

Qu 0 35 5 21 kN m3 0 6m 23 2 0 5 21 kN m3 0 3 m 22
metric
Qu 362 kN m2

Qu 0 35 5 132lbs ft3 2ft 23 2 0 5 132lbs ft3 1ft

22 standard
Qu 7577 lbs ft2

Solve for allowable bearing capacity

Qa Qu
FS

Qa 362 kN m2 121 kN m2 not o k

metric
3
Qa 7577lbs ft2 2526 lbs ft2 not
ok standard
3

Since Qa required 144 kN m2 3000 lbs ft2 bearing pressure increase footing width B
or foundation depth D to increase bearing capacity

Try footing width B 0 61 m B 2 ft

Qu 0 21 kN m3 0 61 m 23 2 0 5 21 kN m 3 0 61 m 22
metric
Qu 438 kN m2

Qu 0 132 lbs ft3 2 ft 23 2 0 5 132 lbs ft 3 2 ft

22 standard
Qu 9029 lbs ft2
Qa 438 kN m2 146 kN m2 Qa 144 kN m2 ok
metric
3

Qa 9029 lbs ft2 3010 lbs ft2 Qa 3000 lbs ft2 ok

standard
3

Conclusion

Footing shall be 0 61 meters 2 feet wide at a depth of 0 61 meters 2 feet below ground
surface Many engineers neglect the depth factor i e D Nq 0 for shallow foundations This
inherently increases the factor of safety Some site conditions that may negatively effect the
depth factor are foundations established at depths equal to or less than 0 3 meters 1 feet
below the ground surface placement of foundations on fill and disturbed fill soils located
above or to the sides of foundations

Example 2 Determine allowable bearing capacity of a shallow 0 3 meter 12 inch

square isolated footing bearing on saturated cohesive soil The frost penetration depth is
0 61 meter 2 feet Structural parameters require the foundation to withstand 4 4 kN
1000 lbs of force on a 0 3 meter 12 inch squarecolumn

Given

bearing pressure from building column 4 4 kN 03mx03m 48 9 kN m2

bearing pressure from building column 1000 lbs 1 ft x 1 ft 1000 lbs ft2

unit weight of saturated soil sat 20 3 kN m3 129 lbs ft3 see typical 
values

unit weight of water w 9 81 kN m3 62 4 lbs ft3 constant

Cohesion c 21 1 kN m2 440 lbs ft2 from soil testing see typical c

values

angle of Internal Friction  0 degrees from soil testing see typical 

values

footing width B 0 3 m 1 ft

Solution

Try a footing depth D 0 61 meters 2 feet because foundation should be below frost
depth

Use a factor of safety F S 3 See factor of safety for more information

Determine bearing capacity factors N Nc and Nq See typical bearing capacity factors relating
to the soils angle of internal friction

N 0
Nc 57
Nq 1
Solve for ultimate bearing capacity

Qu 1 3c Nc  D Nq 0 4  B N square footing eq

Qu 1 3 21 1kN m2 5 7 20 3kN m3 9 81kN m3 0 61m 1 0 4 20 3kN m3

9 81kN m3 0 3m 0
Qu 163 kN m2
metric

Qu 1 3 440lbs ft2 5 7 129lbs ft3 62 4lbs ft3 2ft 1 0 4 129lbs ft3

62 4lbs ft3 1ft 0

Qu 3394 lbs ft2
standard

Solve for allowable bearing capacity

Qa Qu
FS

Qa 163 kN m2 54 kN m2 Qa 48 9 kN m2 ok metric
3
Qa 3394lbs ft2 1130 lbs ft2 Qa 1000 lbs ft2 ok
standard
3

Conclusion

The 0 3 meter 12 inch isolated square footing shall be 0 61 meters 2 feet below the
ground surface Other considerations may be required for foundations bearing on moisture
sensitive clays especially for lightly loaded structures such as in this example Sensitive clays
could expand and contract which could cause structural damage Clay used as bearing soils
may require mitigation such as heavier loads subgrade removal and replacement below the
foundation or moisture control within the subgrade

Example 3 Determine allowable bearing capacity and width for a foundation using the
Meyerhof Method Soils consist of poorly graded sand Footing must withstand a 144
kN m2 1 5 tons ft2 building pressure

Given

bearing pressure from building 144 kN m2 1 5 tons ft2

N Value N 10 at 0 3 m 1 ft depth from SPT soil testing
N Value N 36 at 0 61 m 2 ft depth from SPT soil testing
N Value N 50 at 1 5 m 5 ft depth from SPT soil testing

Solution

Try a minimal footing width B 03m B 1 foot at a depth D 0 61 meter 2 feet

Footings for single family residences are typically 0 3m 1 ft to 0 61m 2ft wide This
depth was selected because soil density greatly increases i e higher N value at a depth of
0 61 m 2 ft

Use a factor of safety F S 3 Three is typical for this type of application See factor of
safety for more information
Solve for ultimate bearing capacity

Qu 31 417 NB ND kN m2 metric

Qu NB ND tons ft2 standard

10 10

Qu 31 417 36 0 3m 36 0 61m 1029 kN m2 metric

Qu 36 1 ft 36 2 ft 10 8 tons ft2 standard

10 10

Solve for allowable bearing capacity

Qa Qu
FS

Qa 1029 kN m2 343 kN m2 Qa 144 kN m2 ok metric

3
Qa 10 8 tons ft2 3 6 tons ft2 Qa 1 5 tons ft 2 ok standard
3

Conclusion

Footing shall be 0 3 meters 1 feet wide at a depth of 0 61 meters 2 feet below the
ground surface A footing width of only 0 3 m 1 ft is most likely insufficient for the
structural engineer when designing the footing with the building pressure in this problem

Example 4 Determine allowable bearing capacity and diameter of a single driven pile
Pile must withstand a 66 7 kN 15 kips vertical load

Given

vertical column load 66 7 kN 15 kips or 15 000 lb

homogeneous soils in upper 15 2 m 50 ft silty soil
unit weight  19 6 kN m3 125 lbs ft3 from soil testing see typical 
values
cohesion c 47 9 kN m2 1000 lb ft2 from soil testing see typical c
values
angle of internal friction  30 degrees from soil testing see typical  values

Pile Information
driven
steel
plugged end

Solution

Try a pile depth D 1 5 meters 5 feet

Try pile diameter B 0 61 m 2 ft

Use a factor of safety F S 3 Smaller factors of safety are sometimes used if piles are load
tested or the engineer has sufficient experience with the regional soils

Determine ultimate end bearing of pile

Qp Apqp

Ap  B 2 2 0 61m 2 2 0 292 m2 metric

Ap   B 2 2 2ft 2 2 3 14 ft2 standard

qp DNq

 19 6 kN m3 125 lbs ft3 given soil unit weight

 30 degrees given soil angle of internal friction
B 0 61 m 2 ft trial pile width
D 1 5 m 5 ft trial depth may need to increase or decrease depending on capacity
check to see if D Dc
Dc 15B 9 2 m 30 ft critical depth for medium dense silts
If D Dc then use Dc
Nq 25 Meyerhof bearing capacity factor for driven piles based on 

qp 19 6 kN m3 1 5 m 25 735 kN m2 metric

qp 125 lb ft3 5 ft 25 15 625 lb ft2 standard

Qp Apqp 0 292 m2 735 kN m2 214 6 kN metric

Qp Apqp 3 14 ft2 15 625 lb ft2 49 063 lb standard

Determine ultimate friction capacity of pile

Qf Afqf

Af pL

p 2 0 61m 2 1 92 m metric
p 2 2 ft 2 6 28 ft standard
L D 1 5 m 5 ft length and depth used interchangeably check Dc as above

Af 1 92 m 1 5 m 2 88 m2 metric

Af 6 28 ft 5 ft 31 4 ft2 standard

qf cA k tan  cA kD tan 

k 0 5 lateral earth pressure coefficient for piles value chosen from Broms low density steel
 19 6 kN m3 125 lb ft3 given effective soil unit weight If water table then  w
D L 1 5 m 5 ft pile length Check to see if D Dc
Dc 15B 9 2 m 30 ft critical depth for medium dense silts If D Dc then use Dc
 20 deg external friction angle equation chosen from Broms steel piles
B 0 61 m 2 ft selected pile diameter
cA 0 5c for clean steel See adhesion in pile theories above

24 kN m2 500 lb ft2

qf 24 kN m2 0 5 19 6 kN m3 1 5m tan 20 29 4 kN m2 metric

qf 500 lb ft2 0 5 125 lb ft3 5ft tan 20 614 lb ft2 standard

Qf Afqf 2 88 m2 29 4 kN m2 84 7 kN metric

Qf Afqf 31 4 ft2 614 lb ft2 19 280 lb standard

Determine ultimate pile capacity

Qult Qp Qf

Qult 214 6 kN 84 7 kN 299 3 kN metric

Qult 49 063 lb 19 280 lb 68 343 lb standard

Solve for allowable bearing capacity

Qa Qult
FS

Qa 299 3 kN 99 8 kN Qa applied load 66 7 kN ok metric

3
Qa 68 343 lbs 22 781 lbs Qa applied load 15 kips ok standard
3

Conclusion

A 0 61 m 2 ft steel pile shall be plugged and driven 1 5 m 5 feet below the ground
surface Many engineers neglect the skin friction within the upper 1 to 5 feet of subgrade due
to seasonal variations or soil disturbance Seasonal variations may include freeze thaw or
effects from water The end bearing alone neglect skin friction is sufficient for this case
Typical methods for increasing the pile capacity are increasing the pile diameter or increasing
the embedment depth of the pile

Example 5 Determine allowable bearing capacity and diameter of a single driven pile
Pile must withstand a 66 7 kN 15 kips vertical load

Given

vertical column load 66 7 kN 15 kips or 15 000 lb

upper 1 5 m 5 ft of soil is a medium dense gravelly sand

unit weight  19 6 kN m3 125 lbs ft3 from soil testing see typical 
values
cohesion c 0 from soil testing see typical c
values
angle of internal friction  30 degrees from soil testing see typical  values

soils below 1 5 m 5 ft of soil is a stiff silty clay

unit weight  18 9 kN m3 120 lbs ft3

cohesion c 47 9 kN m2 1000 lb ft2
angle of internal friction  0 degrees

Pile Information

driven
wood
closed end

Solution
Try a pile depth D 2 4 meters 8 feet
Try pile diameter B 0 61 m 2 ft

Use a factor of safety F S 3 Smaller factors of safety are sometimes used if piles are load
tested or the engineer has sufficient experience with the regional soils

Determine ultimate end bearing of pile

Qp Apqp

Ap  B 2 2 0 61m 2 2 0 292 m2 metric

Ap   B 2 2 2ft 2 2 3 14 ft2 standard

qp 9c 9 47 9 kN m2 431 1 kN m2 metric

qp 9c 9 1000 lb ft2 9000 lb ft2 standard

Qp Apqp 0 292 m2 431 1 kN m2 125 9 kN metric

Qp Apqp 3 14 ft2 9000 lb ft2 28 260 lb standard

Determine ultimate friction capacity of pile

Qf pqfL

p 2 0 61m 2 1 92 m metric
p 2 2 ft 2 6 28 ft standard

upper 1 5 m 5 ft of soil

qfL k tan  L kD tan  L

k 1 5 lateral earth pressure coefficient for piles value chosen from Broms low density
timber
 19 6 kN m3 125 lb ft3 given effective soil unit weight If water table then  w
D L 1 5 m 5 ft segment of pile within this soil strata Check to see if D Dc
Dc 15B 9 2 m 30 ft critical depth for medium dense sands This assumption is
conservative because the soil is gravelly and this much soil unit weight for a sand would
indicate dense soils If D Dc then use Dc
  23 20 deg external friction angle equation chosen from Broms timber piles
B 0 61 m 2 ft selected pile diameter
 30 deg given soil angle of internal friction

qfL 1 5 19 6 kN m3 1 5m tan 20 1 5 m 24 1 kN m metric

qfL 1 5 125 lb ft3 5ft tan 20 5 ft 1706 lb ft standard

soils below 1 5 m 5 ft of subgrade

qfL Su

Suc 2c 95 8 kN m2 2000 lb ft2 unconfined compressive strength

c 47 9 kN m2 1000 lb ft2 cohesion from soil testing given

 1 09 0 3 Suc 1 0 3 because Suc 48 kN m2 1 ksf
 Suc
L 0 91 m 3 ft segment of pile within this soil strata

qfL 0 3 95 8 kN m2 0 91 m 26 2 kN m metric

qfL 0 3 2000 lb ft2 3 ft 1800 lb ft standard

ultimate friction capacity of combined soil layers

Qf pqfL

Qf 1 92 m 24 1 kN m 26 2 kN m 96 6 kN metric
Qf 6 28 ft 1706 lb ft 1800 lb ft 22 018 lb standard

Determine ultimate pile capacity

Qult Qp Qf

Qult 125 9 kN 96 6 kN 222 5 kN metric

Qult 28 260 lb 22 018 lb 50 278 lb standard

Solve for allowable bearing capacity

Qa Qult
FS

Qa 222 5 kN 74 2 kN Qa applied load 66 7 kN ok metric

3
Qa 50 275 lbs 16 758 lbs Qa applied load 15 kips ok standard
3

Conclusion

Wood pile shall be driven 8 feet below the ground surface Many engineers neglect the skin
friction within the upper 1 to 5 feet of subgrade due to seasonal variations or soil disturbance
Seasonal variations may include freeze thaw or effects from water Notice how the soil
properties within the pile tip location is used in the end bearing calculations End bearing
should also consider the soil layer s directly beneath this layer Engineering judgment or a
change in design is warranted if subsequent soil layers are weaker than the soils within the
vicinity of the pile tip Typical methods for increasing the pile capacity are increasing the pile
diameter or increasing the embedment depth of the pile

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