BLD 403 - Module 5

BLD 403: Design of Reinforced Concrete II
Module 5:
Design of Combined Base Foundation
1. Introduction
• Combined base foundations are used when the bases of
two or more columns overlap or are very close.
• It could also be used when the base of a column, close
to the site boundary, would infringe on an adjacent site.
• Combined base foundation could be rectangular or
trapezoidal in shape. However, the trapezoidal shape
has the disadvantage that reinforcements of different
lengths would be required.
• To ensure uniform distribution of stress under the base
and therefore prevent differential settlement of the
foundation, the columns should be placed such that the
resultant of loads would pass through the centroid of the
slab.
2. Design of Combined Base Foundation
The design procedure of a combined base foundation is presented below.
a) Define the columns to be supported by the combined base stating the dead and imposed
loads, the dimensions and the spacing between them.
b) Determine the plan area of the footing using serviceability loads as stated below.
i. Assume the self-weight of the foundation Gs.
ii. Calculate the design load N using
N = 1.0 (Gs + Gk) + 1.0 Qk
iii. Determine the required plan area of the foundation using
N
Plan Area, A (m 2 ) =
Bearing capacity of soil
iv. Determine the length (D) and breadth (B) of the foundation such that B * D ≥ A.
v. Determine the resultant of the column loads, the centroid of the slab by taking the
moments of the forces as appropriate and dispose the columns to ensure a uniform stress
distribution under the foundation slab.
vi. Assume the overall depth of the foundation, h, and check that the actual self -weight is less
than the assumed self-weight in step i. Note: It is expected that the depth of foundation
chosen should be able to resist the maximum shear stresses at the faces of the columns.
b. Determine the bending reinforcement using ultimate limit state as stated below:
i. Determine the design load P using
P = 1.4 Gk + 1.6 Qk
ii. Determine the earth pressure, w, underneath the foundation.
P P
w = = (kN/m2)
Plan Area of Base BD
iii. Determine the longitudinal moment and shear force due to the earth pressure.
iv. Provide bending reinforcement, in the longitudinal direction, at mid-span and support.
v. Determine the transverse moment and provide bending and distribution reinforcement in
the transverse direction.
c. Check for shear

This involves checking the foundation slab against punching shear and transverse shear.
3. Worked Example
Question
Design a combined base foundation for two columns with the following design details. The centre to
centre spacing of the column is 2.5 metres. Assume a soil with a bearing capacity of 200 kN/m 2 , 20 mm
diameter bars with fy = 460 N/mm2, fcu = 35 N/mm2 and a concrete cover of 50 mm.
Column 1: 400 x 400 mm, Gk = 800 kN , Qk = 200 kN.
Column 2: 300 x 300 mm, Gk = 650 kN , Qk = 150 kN.
Solution
1. Size of Foundation Slab
At serviceability limit state,
i. Assume self-weight, Gs = 250 kN.
ii. N = 1.0 (Gs + Gk) + 1.0 Qk
= 250 + 800 + 650 + 200 + 150 = 2050 kN
N 2050 kN
iii. Plan Area, A = = 2
= 10.25 m 2
Bearing capacity of soil 200 kN / m
iv. Provide 4 x 3 m slab (Area = 12 m2)
v. Determine the centroid of the foundation slab and properly position the columns to ensure
uniform earth pressure underneath the slab.
Resultant of column loads = 800 + 200 + 650 + 150 = 1800 kN.

Taking moment about the centre of column 1,
1800 x = 800 * 25 and x = 1.11 m (as indicated on the drawing).
vi. Assume h = 600 mm , d = h  cov er   = 600  50  20 = 530 mm
Check for face shear :

1.4 * Gk  1.6 Qk 1440 *10 3
Column 1: vmax,actual = = = 1.70 N / mm 2 .
Pcol  d 1600  530
1.4 * Gk  1.6 Qk 1150 *10 3
Column 1: vmax,actual = = = 1.81 N / mm 2 .
Pcol  d 1200  530
vmax, permissible = 5.0 N / mm 2 or 0.8 f cu = = 4.733 N / mm 2 .
0.8 35
Since vmax, permissible > vmax,actual , h = 600 mm is okay against face shear.
iv. Actual self-weight = (4 * 3 * 0.6) * 24 = 172.8 kN.

Since actual self-weight of the foundation slab is less than the assumed self-weight, the
assumed self-weight is okay.
2. Bending Reinforcement
At the ultimate limit state,
i. P = 1.4 Gk + 1.6 Qk
= (1.4 * 700 + 1.6 * 300) + (1.4 * 700 + 1.6 * 300) = 1440 + 1150 = 2590 kN
P 2590
ii. Earth pressure, w = = = 215.83 kN/m2.
A 4*3
Since slab is designed per metre length, w = 215.83 kN/m
iii. The longitudinal moment and shear force are illustrated below.
Reaction at supports: Taking moment about Point C,

RB * 2.5 = 215.83 * 4.0 * 1.39 = 1200 , RB  480 kN and RC  383.32 kN
Bending moment:
2
wx
M AB =  ,
2
x0  MA  0 and x  0.89  M B   85.48 kNm
2
wx
M BC =   480 ( x  0.89) ,
2
x  0.89  M B   85.48 kNm and x  3.39  M C   40.17 kNm
2
wx
M DC =  ,
2
x0  MD  0 and x  0.61  M B   40.16 kNm
Shear force:
FAB = w x ,
x0  FA  0 and x  0.89  FB   192.1 kN
FBC =  w x  RB ,
x  0.89  FB  287.9 kN and x  3.39  FC   251.7 kN
FDC = wx ,
x0  FD  0 and x  0.61  FC  131.7 kN
Maximum longitudinal mid-span moment

M max occurs at the point of contraflexure within segment BC,
FBC =  w x  RB =  215.83 x  480  0  x  2.224 m and M max = 106.55 kNm
Longitudinal reinforcement at mid-span:
M 106.55 * 10 6
M = 106.55 kNm K = = = 0.011
f cu b d 2
35 *10 3 * 530 2
Z = d  0.5  0.25  K  = 0.99 d , Use Z = 0.95 d

 0.9 
M
AS = = 484.3 mm 2 / m
0.95 f Y Z
0.13 bh 0.13 * 10 3 * 600

A S ,min = = = 780 mm 2 / m
100 100
Since A S < A S ,min , use A S ,min = 780 mm 2 / m
Provide Y 20 @ 300 mm centres ( A s 1050 mm 2 / m ) .
Longitudinal reinforcement at support:

M
Maximum support moment, M = 85.48 kNm K = 2
= 0.009
f cu b d
Z = d  0.5  0.25  K  = 0.99 d , Use Z = 0.95 d
 0.9 
M
AS = = 388.5 mm 2 / m
0.95 f Y Z
0.13 bh 0.13 * 10 3 * 600

A S ,min = = = 780 mm 2 / m
100 100
Since A S < A S ,min , use A S ,min = 780 mm 2 / m
Transverse reinforcement
wL 2215.83*1.35 2 M
M max = = = 85.48 kNm K = 2
= 0.020
2 2 f cu b d
Z = d  0.5  0.25  K 0.9  = 0.98 d , Use Z = 0.95 d
 
M
AS = = 894 mm 2 / m
0.95 f Y Z
0.13 bh 0.13 * 10 3 * 600
A S ,min = = = 780 mm 2 / m (AS > A S ,min )
100 100
Distribution reinforcement
0.13 bh 0.13 * 10 3 * 600
A S = A S ,min = = = 780 mm 2 / m
100 100
Check for Punching shear
Since the projection beyond the column face is less than 1.5 d (the critical section for punching
shear), check for punching shear is not possible.
Check for Transverse shear
From the shear force diagram, the maximum shear force at 1.0 d from the faces of the columns will
occur around column 1 at FBC at x = 890 + 200 + 530 = 1620 mm = 1.62 m from the edge of
the slab.
At x = 1.62 m, FBC =  215.83 * 1.62  480 = 130.4 kN
V 130.4 * 10 3
= = 0.246 N / mm 2
bd 10 3 * 530
Design concrete shear stress vc = vTable  f cu  3

1
 25 
100 AS
To determine vTable at = 1003*1050 = 0.1981 and d  530 mm
bd 10 * 530
100 AS
At = 0.15 and d  400 mm , vTable = 0.34
bd
100 AS
At = 0.25 and d  400 mm , vTable = 0.40
bd
100 AS
 = 0.1981 and d  400 mm , vTable = 0.34  481 (0.40  0.34) = 0.37 N / mm 2 .
bd 1000
f 
1 1
 35 
v c = vTable  cu  3 = 0.37   3 = 0.414 N / mm 2 .
 25   25 
Since v < vc , the foundation is safe against transverse shear. Shear reinforcement is not
required.
Reinforcement

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BLD 403: Design of Reinforced Concrete II

c. Check for shear

Resultant of column loads = 800 + 200 + 650 + 150 = 1800 kN.

Check for face shear :

iv. Actual self-weight = (4 * 3 * 0.6) * 24 = 172.8 kN.

Reaction at supports: Taking moment about Point C,

Maximum longitudinal mid-span moment

Z = d  0.5  0.25  K  = 0.99 d , Use Z = 0.95 d

0.13 bh 0.13 * 10 3 * 600

Longitudinal reinforcement at support:

0.13 bh 0.13 * 10 3 * 600

Design concrete shear stress vc = vTable  f cu  3

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