CE 342: Foundation Engineering

Lecture 5: Shallow Foundation I -

Ultimate Bearing capacity

Ardhi University (ARU)

1 Dr. John E Elvis

 1: Introduction
• Loads from buildings transmitted to the foundation
by columns, load bearing walls or other load-
bearing components of the structures.
• Foundation is the lowest part of a structure which is
in contact with soil and transmits loads to it.
• Its permanence depend upon the stability of soil bed
• Its design depend on the concept of bearing
capacity.
• Bearing Capacity of soil is the capacity used to
support the loads applied to the ground.
This is the maximum average contact pressure
2 between the foundation and the soil which should
 1: Introduction
• Bearing Capacity of Foundation is the maximum load
that can be applied on a foundation, before failure or
deformations occur.
• Two factors used to determine Bearing Capacity :
(a) foundation must be stable against shear failure of
soil.
(b) The foundation must not settle beyond a tolerable limit
to avoid damage to the structure.
• In selecting a type of foundation, one has to consider:
(a) function of the structure
(b) the load it carry, subsurface conditions and
(c) cost of superstructure.
• Design loads: dead loads, wind and earthquakes
3 forces, lateral earth pressures and dynamic loads.
 1: Introduction (cont..)
• Depending on the structure and soil encountered,
various types of foundations are used, such as
spread footing, mat foundation, pile (friction piles
and end-bearing piles) and drilled shaft
foundations.
• Spread footings and mat foundations generally are
referred to as shallow foundations, whereas pile
and drilled-shaft foundations are classified as
deep foundations.
• The figures in the following slide shows these types
of the foundations
4
 1: Introduction (cont.…)

5Common types of foundations: (a) spread footing; (b) mat foundation; (c) pile foundation;
(d) drilled shaft foundation
 1: Introduction (cont..)
• General steps in selection type of foundation
a. Obtain the required information about nature of the
superstructure and loads to be transmitted to the foundation.
b. Obtain the subsurface soil conditions
c. Explore the possibility of constructing any one of the types of
foundation under the existing conditions by taking into
account (i) the bearing capacity of the soil to carry the
required load, and (ii) the adverse effects on the structure due
to differential settlements.
d. Once one or two types of foundation are selected on the basis
of preliminary studies, make more detailed studies, which
include the determination of loads, subsurface conditions
and footing sizes.
e. Estimate the cost of each types of foundation, and choose the
that represents the most acceptable between performance and
6 cost.
 1: Introduction (cont..)
Factors affecting Bearing Capacity
a. Nature of soil, its physical and engineering properties;
b. Nature of the foundation and other details such as the
size, shape, depth below the ground surface and
rigidity of the structure;
c. Total and differential settlements that the structure can
withstand without functional failure;
d. Location of the ground water table relative to the level

7 of the foundation;
 2: Ultimate Bearing capacity
The concept of ultimate bearing capacity in soil, can be explained by
considering the case of shallow foundation subjected to central vertical load
(see Fig. a). As shown in Fig. b, the settlements of the footing, S against the
applied load Q, are recorded and plotted. The plots are similar to stress – strain
curves. The shape of the curve depends on the size and shape of the footing,
supporting soil, and the character, rate, and frequency of loading.
 If the foundation soil is a dense
sand or a very stiff clay, passes at
peak as shown in the curve .
On the other hand, if the soil is loose
sand or soft clay, the settlement
curve continues to descend on a
slope as shown by curve which
shows that the compression of soil is
continuously taking place. On
curve , may be taken at point
beyond which there is constant rate
of penetration.

8
2: Defined terms related bearing capacity
 As shown in Fig. below, the terms relating to bearing capacity of foundation
are briefly described below:
A. Total overburden pressure ( )This is the pressure due to the weight of
both soil and water at the base level of foundation.

9
2: Defined terms related bearing capacity
 B.Effective overburden pressure This is the pressure at the base level of
foundation.
, If

C. Ultimate bearing capacity of soil This is the maximum bearing capacity

of soil at which the soil fail by shear.
D. The net ultimate bearing capacity of soil This is the bearing capacity in
excess of the effective overburden , expressed as:
E. Gross allowable bearing pressure is expressed as:
, where is the factor of safety

F. Net allowable bearing pressure is expressed as:

G. Safe bearing pressure This is the net safe bearing pressure which
produces a settlement of 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 and .
10
3: Type of failure in soil
 A: General shear failure
As shown in Fig. a below, when the foundation settles under the application of
load, a triangular wedge-shaped zone of soil is pushed down, and, in turn, it
presses the outside zones sideways and then upward. This type of failure is
designated as general shear failure by Terzaghi (1943).
At the ultimate load, , the soil passes into a state of plastic equilibrium
and failure occurs by sliding.

11
3: Type of failure in soil (cont.….)
 B: Local shear failure
As the settlement exceeds about 8 percent of the foundation width, bulging of
sand starts at the surface. At settlements of about 15 percent of foundation
width, a visible boundary of sheared zones at the surface appears. However,
the peak of base resistance may never be reached. As noted by Terzaghi
(1943), this type of failure is termed local shear failure (see Fig. (b)).

12
3: Type of failure in soil (cont.….)
 C: Punching shear failure
Foundations on relatively loose sand with relative density less than 35 percent
penetrate into the soil without any bulging of the sand surface. The base
resistance gradually increases as settlement progresses. The rate of settlement,
however, increases and reaches a maximum at a settlement of about 15 to 20
percent of the foundation width. Sudden shears can be observed as soon as the
settlement reaches about 6 to 8 percent of the foundation width. The failure
surface, which is vertical or slightly inclined and follows the perimeter of the
base, never reaches the sand surface. As noted by Vesic (1963), this type of failure
is termed punching shear failure (see Fig. (c)).

13
4: Method of determining bearing capacity
The following methods are available for the determination of bearing capacity
A. Bearing capacity tables in various building codes
Have been evolved by certain agencies and incorporated in building codes. They
are mostly based on past experience and some investigations.
B. Analytical/numerical methods
A number of analytical approaches, based on the work of Rankine, Fellenius,
Housel, Prandtl, Terzaghi, Meyerhof, Skempton, Hansen and Bella are used to
determine. Will be discussed in the next slides.
C. Plate bearing tests
Plate bearing tests are load tests conducted in the field on a plate. These involve
effort and expense.
D. Penetration tests
These tests are conducted with devices known as ‘Penetrometers’, which measure
the resistance of soil to penetration.
E. The Model and prototype tests
Th tests are very cumbersome and costly and are not usually practicable. Housel’s
approach is based on model tests.
F. Laboratory tests
The tests which are simple, may be useful in arriving at bearing capacity,
14 especially of pure clays.
5: Analytical approach for Bearing capacity
The following analytical approaches are available:
a. The theory of elasticity—Schleicher’s method.
b. The classical earth pressure theory—Rankine’s,
Pauker’s and Bell’s method.
c. The theory of plasticity—Fellenius’, Prandtl’s,
Terzaghi’s, Meyerhof’s, Skempton’s, Hansen’s and
Balla’s method.
For demonstration purpose, Terzaghi’s theory will be
discussed in the following sections.
15
A: Theory of plasticity- Terzaghi’s method
 Terzaghi (1943) used the same form of equation as proposed by Prandtl
(1921) and extended his theory to take into account the weight of soil and
the effect of soil above the base of the foundation on the bearing capacity
of soil.
Terzaghi made the following assumptions:
a. The soil is semi-infinite, homogeneous and isotropic
b. The problem is two-dimensional
c. The base of the footing is rough
d. The failure is by general shear
e. The load is vertical and symmetrical
f. The ground surface is horizontal
g. The overburden pressure at foundation level is equivalent to a
surcharge load , where is the effective unit weight of soil, and , the
depth of foundation less than the width B of the foundation
h. The principle of superposition is valid
i. Coulomb's law is strictly valid, that is,
16
 : Mechanism of failure
The shapes of the failure surfaces under ultimate loading conditions are
given in Fig. below. The zones of plastic equilibrium represented in this
figure by the area gedcf may be subdivided into;
a. Zone I of elastic equilibrium
b. Zones II of radial shear state
c. Zones III of Rankine passive state

17
Fig. General shear failure surface of strip footing, from Terzaghi (1943).
:  Mechanism of failure (cont…)
  When load per unit area acting on the base of the footing of width B with a
rough base is transmitted into the soil, the tendency of the soil located
within zone I is to spread but this is counteracted by friction and
adhesion between the soil and the base of the footing.
 Due to the existence of this resistance against lateral spreading, the soil
located immediately beneath the base remains permanently in a state of
elastic equilibrium, and the soil located within this central Zone I
behaves as if it were a part of the footing and sinks with the footing under
the superimposed load.
• The boundary bc must rise at an angle 𝜙 to the horizontal provided the
friction and adhesion between the soil and the base of the footing be
sufficient to prevent a sliding motion at the base.
• The sinking of zone I creates two zones of plastic equilibrium, Zone II
and III, on either sides of footing. Zone II is the radial shear zone whose
remote boundaries bd and af meet the horizontal surface at angles (45° -
𝜙/2), whereas Zone III is a passive Rankine zone. The boundaries de and fg
of these zones are straight lines and they meet the surface at angles of (45°
18 - 𝜙/2).
 : Ultimate bearing capacity of soil
  (General shear failure)
 
1: Strip footing
For strip footing, the equation for ultimate bearing capacity is given as:
= [Terzaghi's ultimate bearing capacity]
where = ultimate load per unit length of footing, c = unit cohesion, = unit weight of
soil, B = width of footing, =depth of foundation, and are the bearing capacity factors
(They are function of friction angle, ).
 Table. The values of and based on

, ,

 = Passive earth pressure

coefficient
19
 : Ultimate bearing capacity of soil
 1: Strip footing (cont.…)
Graphically, the values of and based on can be obtained in the Fig.

20
Fig. Terzaghi's bearing capacity factors for general shear failure
   : Ultimate bearing capacity of soil
  (General shear failure)
2: Square, Circular, and Rectangular Foundations
Terzaghi's bearing capacity Eq. (see slide 17) has been
modified for other types of foundations by introducing
the shape factors as shown below
a. Square Foundations

b. Circular Foundations

c. Rectangular Foundations

where B = width or diameter of footing, =Length of

footing
21
 : Ultimate bearing capacity of soil
  (Local shear failure)
 When the soil fails by local shear, the actual shear parameters c and are to be
reduced as per Terzaghi (1943). The lower limiting values of c and are:

and 0.67 𝜙 or )

The Equations for lower bound are given as follows:

a. Strip Foundations

b. Square Foundations

c. Circular Foundations

d. Rectangular Foundations

where , = reduced bearing capacity factor for local shear

22
: Ultimate bearing capacity in cohesive and
 cohesionless soil under general shear failure
 The equations discussed early can be modified to give equations for cohesionless soil
(for c = 0) and cohesive soils (for 𝜙 = 0) as follows. It is noted that for c = 0, the value
of = 0, and for 𝜙 = 0, the value of = 5.7 for a strip footing and = 1. The Equations for
lower bound are given as follows:
a. Strip Foundations
For c=0, Note:
For 𝜙 = 0, Similar types of equations as
b. Square Foundations
presented for general shear
failure can be developed for
c. Circular Foundations local shear failure

d. Rectangular Foundations

23
: Transitional from local to general shear failurein
 sand
As discussed, local shear failure normally occurs in loose and general shear
failure occurs in dense. There is a transition from local to general shear failure
as the state of sand changes from loose to dense condition.

The curves for N are

developed on the following
assumptions.
1. Purely local shear failure
occurs when 0 < 28°.
2. Purely general shear
failure occurs when 𝜙 >
38°.
3. Smooth transition curves
for values of 𝜙 between 28°
and 38° represent the mixed
state of local and general
shear failures.

Fig. Terzaghi's bearing capacity factors which take care of mixed state of local and general
24
shear failures in
: Transitional from local to general shear failurein
 sand
 Note:
The Fig. also gives the relationship between SPT value and the angle of
internal friction 𝜙 by means of a curve. This curve is useful to obtain the
value of 𝜙 when the SPT value is known.
: Net Ultimate Bearing Capacity and Safety Factor
The net ultimate bearing capacity is defined as the pressure at the base level of
the foundation in excess to effective overburden pressure, .
For strip footing, the is calculated as:

Note: This expression can be written for square, circular, and rectangular
foundations (Both local and general shear failure conditions).
: Allowable bearing pressure
1: Gross allowable bearing pressure

2: Net allowable bearing pressure

25
= Factor of safety, normally assumed to be 3
6: Effect of water table on bearing capacity
 •As discussed in the previous sections, the equations developed for
computing ultimate bearing capacity, , are based on the assumptions that
the water table lies below the foundation equal to or greater than width B
from the ground surface).
• In case the water table is at any intermediate depth less than , the bearing
capacity, , can be affected.
• As shown in the Fig. (next slide), three different conditions can arise
regarding the location of the groundwater table with respect to the bottom
of the foundation.
Case I:
When the water table lies above the base of the foundation (see Fig. (a)).
Case II:
When the water table is at the base of foundation. (see Fig. (b)).

Case III:
When the water table is at depth below the base of foundation. (see Fig.
(c)).
26
6: Effect of water table on bearing capacity

Fig. Effect of the location of groundwater table on the bearing capacity of

27
shallow foundations: (a) Case I; (b) Case II; (c) Case III
6: Effect of water table on bearing capacity
 
Two methods for determining the effect of the water table
on bearing capacity
Method 1
For any position of water table within the depth , the equation below can be
used:

Where:
= reduction factor for water table above the base level of the foundation,
= reduction factor for water table below the base level of the foundation,
= for all practical purposes in both the second and third terms of the
Equation.
Case 1:
When the water table lies above the base of the foundation (see Fig. (A)) or
when , may be written as:

28
6: Effect of water table on bearing capacity

Fig. A: Water table above base level of foundation

Note:

29
6: Effect of water table on bearing capacity
 Case2:
When the water table lies below the base of the foundation (see Fig. (B)) or
when , may be written as:

30
Fig. B: Water table below the base level of foundation
Effect of water table (Examples)
 
Example 1: Question
A strip footing of width 3 m is founded at a depth of 2 m below the ground
surface in a (c - 𝜙) soil having a cohesion c = 30 kN/ and angle of shearing
resistance 𝜙 = 35°. The water table is at a depth of 5 m below ground level. The
moist weight of soil above the water table is 17.25 kN/.
Quest.-1
Determine (a) the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil, (b) the net bearing
capacity, and (c) the net allowable bearing pressure and the load/m for a factor of
safety of 3. Use the general shear failure theory of Terzaghi.
Quest.-2
If the soil fails by local shear failure, determine the net safe bearing pressure.
Quest.-3
If the water table rises to the ground level, determine the net safe bearing pressure
of the footing. Assume the saturated unit weight of the soil = 18.5 kN/
Quest.-4
If the water table occupies any of the positions (a) 1.25 m below ground level or
(b) 1.25 m below the base level of the foundation, what will be the net safe
31
bearing pressure? Assume = 18.5 kN/, (above WT) = 17.5 kN/.
 Effect of water table (Examples)
Example 1: Solution
Quest.-1
Stage -1: Sketch
 Stage -2: (a) Ultimate capacity,
For 𝜙=, and [Table on slide 17].

4259 kN/

= 4259-17.25x2
4225 kN/

kN/

= kN/m

32
Effect of water table (Examples)
 
Example 1: Solution
Quest.-2
For local shear failure:
=(0.67 tan35) = , = 0.67c=0.67x30 = 20 kN/
From, [Table on slide 17], for =, =25.1, =12.7, = 9.7

= 1191-17.25x2
1156.5 kN/

kN/

=kN/m

33
Effect of water table (Examples)
 
Example 1: Solution
Quest.-3

When the WT is at ground level, the submerged unit weight of soil is used:
Therefore: - =18.5 - 9.81 = 8.69 kN/

kN/

=997 kN/m

34
Effect of water table (Examples)
 
Example 1: Solution
Quest.-4
By making use of reduction factors and

For 𝜙=, and [Table on slide 17].

Stage – 1: Sketch
Stage – 2: Calculations
 Case1: WT is 1.25 below the
GL
=0.813 for
=0.5 for
Substitute the values:
=3538 kN/

35
Effect of water table (Examples)
Example 1: Solution
Quest.-4

36
Effect of water table (Examples)
 
Example 2:
A foundation, 2.0 m square is installed 1.2 m below the surface of a uniform
sandy gravel having a density of 19.2 kN/, above the water table and a
submerged density of 10.1 kN/m3. The strength parameters with respect to
effective stress are c′ = 0 and 𝜙′ = 30°.
Find the gross ultimate bearing capacity for the following conditions:
(i) Water table is well below the base of the foundation (i.e., the whole of the
rupture zone is above the water table);
(ii) Water table rises to the level of the base of the foundation; and
(iii) the water table rises to ground level.
(For 𝜙 = 30°, Terzaghi gives = 22 and = 20)

37
Effect of water table (Examples)
Example 2: Solution

38
Effect of water table (Examples)
 
Example 3:
A square footing fails by general shear in a cohesionless soil under an ultimate
load of 1687.5 kips. The footing is placed at a depth of 6.5 ft below ground
level. Given 𝜙 = 35°, and =110 Ib/, determine the size of the footing if the
water table is at a great depth (see the detail in the Fig. below)

39
Effect of water table (Examples)
Example 3: Solution

40
Effect of water table (Examples)
 
Example 4:
The footing of a column is 2.25 m square and is founded at a depth of 1 m on
a cohesive soil of unit weight 17.5 kN/. What is the safe load for this footing if
cohesion = 30 kN/ ; angle of internal friction is zero and factor of safety is 3.
(For 𝜙 = 0°, Terzaghi gives = 5 = 1 and = 0)

Example 4: Solution

41
 Bearing capacity of shallow foundation
(Tutorial Questions)
 
Exercise 1:
What will be the gross and net allowable bearing pressures of a sand having 𝜙 =
35° and an effective unit weight of 18 kN/ under the following cases:
(a) size of footing 1 x 1 m square, (b) circular footing of 1 m dia., and (c) 1 m
wide strip footing. The footing is placed at a depth of 1 m below the ground
surface and the water table is at great depth. Use = 3. Compute by Terzaghi's
general shear failure theory.

42
 Bearing capacity of shallow foundation
(Tutorial Questions)
 
Exercise 2:
A square footing of 1 m is located at a depth 1.5 m below the ground surface.
The soil properties are:
c' = 0, = 40°, = 16.7 kN/, = 20 kN/.
Using Terzaghi's bearing capacity factors calculate the ultimate bearing
capacity:
(a) The water table is well below the foundation level,
(b) The water table is at the ground surface.

Given =

43
 Bearing capacity of shallow foundation
(Tutorial Questions)
 
Exercise 3:
A footing 2 m square, subjected to a centric vertical load, is located at a depth
of 1.0 m below the ground surface in a deep deposit of compacted sand (= 35°,
= 30°, and = 18 kN/m3). The groundwater level is 5 m below the ground
surface, but you should assume that the soil above the groundwater is saturated.
The friction angles were obtained from plain strain tests.
(a) Determine the allowable bearing capacity for a factor of safety of 3.
(b) Compare the ultimate net bearing capacity in (a), using = 35°, when the
groundwater is located
(i) at 5 m below the ground surface
(ii) at the ground surface
(iii) at the bottom of the base of the footing
(iv) at 1 m below the base.
Note:
If the ground water table is more than the width of footing B from the base,
neglect
44 the effect of ground water table.
 Bearing capacity of shallow foundation
(Tutorial Questions)
 
Exercise 4:
Determine the size of a rectangular footing to support vertical centric dead and live
loads of 800 kN and 1000 kN, respectively, on a dense, coarse-grained soil. The friction
angle obtained from a triaxial test is = 28.4°, and = 18 kN/. The footing is to be located
at 1 m below the ground surface. Groundwater level is 6 m below the ground surface.
Assume FS =3, =1, =0.8
Note
Design procedure used in practice:
a. Allowable stress design (ASD)=
In this method, the ultimate load is determined first, and then divided by the factor of safety
(FS). FS has no fundamental basis, it is based on experience and judgement of the
performance of existing foundation. ASD is the long standing method.
b. Load and resistance factor design (LRFD) – is based on the reliability methods
considering the uncertainties in loads, soil resistance, method of analysis, and
constructions. The governing equation based on LRFD is:
, where is the load factor, is the load, is resistance, is the performance factor, is the
ductility, redundancy and operational performance factor. Subscript i is the load type,
45 as Dead Load (DL) or Live Load (LL)
such
 Bearing capacity of shallow foundation
(Tutorial Questions)
Note
In the design analysis, two types of load are used (DL and LL), one load combination and
resistance performance factor shown in the Table below:
a. For ASD: DL +LL
b. For LRFD: 1.25DL +1.75LL
Table: Performance factor for bearing capacity calculations using LRFD

46
7: Eccentrically loaded foundation
  calculate the bearing capacity
To
of shallow foundations with
eccentric loading, Meyerhof
(1953) introduced the concept of
effective area. The concept
explained with reference to
Figures, in which a footing of
length L and width B is subjected
to an eccentric load, .
 As shown from the Fig., the
effective dimensions are given
as:

 Effective area is given as:

 Ultimate load bearing capacity:

Where, is the ultimate for load

47
acting at the centre of the footing.
7: Eccentrically loaded foundation (cont.…)
 Maximum and minimum base pressure:
Consider the plan of a rectangular footing given in the Fig. below. If the vertical load
passes through OX on the X-axis, the footing is eccentrically loaded with one way
eccentricity. The distance of OX from O, designated as, is called the eccentricity in the
X-direction. If the load passes through O on the Y-axis, the eccentricity is in the Y-
direction. If on the other hand the load passes through the eccentricity is called two-
way eccentricity or double eccentricity.

48
7: Eccentrically loaded foundation (cont.…)
Maximum and minimum base pressure (cont…):
When a footing is eccentrically loaded, the soil experiences a maximum or a minimum
pressure at one of the corners or edges of the footing. For the load passing through O
(see the Fig. on slide 48), the points C and D at the corners of the footing experience
the maximum and minimum pressures respectively.
  and at points C and D respectively,
 As show in the Fig., the distribution of the
may be obtained by substituting the
footing is not uniform. It is the case of bending
following terms:
combined with the thrust, treated in the
mechanics of the materials.
,,,
In general the maximum and minimum
pressure are given as follows:

OR
where q = contact pressure at a given point (x, y) Note:
The equations above can be used for two
Q = total vertical load, A = area of footing
way eccentricity but for one way =0 and
= = moment about axis YY
=0. When or exceed a certain limit, the
= = moment about axis XX
above eqs. gives –ve value, indicates
, = moment of inertia of the footing about XX tensions between the soil and bottom of
and YY axes respectively footing.
49
Tutorial questions
Question 1:
The square footing shown below must be designed to carry a 2400 KN load. Use
Terzaghi’s bearing capacity formula and factor of safety = 3. Determine the foundation
dimension B in the following two cases:
(a) The water table is at 1m below the foundation (as shown)
(b) The water table rises to the ground surface

50
Tutorial solution
Question 1: (Solution)
a. Width B for water table 1 m below the foundation

51
Tutorial solution
Question 1: (Solution) (cont…)
Note:
Assume this condition is for general shear failure
Always we design for general shear failure (soil have a high compaction ratio) except if
we can’t reach high compaction, we design for local shear (medium compaction).

52
Tutorial solution
Question 1: (Solution) (cont…)
b. Width B for water table rises to the ground surface
All factors remain unchanged except q and γ:

Note that as the water table elevation increase the required width (B) will also increase
to maintain the factor of safety (3).
53
Tutorial questions
Question 2:
An eccentrically loaded rectangular foundation (6ft x 8ft) shown below. Use factor
of safety of 3 and if e=0.5ft, determine the allowable load that the foundation
could carry. (The factor of safety is based on the maximum stress along the base of
the footing).

54
Tutorial solution
Question 2: (Solution)

55
Tutorial solution
Question 2: (Solution)

56
Tutorial solution
Question 2: (Solution)

57
Tutorial solution
Question 2: (Solution)

58
Tutorial questions
Question 3:
A square footing 2.5m x 2.5m is shown in the figure below. If the maximum
pressure on the foundation should not exceed the allowable bearing capacity.
Using factor of safety (FS=3), find the maximum horizontal force that the
foundation can carry if the water table is 1m below the foundation.
(Use Terzaghi equation)

59
Tutorial questions
Question 4:
For the rectangular foundation (2m x 3m) shown below:
a) Compute the net allowable bearing capacity (FS=3).
b) If the water table is lowered by 2m. What effect on bearing capacity would
occur due to the water lowering?

60
Tutorial questions
 Question 7:
A column carries a load of 1000 kN. The soil is a dry sand weighing 19 kN/ and having
an angle of internal friction of 40°. A minimum factor of safety of 2.5 is required
and Terzaghi factors are required to be used. (= 42 and Nq = 21).
(i) Find the size of a square footing, if placed at the ground surface; and,
(ii) Find the size of a square footing required if it is placed at 1 m below ground surface
with water table at ground surface. Assume = 21 kN/.

61
 QUIZ NO.1 [PART A: 5 MINUTES]
 
(a)Westergaard (1938) has obtained an elastic solution for stress
distribution in soil under a point load based on the non-
isotropic condition encountered in a cohesive soil.

(b)If the ground water table is more than the width of footing B
from the base, the effect of ground water table is neglected.

(c)The passive pressure is maximum pressure which develops

when the wall moves towards the fill
(d)If the water in the soil were subjected to surface tension, the
soil above the water table is perfectly dry
(e)The intergranular pressure, which draws the grains of soil
closer to each other at all points where the menisci touch the
62soil grains is known as capillary pressure. The increase of
 QUIZ NO.1 [PARTB: 5 MINUTES]
 
(f)From the Rankine theory, if the wall is stretched, the
pressure on the wall will increase up to plastic equilibrium
state.
(g) The pore water pressure in the soil mass tends to increase
frictional resistance
(h) Capillary action results in negative porewater pressures
and decreases the effective stresses
(i)Newmark’s influence chart can be used for the
determination of horizontal stress under any shape of the
loaded
(j) An isobar is a curve which join points of maximum
vertical stress
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 QUIZ NO.1 [ANSWER]
 (a) Westergaard (1938) has obtained an elastic solution for stress distribution in soil under a
point load based on the non-isotropic condition encountered in a cohesive soil.

(b) If the ground water table is more than the width of footing B from the base, the effect of
ground water table is neglected.
(c) The passive pressure is maximum pressure which develops when the wall moves towards the
fill
(d) If the water in the soil were subjected to surface tension, the soil above the water table is
perfectly dry
(e) The intergranular pressure, which draws the grains of soil closer to each other at all points
where the menisci touch the soil grains is known as capillary pressure. The increase of
intergranular pressure on the grains can lead to lower strength of the soil mass
(f) From the Rankine theory, if the wall is stretched, the pressure on the wall will increase up to
plastic equilibrium state.
(g) The pore water pressure in the soil mass tends to increase frictional resistance
(h) Capillary action results in negative porewater pressures and decreases the effective stresses
(i) Newmark’s influence chart can be used for the determination of horizontal stress under any
shape of the loaded area
64[𝐅]
 ARDHI UNIVERSITY
End of Lecture 5 – CE 342
[2020/2021]
01/06/2021
TUESDAY
WEEK – 7
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