KMS / TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT

TECHNICAL NOTE 010

Raft Foundations,
s’– t Plots &
SPT-N Values
· We excel through experience and learning · Version 02, Jul 2013

Keywords An s’– t plot is shown in the following figure (using the

Raft foundations, s’– t plot, SPT-N values, soil friction angles laboratory test results for a site in Yuen Long).

600
Synopsis
This note explains, through examples, the use of triaxial test 500 ’
results to prepare s’– t plots for determination of soil friction
400
angle(s), ’. Published correlation data (Meyerhoff, 1956)
between SPT-N values and ’ is provided for counterchecking
t (kPa)

300
the result. Given the ’ value, the allowable bearing capacity of
shallow footing (or raft foundations) can be quickly assessed.
200

100
1.0 Introduction
Large raft foundations give very high allowable bearing 0
capacity, and in some cases, the bearing capacity might even 0 200 400 600 800 1000
be higher than the equivalent bearing capacity of driven H-piles.
s' (kPa)
For large rafts, settlement becomes the controlling factor.
Triaxial compression test results, if available, can be used to Two trend lines are shown in the above plot : the broken line is
prepare an s’– t plot for determination of soil friction angle(s). a best-fit line for the available data, and the solid line is a
The SPT-N values (field test results) can also be used to lower-bound line. The gradient of these lines is tan’, and the
correlate the soil friction angle and the soil compactness, effective soil friction angle, ’ is given by:
allowing one to gain some quick feel of the soil bearing capacity.
’ = sin-1 (tan’)

2.0 s’ – t Plots In the above plot, the values of tan’ and ’ are as follows:
Laboratory tests are normally conducted as part of a
ground investigation programme. Triaxial compression tests on Lines ’ tan’ ’
soil samples would usually be specified by a Designer.
Depending on the laboratory report format, the triaxial test Best-Fit 35° 0.613 42°
results are presented quite differently, ranging from full report Lower-Bound 27° 0.450 30°
on 3’, p’, q, s’, t to just some of these parameters. The most
useful values of c’ and ’ are usually not reported because
these values are subject to interpretation by the Designer. 3.0 SPT-N Values & Soil Friction Angles
The correlation between SPT-N values and granular soil
For the purpose of determining the soil friction angle, ’, we friction angels are shown in the table below for quick reference.
only need to focus on the values of s’ and t, where:
Soil Friction
s’ = (1’ + 3’) / 2 SPT-N Values Compactness
Angles, ’
t = (1’ – 3’) / 2
<4 < 30° Very loose
where 1’ is the applied axial load, and 3’ is the different 4 – 10 30° – 35° Loose
effective confining pressure(s) in triaxial tests, ie, Cell Pressure 10 – 30 35° – 40° Medium Dense
minus Measured Pore Water Pressure in soil sample.
30 – 50 40° – 45° Dense
NB – The values of s’ and t are stated readily in the test > 50 > 45° Very dense
report, and there is no need to re-calculate them using

01
the above equations.

TECHNICAL NOTE 010

Version 02, Jul 2013
 KMS / TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT

Q2
Q1
B = 50m
Qn L = 50m (into paper direction)
h = 8m
z z = 2m
qo s = 18 kN/m3
h
w = 10 kN/m3
' = 8 kN/m3
’ = 30°
FOS = 3
B

The SPT-N value in the drill logs for the site in Yuen Long
ranges from 10 to 24. According to the correlation table, the 100.0
soil is considered ‘compact’ and the corresponding soil friction
angle is within the range of 35° – 40°, which is in reasonable
agreement with value given by the best-fit line in the s’– t plot. 30.1
22.4
18.4
4.0 Bearing Capacity of Raft Foundations / Footing
The bearing capacity of a large raft foundation can be 10.0
very high. An assessment is made, based on GEOGUIDE 1, for
a raft foundation having the arrangement shown in the diagram Nc
above.
Nq
The ultimate bearing capacity, qult is given by the following
equation (Please note that the cohesion term, c’, for granular N
soil is usually small and can be ignored): 1.0 ’
qult
0 10 20 30 40 50
=½ ' B N s + qo Nq sq

where N and Nq are bearing capacity factors, and s and sq are

correction factors to account for footing shape.
0.1
The bearing capacity factors, Nc, Nq, N have been derived by
different soil mechanics researchers. Those used in GEOGUIDE The allowable bearing capacity for the raft foundation having
1 – Figure A2 are shown in the graph on the right. The the above parameters is approximately 1783 kPa. It is
calculated values of these factors are shown below for ’ = 30°. unlikely that a field plate loading test would give prediction of
this bearing capacity, ie, using field plate loading test(s) to try
Nc = 30.1 ; sc = 1.61 to verify the above bearing capacity will not be very meaningful.
However, an assessment of the likely settlement should be
Nq = 22.4 ; sq = 1.58 carried out to ensure the movements are acceptable for the
N = 18.4 ; s = 0.60 proposed structures.

Also, qo = 18×2 + 8×(8 – 2) - End -

= 84 kPa

Thus, qult = 0.5×8×50×18.4×0.6 + 84×22.4×1.58

= 5180.9 kPa
This technical note is for internal circulation only.
For enquiry, please contact
The allowable bearing capacity, qall is given by applying a factor
of safety (FOS) to the qult (Please note that the FOS is not Gary Chou
applied to the overburden pressure, qo , which is expected to KMS / AGM (Technical)
exist throughout the life time of the foundations). Technical Department
Chun Wo Construction & Engineering Co Ltd
qall = [(5180.9 – 84) / 3] + 84 E gary.chou@chunwo.com
= 1782.9 kPa T 3758 8379
F 2744 6937

TECHNICAL NOTE 010

Version 02, Jul 2013
02