Chapter 9

Bearing Capacity of Soil

9.1 DEFINITION

Foundation is that part of a structure which transmits the building load directly into the underlying soil.
If the soil condition at the site are sufficiently strong and capable of supporting the required load, then
shallow spread footing or mats can be used to transmit the load.

Footing is a foundation consisting of a small slab for transmitting the structure load too the underlying
soil. Footing can be individual slabs supporting single columns or combines to support two or more
columns, or be a long strip of concrete slab (width B to length L ratio is small, i.e., it approaches zero)
supporting a load bearing wall, or mat.

Shallow foundation is one in which the ratio of the embed depth to the minimum plan dimension,.
which is usually the width, is Dj / B < 2.5.

Embedment depth (Dj) is the depth below the ground surface where the base of the foundation rests.

Ultimate bearing capacity (qu) is the maximum pressure that the soil can support.

Ultimate net bearing capacity (qult) is the pressure that the soil can support above its current
overburden pressure.

Allowable bearing capacity or safe bearing capacity (qu) is the working pressure that would ensure a
margin of safety against collapse of the structure from shear failure. The allowable bearing capacity is
usually a fraction of the ultimate net bearing capacity.

Overburden Pressure q, is the pressure (effective stress) of the soil removed to the place the footing.

Factor of safety or safety factor (FS) is the ratio the ultimate net bearing capacity to the allowable
bearing capacity or to the applied maximum vertical stress. In geotechnical engineering, a factor of
safety between 1.5 and 5 is used to calculate the allowable bearing capacity

9.2 VARIOUS TYPES OF FOOTING ON SOIL

9.3 BEARING CAPACITY ANALYSIS

Bearing capacity analysis is the method used to determine the ability of the soil to support the required
load in safe manner without gross distortion resulting from objection settlement. The ultimate bearing
capacity (qu) is defines as that pressure causing a shear failure of the supporting soil lying immediately
below and adjacent to the supporting soil lying immediately below and adjacent to the footing.
Generally three modes of failure have been identified:

1. General Shear Failure: a continuous failure surface develops between the edge of the footing and the
ground surface. This type of failure characterized by heaving at the ground surface accompanied by
tilting of the footing. It occurs in soil of low compressibility such as dense sand or stiff clay.

2. Local Shear Failure: a condition where significant compression of the soil occurs but only slight heave
occurs at the ground surface. Tilting of the foundation is not expected. This type of failure occurs in
highly compressible soil and the ultimate bearing capacity is not well defined.
3. Punching shear failure: a condition that occurs where there is relatively high compression of the soil
underlying the footing with neither heaving at the ground surface nor tilting of the foundation. Large
settlement is expected without a clearly defined ultimate bearing capacity. Punching will occur in low
compressible soil if the foundation is located at a considering depth below ground surface.

9.4 ULTIMATE SOIL BEARING CAPACITY

In general, the ultimate bearing capacity of soil is given by

9.5 TERZAGHI’S BERARING CAPACITY EQUATIONS

Terzaghi’s bearing capacity equation are based on the following assumptions:

 Depth of foundation is less than or equal to its width

 No sliding occurs between foundation and soil (rough foundation)
 Soil beneath foundation is homogeneous semi-infinite mass
 Mohr-coulomb model for soil
 Soil above bottom of foundation has no shear strength; is only a surcharge load against the
overturning load
 No applied moments

9.5.1 GENERAL SHEAR FAILURE:

9.5.1.1 LONG FOOTINGS

9.5.1.2 SQUARE FOOTINGS

9.5.1.3 CIRCULAR FOOTINGS

9.5.2 LOCAL SHEAR FAILURE

For local shear failure, it may be assumed that:

9.5.2.1 LONG FOOTINGS (STRIP FOOTING)

9.5.2.2 SQUARE FOOTINGS

9.5.2.3 CIRCULAR FOOTINGS

The modifies bearing capacity factors N’c, N’ q, and N’y are calculated using the same general equation at
that N’c, N’ q, and N’y but by substituting ɸ = tan-1(2/3 tan ɸ) for ɸ, and using 09.1 or 09.10
The values of bearing capacity factors for a local shear failure are given table 09.2 and figure
09.11.

9.6 ALLOWABLE BEARING CAPACITY AND FACTOR OF SAFETY

The allowable bearing capacity, qd is calculated by dividing the ultimate bearing capacity, qu by a
Factor of safety, FS. The factor of safety is intended to compensate for the assumption made in
developing the bearing capacity equation, soil variability, inaccurate soil data, and uncertainties of load.

9.6.1 GROSS ALLOWABLE BEARING CAPACITY:

9.6.2 NET ALLOWABLE BEARING CAPACITY

9.6.3 GROSS ALLOWABLE BEARING CAPACITY WITH FS RESPECT TO SHEAR

The gross allowable bearing capacity using a factor of safety on shear strength of soil may be
computed using the developed chension Cd and values of N’c, N’ q, and N’y derived using the
developed angle of fricyion ɸd.

9.7 EFFECT OF WATER TABLE ON BEARING CAPACITY

The unit weight of soil used in the equation for bearing capacity are effective unit weights. With the
riding water table, the subsoil becomes starated and the unit weight of submerged soil is greatly
reduced. The reduction of this unit weight results in a decrease in the ultimate bearing capacity of the
soil.

9.7.1 GROUNDWATER LEVEL ABOVE BASE OF FOOTING

9.7.2 GROUNDWATER LEVEL AT BASE OF FOOTING

9.7.2 GROUNDWATER LEVEL BELOW THE BASE OF FOOTING

When dw < B

When dw > B

9.8 MEYERHOF’S EQUATION (Generel Bearing Capacity ewuation)

9.8.1 VERTICAL LOAD

9.8.2 INCLINED LOAD

9.8.3 BEARING CAPACITY FACTOR:

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

9.8.4.1 SHAPE AND DEPTH FACTORS

For ɸ = 0o
 For ɸ > 10o

9.8.4.2 LOAD INCLATION FACTORS

9.9 HANSEN’S BEARING CAPACITY EQUATIOM( VESIC’S FACTORS)

Hansen (J. Brinch Hansen) proposed what is reffered to as the general bearing capacity equation given
by the following equation. Hansen’s equation is an extension of Meyerhof’s equation. The Nc and Nq
factors are identical. Both Meyerhof and Hansen provided expressions for the shape, depth, and
inclination factors; however, Hansen also added what he called ground factors and base factors.

In the special case of a horizontal ground surface.

Qu = -c cot ɸ + ( q + c cot ɸ) Nqsqdqiqbq + 0.5yB Nysydyiyby

9.8.1 HANSEN’S FACTOR

9.8.1.1 SHAPE FACTORS:

Where :

v = base (of footing) inclination

β = ground inclination
9.8.1.3 DEPTH FACTORS:

Where :

V = foundation load normal to the base

H = load parallel to the base of footing

9.10 ULTIMATE LOAD FOR SHALLOW FOUND UNDER ECCENTRIC LOAD (ONE-WAY ECCENTRICITY)

Meyer intoduced the following preocesures to calcualte the bearing capacity of footing under eccentric
load.

The load is assumed to act at the center of the sooting whiise effective dimension is x by y, as shown
figure 09.9
The smaller value of x and y is the effective width(B’) and the larger value is the effective length (L’), and
the effective area is B’ x L’. Using the effectitve width,

The value of the shape and depth factors are computed by substituting B’ for B and L’ for L.

9.11 BEARING CAPACITY FROM STANDARD PENETRATION TEST (SPT)

Allowable bearing capacity:

Table09.1 – Terzaghi’s Bearing – Capacity factors for General Shear Failure
Figure 09.10 – Terzaghi’s Bearing Capacity factors for General Shear Failure
Table09.2 – Terzaghi’s Modified Bearing Capacity factors N’c, N’ q, and N’y for Local Shear Failure
Figure 09.11 – Terzaghi’s Bearing Capacity factors for Local Shear Failure
For intrermediate values of ɸ, the value of bearing coefficients may be computed by linear
interpolation.

ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS
PROBLEM 09.1 (CEMAY 2003)

A footing 6 m square carries a total load, including its own weight, of 10,000 kN. The base of the footing
is a depth of 3 m below the ground surface.the soil strata at the site consist of ta layer of stiff saturated
clay 27.5 m thick overlying dense sand. The average bulk density of the is 1,920 kg/m 3 and its average
shear strength determined from undrained triaxial test is 130 kN/m2 and ɸ = 0o. Given is Terxaghi’s
ultimate bearing capacity for square footings:

a.) Determine the gross foundation pressure in kPa.

b.) Determine the net foundation pressure.
c.) Calculate the factor of safety of the foundation against complete shear failure under the
undreain conditon (both gross and net). Side cohesion.

SOLUTION
Part a:

Gross foundation pressure,

Gross foundation pressure,
Part b:

Net foundation pressure,

Net foundation pressure,

Net foundation pressure,

Part c:

Net:
Chapter 10

Miscellaneous Topics & Additional Problems

10.1 PILES AND DEEP FOUNDATION

10.1.1 PILE CAPACITY FROM DRIVING DATA ( DYNAMIC PILE FORMULAS)

10.1.1.1 AASHTO FORMULA

10.1.1.2 Navy-McKay Formula

10.1.1.3 Eytelwein Formula

Where :

10.1.1.4 Engineer News Record ( ENR or Engineering News)

Drop hammer
 Single-acting steam hammer

Driven weight < strinking weight

Driven weight > strinking weight

Double-acting steam hammer

Driven weight < strinking weigh

Driven weight > strinking weigh

10.1.15 Modified Engineer News Record

10.1.1.6 Danish Formula

One of the few formulae considered to have a reasonable precision, based on a statical study of pile
load test, is the Danish formula, which should be used with a factor of safety of 3,

10.1.2 THEORETICAL PILE CAPACITY

The ultimate load capacity Qn consists of two parts. One part is due to friction, called skin friction or
shaft or side shear Qf, and the other is due to ebd bearing at the base or tip the pile Qb.

Qu = Qf + Q b

Where:
Qf = skin/shaft friction or side shear (ultimate)
Qb = end bearing or point resistance (ultinate)
10.1.2,1 THE ALPHA α METHOD
The α- method determines the adhesion factor, α, as the raio of the skin friction factor, fs, to the
undrained shear strength(cohension) cn.
10.1.2.2 THE BETA β METHOD

In β-method, the friction capacity is estimated as a fraction of the average efective vertival stress (as
evaluated halfway down the pile).
 Tabel 10.5 – Recommended values of adhesion & cohesion for piles in clay

Burland Formula (for clay)

10.1.3 CAPACITY OF PILE GROUP

Some piles are installed in groups, spaced approximately 4 to 3.5 times the pile diameter apart. The piles
function as a group due to the use of a concrete load-transfer cap encasing all of the pile heads. The
weight of the cap subtracts from the gross capacity. The capacity sue to the pile cap resting in the
grouns ( as spread footing) is disregarded.