Chapter 09

Bearing Capacity
of Soils
DEFINITIONS

foundation is that part of a structure which transmits the building load

directly into the underlying soil. If the soil conditions at the site are
sufficiently strong and capable of supporting the required load, then :hallow
spread footings or mats can be used to transmit the load.
footingis a foundation consisting of a small slab for transmitting the
structure load to the underlying soil. Footings can be individual slabs
supporting single columns or combined 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 a mat.
Shallow foundation is one in which the ratio of the embedment depth to the
minimum plan dimension, which is usually the width, is D,/B < 2.5.
Embedment depth (D1 is the depth below the ground surface where the base
of the foundation rests.
Ultimate bearing capacity (q„) is the maximum pressure that the soil can
support.
Ultimate net bearing capacity (quit) is the maximum pressure that the soil
can support above its current overburden pressure.
Allowable bearing capacity or safe bearing capacity (q,,) 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 place the footing.
Factor of safety or safety factor (FS) is the ratio of the ultimate net bearing
capacity to the allowable bearing capacity or to the applied maximum