Foundation Engineering / Dr.Rafi M.S.

Chapter 3: Bearing
Capacity of Shallow Foundations

PROBLEMS
Bearing capacity problems

3. Determine ultimate and allowable bearing capacities of (0.5m x 2.0m) rectangular footing
1
placed on cohesionless soil with properties: 40 , and = 9.31kN/m3 (use F.S. =3)?

2.0m

0.5m

G.S.

0.5m

0.5m
3. What is the net ultimate bearing capacity of 2m square footing placed at depth of 1m in:-
2 a. Granular soil with c = 0, =30, and = 18 kN/m3?
b.Saturated cohesive soil with c = 60 kN/m2, and = 0?

3. Determine the allowable bearing capacity of 1.5m width continuous footing resting at 1.0m
3
depth below the ground surface given that the effective angle of internal friction of soil =
25, cohesive intercept = 12 kN/m2, and = 18 kN/m3 using:-
a. Terzaghi equation.
b. Hansen equation.

3. Determine the allowable bearing capacity of the following footings (use Hansen equation):
4 Rectangular footing
Df = 0.7m, B = 0.8m, L= 2.0m
= 9.81 kN/m3, 42 , C= 0
Water table level at ground surface.
Square footing
Df = 1.2m, B = 2.0m
= 17.5 kN/m3, q u = 300 kN/m2
Water table is at great distance below the base of footing.

3. Determine the ultimate and allowable B.C. of 1.0m width continuous footing located at
5 depth of 1.2m below the ground surface under the following cases. If the soil properties

are C = 0.25 kg/cm2, = 20, and m = 1700 kg/cm3 :-
a. The soil is stiff clay.
b. The soil is very soft clay.
Foundation Engineering Chapter 3: Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations

3.6 Determine the size of square footing resting on sand at a depth of 1m below ground surface
where the SPT shows that N =15 blows/ft. Assume that W.T. is at 2m below the ground surface,
where:
Q Dead = 40 tons. DL = 40 tons
LL = 30 tons
Q Live = 30 tons.

1m N =15

BxB
G.S. 1m

3.7 Determine the factor of safety for the footing shown in Figure for a settlement of 3 cm given that
t 20kN/m3, N field =19/30 cm at a depth of 4m below ground
the Soil properties: Sand, sat.
800 kN surface.

Po =1.5(20) + 2.5(20-10) = 55 25
HINT:
N C N .N field = 22
1.5m
W.T. N =15 + (1/2)(22 -15)

2m x 2m
4m

3.8 Determine the allowable bearing capacity of the footing shown in Figure. Given that soil
properties: c = 50 kN/m2, 25 , and =18 kN/m3.
400 kN
HINT: e = M/P
100
e =kN
(100)(1.5) / 400

1.5m

1.0m x 1.3m

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Foundation Engineering Chapter 3: Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations

100 kN-m
3.9 Redo problem 3.8 with extra moment of 100 kN-m.
400 kN
HINT:
e = (150100
+ 100)
kN / 400

1.5m

1.0m x 1.3m
3.1 A square footing is located at a depth 1.2m below the ground surface. If c = 20 kPa,
0 20 , and soil 17.28 kN/m3, what is the allowable soil pressure using Terzaghi's
equation and SF=3.0 under the following cases:
General shear failure,
(b) Local shear failure, and then
(c) Draw the relationships between q all. and B in each case.
q all.
B=? G.S.

Df
20
3.11 A circular footing is subjected to vertical load of 700 kN and located at 1.2m depth below
q
the ground surface. If soil 17.6 kN/m3, and u 60 kPa, what is its size using
Terzaghi's equation and SF = 3.0 under the following cases:
C u = 30 kPa, and 0 ,
D=? 700 kN
(a)
(b)
G.S. C u = 0 kPa, and 20 ,
C u = 30 kPa, and 20
(c)
Df
20
3.1 A rectangular footing 8.4m wide and 25.2m long is to be placed at a depth of 3m in a deep
stratum of soft saturated clay soil 16.5 kN/m3. The water table is at 2.4m below ground
2
q ult . under the following cases:
surface. Find the ultimate bearing capacity
(a) If the footing reaction acts at 0.90m off center in B-direction ( e B 0.90m)
(b) If the footing reaction acts at 1.95m off center in the L-direction ( e L 1.95m) ,
Assume that the horizontal component of the reaction is equal to half of the ultimate
Pmax . Af .Ca Q. tan
value given by:

3
 Foundation Engineering Chapter 3: Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations

For the wall footing shown in figure, if c = 16 kPa, 25 , and soil 18.2 kN/m3, what
3.1
3
its ultimate soil pressure using Terzaghi's equation and S.F.= 3.0?
q ult .
G.S.
1.0m x 20m

Df
25
sat.
3.1 Determine the gross and net allowable loads that a 1.2m square footing shown in figure
Df 4 can carry using Terzaghi's equation and S.F.= .
Qall3.0?
Q all.( gross),.( net)
1.2m x 1.2m

G.S.

20
3.1 Determine the safe gross load that a circular footing of 1.22m in diameter can carry using
5 Meyerhof's bearing capacity eauation and S.F.= 3.0?

3.1 A (1.5m x 0.75m) rectangular footing subjected to eccentric load is shown in figure.
6 q gross
Determine for bearing capacity failure in soil using Hansen's bearing capacity
1.5m equation?

0.75m
0.06m

0.12m G.S.

0.6m
t

4
 Foundation Engineering Chapter 3: Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations

3.1 Given:
7 1. A uniform soil deposit has the following properties:
20.4 kN/m3, c = 37.6 kN/m2, and 30 ,
2. A proposed footing to be located 1.5 m below the ground surface must carry a
total load of 2670 kN,
3. The ground water table is at a great depth, and its effect can be ignored.
Required:
Determine the width of a square footing to carry the load using a general shear
condition and a factor of safety of (3.0). Also, if the footing is circular what its
diameter?
Q
B =? G.S.

Df
70 kN-m
30
3.1 Determine the soil pressure for the following cases:
8 1.when the footing is subjected to vertical load only,
2.when the footing is subjected to overturning moment, then
3.Determine the size of footing so that the soil pressure does not exceed that in part (1).

445 kN
G.S. 1.8m x 1.8m
G.S.

Rectangular footing
Df 30
3.1 Proportion the dimensions (B x L) for the footing shown in figure. Given that the undrained
9 q
shear strength u = 75 kPa, clay =18 kN/m3, and conc. = 24 kN/m3 (Use Hansen
equation, S.F. = 3.0).

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Foundation Engineering Chapter 3: Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations
0.5m

3.2 A wall footing is as shown in figure. Calculate the factor of safety against the bearing
0 capacity failure for the following cases (Use Meyerhof's equation) if :

triaxial 32.7
a-The load is vertical, and if
b-The load is inclined at 15 to the vertical.

1.5m

3.2 A strip footing of 1.0m width is as shown below. Show by drawing the variation of net
1 allowable bearing capacity of soil at the base of footing versus the water table (W.T.)
12m
locations (use Hansen's equation).

3.2 A circular oil tank is as shown in figure. Find the

2
minimum diameter of footing if F.S. = 2.5 and oil 8

kN/m3, soil 14.4 kN/m3, concrete 24 kN/m3 , and
10m
Vfooting 0.1...Vtan k
?

6
 6m
5.5m

Foundation Engineering Chapter 3: Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations

6m
1.0m

3.2 An offshore concrete oil tank of B = 6m, L = 10m and H = 9m is as shown in figure. Find:-
3 1. F.S. against bearing capacity,
2.5m

2. F.S. against sliding ( 2 / 3 ),

3. F.S. against floating, and
4. F.S. against overturning.
Notes:
Neglecte the ctive and passive sides forces,
Use Meyerhof's equation.

Take oil 8 kN/m3, and concrete 24 kN/m3.
0.5m

G.S. B =?

15
3.2 For the tank shown in figure, if F.S. = 2.0, weight of tank (empty) = 500 kN, and weight of
4 tank (full) = 10000 kN, check the adequacy of footing (against bearing capacity and
sliding failures)?

7
45
Foundation Engineering Chapter 3: Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations

4mx4mx1m

3.2 For the cabling tower shown in figure, if the weight of tower = 2000 kN, moment due to
5 wind load = 8000 kN-m, Minimum factor of safety = 2.0, check the adequacy of the
proposed four spread footings each of (4m x 4m x 1m) dimensions (against bearing
capacity failure and uplift)?

Wind load

3.2 A raft foundation of 15m diameter is placed at 2.5m below the ground surface in clay soil
6 G
with sat. 20 kN/m3, s 2.65 as shown in figure. The raft supports a tower of 40 MN
weight and wind load moment of 20 MN-m. Find the thickness of footing if S.F.=2.5?

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 Foundation Engineering Chapter 3: Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations

Footings on clay and plastic silt problems

3.2 A continuous wall footing will rest at 0.9m depth on saturated clay that has an unconfined
7 compressive strength of 120kPa. At a load of 140 kN/m of wall a factor of safety of 3 is
required. But, it (F.S.) should not be less than 2 when the footing, is subjected to a load of
190 kN/m.
Ignore the difference in the unit weights of concrete and clay, and determine the width of
the footing?

3.2 Proportion a square footing to carry a column load of 1600 kN at 2.5 safety factor. Given
G.S. 8 that the base of footing is at 1.2m below the ground surface level and the clay beneath
the footing has an unconfined compressive strength of 155 kN/m2.

3.2 A footing (3m) square rests at 0.9m depth on clay that has an unconfined compressive
3m x 6m
9 strength of 130 kN/m2. If the factor of safety is not to be less than 2.5, what is the
maximum column load that can be supported by the footing?

3.3 A building is to be supported on a reinforced concrete raft covering an area of (14m x

Total load = 900 kN
0 21m). The subsoil is clay with an unconfined compressive strength of 85 kN/m2. The
1.2m
pressure on the soil, due to weight of building and other loads it will carry, will be 150
kN/m2 at base of raft. If the unit weight of the excavated soil is 18.85 kN/m3, at what
depth should the bottom of the raft be placed to provide a factor of safety of 3?
2.4m

3.3 A raft (18 x 22m) in plan has its base 3m below the surface of clay deposit with a unit
1 weight of 18.85 kN/m3. The unconfined compressive strength of clay is 82 kN/m2. The
factor of safety against bearing capacity failure must be 3. What total weight of building
plus foundation can safely be supported by the raft?

Footings on layered soils problems 0.6m

3.3 A (3m x 6m) rectangular footing is to be placed on a two- layer clay deposits as shown in
2 figure. Compute the F.S. against the bearing capacity failure and check whether the soil
may squeeze from beneath the footing or not?

9
 Foundation Engineering s at.
Chapter 3: Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations
P

3.3 A (8.5m x 26m) rectangular footing is to be placed at depth 3m in a stratum of soft

3
saturated clay ( sat. 16.8 kN/m3). The water table is at 2.4m below the ground surface.
Find the ultimate bearing capacity of soil in undrained condition under the following cases
(use Vesic equation):
(a) Soft clay is underlain by stiff clay, and
(b) Stiff clay is underlain by soft clay?

A (1.5m x 2.0m) rectangular footing is to be placed on c soils shown in figure. Check

3.3
4
w =10 kN/m3 ) by:
it's adequacy against shear failure (assume F.S.= 3.0, and
(a) Vesic equation, Soil (2)
(b) Hansen equation.
Soil (3)
Para Soil Soil Soil
meter (I) (II) (III)
Gs 2.70 2.65 2.75
e 0.8 0.9 0.85
c (kPa) 10 60 80
35 30 0
2.4m 3.0m 8.5m x 26m 35
3.3 A (8.5m x 26m) rectangular footing is to be placed at depth (3m) in a medium dense sand W.T.
5 C
( 35 ) underlain by stiff clay ( u 56 kPa) starting at elevation (-9m). If the water

6.0m (Hansen equation)?

moist
table is at (2.4m) below ground surface, find the ultimate bearing capacity of soil by

C u

10
 15
W.T.
0.4m x 0.4m
Foundation Engineering Chapter 3: Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations
30
3m

Footings on slopes Problems

0.9m
4.8m 1m
6m
3.3 A bearing wall for a building is to be located close to a slope as shown in figure. The
6 ground water table is located at a great depth. Determine the ultimate bearing capacity .2m x 1.2m
by:-
(a) Meyerhof's method, and
(b) Hansen's method.

A (1.2m x 1.2m) square footing is to be placed near a slope of c soil. If 15 , Df

3.3
7
0.9m, c = 50 kN/m2, 33 , 17.3 kN/m3 , and the ground water table is located at a
great depth, find the maximum allowable load that the footing can carry by:-
(a) Meyerhof's method, and
(b) Hansen's method.

3.3 A (3m x 6m) rectangular combined footing that supports two columns each of (0.4m x
8 0.4m) is to be constructed near slope as shown in figure. Find F.S. against bearing
capacity failure?

Note: Since (L) direction 3.6m

of foundation is in
the same direction
of slope, check the
F.S. in (B) direction
also.

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 Foundation Engineering Chapter 3: Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations

3.39 For the cabling tower near slope shown in figure. if weight of tower = 6000 kN, moment due to
wind load = 10000 kN-m, minimum factor of safety = 2.0, check the S.F. of (4m x 4m x 1m)
spread footings against bearing capacity failure ?

Footings on rocks Problems

3.40 The unweathered quartzite below excavation level for a multistory building has an RQD of
30% for the upper 1.5m and 70% for the next 6m. A load of 1500 tons is delivered to the
rock through a square reinforced concrete pedestal. What would be the size of the
pedestal to restrict the settlement to a bout 12.7mm?

RQD =30% 1.5m

6.0m RQD =70%

45

4mx4mx1m

12
Wind load
 Foundation Engineering Chapter 3: Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations

3.41 If the upper 1.5m of rock were removed of the described excavation in problem 3.40. What
would be the size of the pedestal?
y

B=?

6.0m=70%
RQD

3.42 A shale with RQD of 90% and unconfined compressive strength of 50T/ft2 is to support a
column load of 1000 Tons transmitted to the rock through a circular pier drilled a few
meters into the shale. What diameter of pier shaft is required if the settlement is not to
exceed 12.7mm? x

5m

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