CH 2 - Lecture 1. Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations

University of Warith Al Anbiya’a
College of Engineering
Civil Engineering Department
4th Year Class
Foundation Engineering I
Introduction
Foundations are structural elements, which are designed to transfer building loads safely
to the soil. They must satisfy the following two design criteria:
1. Bearing capacity : There must be no shear failure within the soil.
2. Settlement : The settlement must be within tolerable limits.
Foundations are divided in to two types based on depth of embedded to width

ratio 𝑫Τ𝑩 as:
𝑫
1. Shallow Foundations: =< 𝟒 such as spread ,strip,
𝑩
continuous ,combined and raft (mat) foundation.
𝑫
2. Deep Foundations: > 𝟒 such as piles and drilled shifts.
𝑩
Building Building
Shallow Foundations Deep Foundations

𝑫
Shallow Foundations: =< 𝟒
𝑩
Spread footing Combined footing Strip footing
Strap footing Mat (Raft) foundation

𝑫
Deep Foundations: >𝟒
𝑩
Driven piles Bored (drilled shafts ) piles
Bearing Capacity of soil :-
(a) Total Overburden Pressure qo : Is the intensity of total overburden pressure due to the weight of both soil and
water at the base level of the foundation. qo = 𝜸𝑫𝒇
(b) Effective Overburden Pressure 𝒒′𝒐 : Is the intensity of effective overburden pressure due to the weight of
soil only at the base level of the foundation. 𝒒′𝒐 = 𝜸′ 𝑫𝒇
(c) Ultimate Bearing Capacity (qult ) :Is the maximum bearing capacity of soil at which the soil fails by shear.
(d) The Net Ultimate Bearing Capacity (qnu ): Is the bearing capacity in excess of the effective overburden
pressure, expressed: qnu=qult - 𝒒′𝒐
(e) Allowable Bearing Capacity (𝒒𝒂𝒍𝒍 ) : The maximum allowable net load intensity on the soil allowing for
both shear and settlement and it is simply the ultimate bearing capacity divided by the a factor of safety.
qult
qult qult − 𝒒𝒐 ′ 𝒒𝒂𝒍𝒍 =
(f) Net Allowable Bearing Pressure, 𝒒𝒏𝒂 is expressed as 𝒏𝒂 𝑭. 𝑺 𝒒 = = 𝑭. 𝑺
𝑭. 𝑺
(g) Safe Bearing Pressure, 𝒒𝒔 :is defined as the net safe bearing pressure which produces a settlement of the
foundation which does not exceed a permissible limit.
Note: In the design of foundations, one has to use the least of the two values of 𝒒𝒏𝒂 and 𝒒𝒔 .
(h) Gross Bearing Capacity (𝒒𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 ): It is the total unit pressure at the base of footing which the soil can take
up.
Types of Shear Failure: Shear Failure: Also called “Bearing capacity failure” and it’s
occur when the shear stresses in the soil exceed the shear
strength of the soil.
1. General Shear Failure :
Occurs over dense to very
dense cohesion less soils and
very stiff to hard cohesive soil.
2. Local Shear Failure :

Occurs over medium to dense
cohesion less soils and
medium to stiff cohesive soil.
3. Punching Shear Failure :

Occurs loose to very loose
cohesion less soils and soft to
very soft cohesive soil.
Determination of the Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Soil:
1. Terzaghi’s Bearing Capacity Theory:Terzaghi was the first to present a comprehensive
theory for evaluation of the ultimate bearing capacity of rough shallow foundation. This
theory is based on the following assumptions:
1. Soil beneath the foundation is a homogeneous , isotropic and infinite half – space.
2. Depth of embedment not more than width (𝑫𝒇 ≤ 𝑩).
3. The load is concentric and vertical.
4. Foundation has a horizontal base on a level ground surface.
5. The failure mode is General Shear Failure .
6. The foundation is strip. ( 𝑩Τ𝑳 > 𝟓).
qu =𝒄′ Nc+𝒒′ Nq+0.5B𝜸′ Nγ Terzaghi’s Bearing Capacity Equations for strip footing
qu =Ultimate bearing capacity of the 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 soil (KN/𝒎2 )

𝒄′ =Cohesion of Soil beneath foundation (KN/𝒎2 )
𝒒′ =𝐄𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 stress at the bottom of the foundation = 𝜸′ 𝑫𝒇 (KN/𝒎2 )
B: least width (or diameter) of footing.
𝜸′ :Unit weight of the soil
Nc,Nq,Nγ=Bearing capacity factors (nondimensional)and are functions 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 of the
𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 soil friction angle,ϕ,→→ The variations of bearing capacity factors
and underlying soil friction angle are given in (Table.1) for general shear failure.
Table.1 Terzaghi’s Bearing Capacity Factors
Effect of the footing shape for Terzaghi equation
To estimate the ultimate bearing capacity of square, circular and rectangular foundations,
′ ′ ′
Terzaghi equation may be respectively modified to qu =𝒄 Nc𝑆𝑐 +𝒒 Nq𝑆𝑞 + 0.5B𝜸 Nγ𝑆𝛾
Where 𝑆 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫
Footing 𝑩ൗ 𝑺𝒄 𝑺𝒒 𝑺𝜸 Bearing Capacity Equations

𝑳
Shape
Strip 0 1 1 1 qu =𝒄′ Nc+𝒒′ Nq+0.5B𝜸′ Nγ
Circular -- 1.3 1 0.6 qu =1.3𝒄′ Nc+𝒒′ Nq+0.3D𝜸′ Nγ
Square 1 1.3 1 0.8 qu =𝟏. 𝟑𝒄′ Nc+𝒒′ Nq+0.4B𝜸′ Nγ
qu =(1+ 0.3 𝑳 )𝒄′ Nc+𝒒′ Nq+(1- 0.2 𝑳 )0.5B𝜸′ Nγ
Rectangular > 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 1 < 𝐵 1 𝐵 𝑩 𝑩
1+ 0.3 1- 0.2
𝐿 𝐿
Effect of the type of failure for Terzaghi equation

For local shear failure Terzaghi suggested using of modified cohesion and angle of internal
ഥ ) as follows:
friction (𝑐ҧ and ∅
2 2
𝑐=
ҧ c ഥ
𝑡𝑎𝑛∅ = 𝑡𝑎𝑛∅
3 3
Effect of Water Table on Bearing Capacity:
Terzaghi and Meyerhof equations give the ultimate bearing capacity based on the assumption
that the water table is located well below the foundation. However, if the water table is close to
the foundation, the bearing capacity will decreases due to the effect of water table, some
modification of the bearing capacity equations (Terzaghi and Meyerhof) will be necessary.
The values which will be modified are:
1. (q for soil above the foundation) in the second term of equations.
2. (γ for the underlying soil) in the third (last) term of equations .
Case I. The water table is located so that 0≤D1≤Df as shown in the following figure:
• For the soil above the foundation) The factor ,q, (second term) q=D1×γd+D2×(γsat−γw)
• For the soil under the foundation) The factor ,γ, (third term) γ′=γsat−γw
Case II. The water table is located so that 0≤d<B as shown in the following figure:
• The factor ,q, (second term)= q=Df×γd
𝑑
• The factor ,γ, (third term)= γത=γ′+𝐵 (γd − γ′)
Case III. The water table is located so

that d≥B, in this case the
water table is assumed have
no effect on the ultimate
bearing capacity.
Net Ultimate Bearing Capacity and Safety Factor
The net ultimate bearing capacity qnu is defined as the pressure at the base level of the
foundation in excess of the effective overburden pressure 𝒒′𝒐 = 𝜸′ 𝑫𝒇
The net qnu for a strip footing is

′
qnu =qult - 𝒒𝒐 = qult −𝜸 𝑫𝒇 = 𝒄 Nc+𝜸 𝑫𝒇 (Nq-1)+0.5B𝜸′ Nγ
′ ′ ′ ′
Similar expressions can be written for square, circular, and rectangular foundations and
also for local shear failure conditions.
Allowable Bearing Pressure

q
The gross allowable bearing pressure is 𝒒𝒂𝒍𝒍 = ult
𝑭. 𝑺 qult qult − 𝒒′𝒐
𝒒𝒏𝒂 = =
In the same way the net allowable bearing pressure qna is 𝑭. 𝑺 𝑭. 𝑺
where Fs = factor of safety which is normally assumed as equal to 3.
Example (1): Determine the allowable bearing capacity of a strip footing shown below using
Terzaghi Equations if c = 0, φ = 30° , Df = 1.0 m , B = 1.0m , γ soil = 19 kN/𝒎3 ,
the water table is at ground surface, and SF=3.
Solution:- qu =𝒄′ Nc𝑆𝑐 +𝒒′ Nq𝑆𝑞 + 0.5B𝜸′ Nγ𝑆𝛾
Shape factors: from table , for strip footing 𝑆𝑐 =𝑆𝑞 = 𝑆𝛾 = 1.0
Bearing capacity factors: from table (1), for φ = 30°, Nq = 22.46,..Nγ = 19.13
qu =𝒄′ Nc𝑺𝒄 +𝒒′ Nq𝑺𝒒 + 0.5B𝜸′ Nγ𝑺𝜸 =0+1x1.0 (19-10)x22.46+0.5x1(19-10)19.13x1.0 = 288.225 KN/𝒎2
qult 288.225
𝒒𝒂𝒍𝒍 = = = 96.075 KN/𝒎2
𝑭.𝑺 3
Example (2):
Solution:- qu =𝒄′ Nc+𝒒′ Nq+0.5B𝜸′ Nγ

Example (3):
Example (4):
Determine the size of square footing to carry net allowable load of 295 KN. FS=3. Use Terzaghi
equation assuming general shear failure.
Example (5):
Solution:-
H.W.1:
H.W.2:
H.W.3:
2. Skempton’s Bearing Capacity:
For saturated clay soils(φ = 0) , Skempton (1951) proposed the following equation
for a strip foundation
qu =𝒄𝒖 Nc+𝒒
• 𝒄𝒖 : Undrain cohesion
• Nc: Bearing capacity factor for

strip and square (or circular)
foundations as a function of the
D/B ratio are given in Fig. below.
• 𝒒 :Total stress (In all cases,

whether the soil is dry or
saturated) (q=𝛄𝐭 𝐃𝐟 ).
Fig. Skempton's bearing capacity factor Nc for clay soils
• 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝑭𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈
𝑩
𝑵𝑪 (𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓) = 𝑶. 𝟖𝟒 + 𝟎. 𝟏𝟔 ∗ 𝑵𝑪(𝒔𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒆)
𝑳
Example 7.
𝐷𝑓 4.5
𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: qu =𝒄𝒖 Nc+𝒒, 𝑁𝐶 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝐵
=
6
= 0.75 = 7.3 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑓𝑖𝑔.
6
𝑁𝐶 (𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟) = 𝑂. 84 + 0.16 7.3=6.5992
15
qu =𝑐𝑢 Nc+𝑞 =40*6.5992+18*4.5=344.968 kpa

q 344.968
qa = 𝐹.𝑆u= 2.5 =137.9872 KPa
H.W.4:
20

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University of Warith Al Anbiya’a

Foundations are divided in to two types based on depth of embedded to width

Shallow Foundations Deep Foundations

Spread footing Combined footing Strip footing

Strap footing Mat (Raft) foundation

2. Local Shear Failure :

3. Punching Shear Failure :

qu =Ultimate bearing capacity of the 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 soil (KN/𝒎2 )

Footing 𝑩ൗ 𝑺𝒄 𝑺𝒒 𝑺𝜸 Bearing Capacity Equations

Effect of the type of failure for Terzaghi equation

Case III. The water table is located so

The net qnu for a strip footing is

Allowable Bearing Pressure

Solution:- qu =𝒄′ Nc+𝒒′ Nq+0.5B𝜸′ Nγ

• Nc: Bearing capacity factor for

• 𝒒 :Total stress (In all cases,

qu =𝑐𝑢 Nc+𝑞 =406.5992+184.5=344.968 kpa

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