HAWASSA UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

SOIL BEARING CAPACITY

Bearing capacity End bearing pile
When a structure, such as building and B

dams, is constructed, its load has to be Df

transferred to the soil ensuring no damage Df Soft
occurring to the soil as well as the structure. material
B
That part of the structure, which transmits Rock
loads directly to the underlying soil, is
known as foundation. For its proper B

functioning it need to satisfy following two

criteria. Continuous footing Df
1. Induced stresses in soil due to
applied load is lesser than its
capacity, otherwise, soil will fail by Friction pile
shear, and
B
2. The settlement in the soil should be
such that it is within the tolerance Pier
limit of the superstructure. More
important, differential settlements
should not cause any unacceptable Top plug
damage.
RCC Sand
Thus allowable bearing capacity (qa) is, Steinning filling Df
defined as the maximum pressure on the
soil under which the soil still be satisfying
the above two criteria. Plan
Bottom plug
Curb
Foundations
Df
Foundations may be footings, rafts, piles cutting
section edge
and well or caissons as shown in figure
Raft Foundation Well Foundation
depending on the soil conditions and
structural requirements. Among these footings piles and well
foundations are located at a depth Df greater
than the least lateral dimension of
foundation and are called deep foundations.
Isolated footings, combined footing,
RCC Df
continuous footing and raft footings are
PCC located at a depth Df lesser than the breadth
Isolated footing Combined footing of these footings and are called shallow
B L footings. In this chapter bearing capacity of
the shallow footings are discussed.
The soil below these footings may fail by
B
general shear, local shear and punching
shear failure as discussed further here.
When a load is applied to a continuous
footing (shallow) it settles. The relation
between load per unit area and the
settlement for different soils are shown in
figure. In dense and stiff soils the failure

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HAWASSA UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

occurs at a very distinct point (curve-I); footing. The failure surfaces do not reach
whereas in loose or soft soils, the point of ground and only slight heaving occurs.
failure is slightly less distinctly defined There will not be any tilting of footing. This
(curve-II) and for soils of low failure is characteristic of soft soils of high
compressibility for deep footings it will fail compressibility.
by punching shear failure (curve-III).
Curve-I is characteristic of general shear
failure and curve-II is characteristic of local
shear failure.
0
qult2 qult1 Load/unit area
s
e
t
t
l III II I
e
m
e
n
t

The ultimate bearing capacity of the soil

qult is defined as the load intensity which Punching shear failure: This failure
just causes shear failure of the supporting occurs due to compression of the soil under
soil immediately below and adjacent to a the footing, accompanied by the shear in the
foundation. vertical direction around the edges of the
footing as shown in figure. There is no
Types of shear failures heaving of soil and tilting of footing.
The three modes of shear failure of soils Relatively large settlements occur. This is
are discussed below. characteristic of low compressibility soils in
deep footings.
General shear failure: In this case
continuous failure surfaces develop between
the edges of the footing and the ground Bearing capacity based on
surface as shown in figure. As the pressure Rankine wedges
is increased towards qult, a state of plastic Figure shows a long narrow footing (i.e.
equilibrium reaches initially around the L/B is very large) at a depth Df into a (c-φ)
edges of footing and then it gradually soil. The Rankine wedges used in this
spreads downward and outward. Later analysis are also shown in figure. Wedge I
entire soil mass above the failure surface Q
reaches plastic equilibrium. Immediately B
after it soil starts slipping, and heaving of
Strap footing
ground surface occurs on both sides of the qu
footing; accompanied by tilting of the Df q = γDf
footing to a side. This failure is
characteristic of stiff clays and dense sands. I II
H P P

Local shear failure: In this failure 45- Φ/2 45+ Φ/2

there is significant compression of soil
under the footing and plastic equilibrium is assumed to be an active wedge which is
develops only in part of the soil below pushed down and slides to the right during

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HAWASSA UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

the failure sequence, wedge II is assumed to The shear resistance developed

be a passive wedge, which is pushed to the along failure surfaces extending into
right and upward in the process. The soil above base of footing is
horizontal resistances are assumed to act at neglected.
the interface of wedges, they have the same 3. The footing is shallow i.e. Df ≤ B. if
magnitude but opposite directions. For the depth is more then the error due
wedge I, P is active pressure resultant while to assumption no (2) will be too
for wedge II it is passive pressure resultant. much to ignore.
∴ for wedge I 4. The footing is continuous. This
P= ½ γKaH2 – 2cH√Ka +quKaH ……..(1) makes the problem two-dimensional
For wedge II one.
P=½ γKpH2 + 2cH√Kp +qKpH ……..(2) 5. Soil fail by general shear failure,
Equating (1) and (2) we get developing full failure planes.
½ γKaH2 – 2cH√Ka +quKaH = ½ γKpH2 + 2cH√Kp +qKpH B
solving for qu we get
Q
G' E'
qu = 1/2 γH (1/Ka)(Kp-Ka) Φ q→qu
+ 2c/Ka(√Kp+√Ka) + qKp/Ka …..…(3) at failure Df
X A B X
but Kp=1/Ka and also from figure G 1 2 E
H = B/(2 tan (45-φ/2) = B/(2√Ka) F C 3 D
45 – (Φ/2)
∴(3) ⇒
qu = ¼ γBKp3/2(Kp-Kp-1) B
+ 2cKp(Kp1/2+Kp-1/2) +qKp2
= ¼ γB(Kp5/2 -Kp1/2) q0 qu q0
+ 2c(Kp3/2+Kp1/2) +qKp2………….(4)
X G E X
5/2 1/2 3/2 1/2 c 1 c 2
Let Nγ = ½ (Kp -Kp ), Nc=2(Kp +Kp )
and Nq=Kp2 F Φ Φ D

Then
(4) ⇒ qu = cNc+qNq+1/2 γBNγ …….…(5) PP PP

Equation (5) is the general bearing capacity

equation for general shear failure. This On application of load intensity q ⇒ qult
analysis suffers from two major drawbacks at failure, the soil wedge ABC tends to
that the shear at the interface of the two move downward with lateral displacements
wedges was neglected and the failure of zones 2 and 3. But lateral displacement is
surfaces are not straight lines as indicated. resisted by forces acting on planes AC and
BC. These forces are cohesive forces acting
Terzaghi’s bearing capacity along AC and BC and passive pressure Pp
theory acting making an angle φ with the normal to
Terzaghi made following assumptions for Ac and BC, i.e vertically upwards. At the
his bearing capacity theory. verge of failure for equilibrium
1. The base of the footing is rough, ∑V = 0. …………………………………(6)
which is justified to the field Downward forces per unit run are
conditions. 1. qult.B and
2. When footing is not located on the 2. The weight of the wedge ACB
surface, then it is assumed that the =1/2 .B. height of triangle ACB. γ
footing is at surface and the weight =1/2 B.(B/2) tan φ. γ
of the soil above base of footing is =1/4 γ B2 tanφ
considered as equivalent surcharge. Upward forces per unit run are

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HAWASSA UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

1. The passive pressures Pp on each of

surfaces AC and BC i.e 2Pp and
2. Vertical component of cohesion c
acting along AC and BC
= 2. AC. c sinφ
= 2 ((B/2)/cosφ) c sinφ
= B c tanφ
∴(6)⇒ qultB +1/4 γB2tanφ - 2Pp -Bctanφ = 0
or
qultB = 2Pp + Bctanφ -1/4 γB2tanφ ……..(7)

Total passive pressure Pp is divided into

components as Pp(γ) - due to weight of soil
in shear zone ACFG, and acts at 1/3
distance from C along AC and BC, Pp(c) –
due to cohesion, acting at mid points of BC
and AC and Pp(q) – due to surcharge, acting
at mid point of AC and BC. For local shear failure Terzaghi’s
Then equation with modified cohesion (c′) and
(7) ⇒ qultB = 2 [Pp(γ) +Pp(c)+Pp(q) ] coefficient of friction tan φ′ can be used to
+ Bctanφ -1/4 γB2tanφ ……..(8) obtain bearing capacity of soil. i.e. c′ = 2/3 c
and tan φ′ = 2/3 tan φ.
Now let (2 Pp(γ) -1/4 γB2tanφ) = NγγB2/2 The following modified bearing capacity
(2 Pp(c) + Bc tanφ = NcBc factors are suggested for footings of various
and 2 Pp(q) = NqBγDf shapes and can be used to obtain reliable
Where Nc, Nq, and Nγ are dimensionless values of bearing capacity.
bearing capacity factors, depending on φ.
Then Rect.lar footing Square Circular
(8) ⇒ qult B = NγγB2/2 + NcB c + Nq BγDf footing footing
Nc(r)=(1+0.3B/L)Nc Nc(s)=1.3Nc Nc(c)=1.3Nc
∴ qult = cNc + γDfNq + ½ γBNγ ………...(9)
Nγ(r)= (1-0.2B/L)Nγ Nγ(s)=0.8Nγ Nγ(c)=0.6Nγ
Nq(r)=Nq Nq(s)= Nq Nq(c)=Nq
Equation (9) is known as Terzaghi’s
bearing capacity equation for general shear
failure. The values of bearing capacity Bearing capacity depends largely on φ of
soil. Hence shear strength parameters have
factors for various values of φ is given in
to be worked out with great degree of
the form of curves and also tabulated in
figure. accuracy. Also for plain strain problem ‘φ’
The bearing capacity factors for Terzaghi’s from direct shear test and tri-axial problems
equation can also be calculated using (rectangular, square and circular footings)
following expressions. ‘φ’ from tri-axial test should be used.
Nq= tan2(45+φ/2) eπtan φ
Nc = (Nq – 1) cotφ
Effect of water table on bearing
Nγ = 1.8 (Nq-1) tan φ capacity
When φ =0, for saturated clays under Water table affects the bearing capacity,
undrained condition, Nc = ∞ through changing the effective unit weight
then for a smooth strip foundation of the soil. Hence the terms in the bearing
qult = 5.14 cu + γDf capacity equation having ‘γ’ will get
While for rough strip foundation affected. As we know while analysing the
qult = 5.7 cu + γDf bearing capacity, if the water table is below

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HAWASSA UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

the base of the footing only the term L

1/2γBNγ and if water table is above the base
of the footing both γDfNq and 1/2γBNγ will el (B/2) - eb
get affected. When the water table is at a B'
depth beyond ‘B’ from the base of the B
eb
footing it will have no influence on bearing (B/2) - eb
capacity.
L'
dw
Df (L/2)-el (L/2)-el

Else modified qult can also be calculated

B d B using the equation
B
q′ult =qult x Re1 x Re2 ……………….….(10)
Where q′ult is the modified bearing
capacity, qult is the bearing capacity for the
1.0 1.0
axially loaded footing and Re1 and Re2 are
reduction factors dependent on
W1 W2 eccentricities in both direction and type of
soil. Re1 and Re2 can be read from the chart.
0.5 0.5 1.0
0 d/B 1.0 0 dw/Df
Cohesive soils
When bearing capacity is affected by
presence of water table it is calculated using Re
the equation
Qult = cNc + ½ γBNγW1 + γDfNqW2
Sandy soils
The values of W1 and W2 are presented in 0
0 0.5
charts. Eccentricity ratio, eb/B or el/L

Bearing capacity for Meyerhof suggested that the effect of

eccentrically loaded footings inclined loading on bearing capacity can be
accounted by multiplying the bearing
When a footing is eccentrically loaded in capacity factors by their respective
such a way that it looses contact from the inclination factors, as given below.
soil on one side, then the area that has lost
ic = iq = (1- α / 900)2 and iγ =(1- α / φ)2
the contact can be neglected and bearing
where α is the inclination of the resultant
capacity can be worked out. It will be safer,
loading with the vertical.
but still working out of stresses will be
difficult due to non-conventional effective
area. Hence an area having the point of Plate load test
application of load as CG will be taken as A plate load test helps us in determining
effective area of footing which will be the ultimate bearing capacity, as well as the
further safer and analytically worked out probable settlement of the soil for a given
easily. loading and for a given depth. It is a sort of
B′=B – 2eb and L′= L-2el model test performed on building site on a
Where eland eb are eccentricities of load loading plate kept in an excavation in the
along L and B. ground at a depth equal to depth of
proposed footing. The test set up is as
shown in figure.

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HAWASSA UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

The test procedure is as follows. The load For clayey soils

is applied in increments and settlements are sp Bp
observed. The load increments are either =
sf Bf
1/5 of the estimated safe bearing capacity or
1/10 of ultimate bearing capacity subjected For c-φ soils
n +1
to a maximum of 100 kN. Each load sf ⎡B ⎤
increment is sustained till such time the rate =⎢ f⎥
s p ⎢⎣ B p ⎥⎦
of settlement reduces to 0.02 mm / hr. A
plot of settlement v/s load is done from
which ultimate bearing capacity can be Type of soil ‘n’ value
determined as shown in figure. Clay 0.03 to 0.05
Sandy clay 0.08 to 0.10
Loose sand 0.20 to 0.25
Med. to dense sand 0.25 to 0.35
Dense sand 0.40 to 0.50

Where sp is the settlement of plate and sf

that of footing and Bp and Bf are breadth of
plate and footing respectively.

Effect of size of plate on bearing

QUlt Load
capacity
Settlement at It is noticed that bearing capacity of sands
failure
Approximate failure
and gravels increases with size of footing. It
For loose point can also be noticed from the bearing
Load in kNs

Sand
capacity equation. A relation relating
Settlement

I II
Clay bearing capacity of plate and footing are as
follows.
qf = qp {Bf / Bp} for sands
Settlement
Where qf and qp are bearing capacities of
foundation and plate of widths Bf and Bp
If from the normal load-settlement curve respectively.
failure point cannot be clearly identified, as For clays bearing capacity is almost
in curve no. I, then load v/s settlement can independent of the footing size.
be on log scale to distinctly obtain the For c-φ soils Housel suggested the
failure point. following expression to find the load carried
by a footing.
Effect of size of plate on Q = Aq + ps
settlement Where Q is total load on footing for a
Because of the size effect under same given settlement, A is contact area of
pressure different footings and plates of footing or plate, p is perimeter of the
different sizes undergo different footing or plate, s is perimeter shear, a
settlements. Various relations have been constant for a given soil, q is bearing
proposed to find the settlements of footings pressure beneath the area A, a constant. If
from the plate load test results, under same tests are carried on two different size plates,
pressure. from the results one can obtain q and s, and
For sandy soils can use for obtaining load carried by other
s p B p ( B f + 0.3) footings.
=
sf B f ( B p + 0.3)

SOIL MECHANICS-II CHAPTER-V BEARING CAPACITY OF SOILS M U JAGADEESHA 6

HAWASSA UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Limitations of plate load test N is corrected statistical average value for

Plate load test suffers from two serious footing influence zone of about 0.5Df above
drawbacks viz. footing base to at least 2B below.
Bp Bf
q Units q Units Bearing capacity from CPT
Pressure bulb Pressure bulb
for plate for footing In Europe cone penetration test is
Unaffected by weaker soil More settlement routinely done in soil investigations
due to weaker soil
in the pressure bulb programme. As such relations with the cone
Weaker soil resistance to bearing capacity are also
developed as given below.
q
qa = c For B ≤ F4
30
1. The settlement of plate is dependent on 2
the soil in its pressure bulb, which is qc ⎛ B + F3 ⎞
qa = ⎜ ⎟ For B > F4
much smaller than the pressure bulb for 50 ⎝ B ⎠
actual footing and may enclose weaker qa is allowable bearing pressure for 25 mm
soil as shown in figure, resulting in settlement
much excess settlement for the same qc is resistance to cone alone in kPa.
pressure.
2. Settlement in sand increases with size of
loaded area (footing). It has been found
that settlements not only depend on
breadth of footing but on size of footing.
It is suggested to find a co relation
between size of footing and settlement
by conducting number of tests on
different size footings at different
depths.

Bearing capacity from SPT

Standard penetration test is, now a day, a
regular in situ test conducted by soil
investigators. Using the ‘N’ value
investigators has developed relations for
arriving at bearing capacity of soil.
Following are the relations for obtaining
allowable bearing pressure for a settlement
of 25mm.
N
qa = K d For B ≤ F4
F1
2
N ⎛ B + F3 ⎞
qa = ⎜ ⎟ For B > F4
F2 ⎝ B ⎠
D
K d = 1 + 0.33 f ≤ 1.33
B
F1 F2 F3 F4
0.05 0.08 0.30 1.20
qa = allowable bearing pressure for s0= 25
mm or 1′′ settlement.

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HAWASSA UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Problems 5. For a square footing supported by sand,

given that B = 2m, Df =1.5m, corrected
1. Calculate the ultimate bearing capacity
standard penetration number Ncor=9,
for a footing in sand for the following
allowable settlement =25mm, estimate
cases and comment on the influence on
the net allowable bearing capacity.
qult of Df, B, water table location and (Braja M Das)
soil properties. 6. A plate load test was conducted in a
Case a b c d e
B,m 2 2 4 2 2
sandy soil in which the size of the
Df,m 1 2 1 1 1 bearing plate was 1 ft x 1 ft. The
Location of Very Very Very At Very ultimate load per unit area (qu) for the
water table deep deep deep ground deep
surface
test was found to be 4200 lb/ft2.
Soil Estimate the total allowable load (Qall)
properties for a footing of size 5.5 ft x 5.5 ft. use a
γ, kN/m3 18 18 18 18 20 factor of safety of 4. (Braja M Das)
φ,degrees 35 35 35 35 37.5
7. A circular footing with a 1.22 m
Bearing Nq 41 41 41 41 61
capacity diameter is to be constructed 1.07 m
factors Nγ 42 42 42 42 86 below the ground surface. The subsoil
consists of a uniform deposit of dense
(shashi K Gulati and Manoj Datta) soil having unit weight of 21.33 kN/m3,
2. Determine the ultimate bearing capacity an angle of internal friction of 200, and
of a strip footing 2.4 m wide located at a cohesion of 57.6 kN/m2. The ground
depth of 1.2m below ground surface in water table is at great depth, and its
sand that has a total unit weight of 20 effect can be ignored. Determine the
kN/m3, and a φ = 30 degrees. The water safe total load (including column load
table is at ground surface and the ratio and weight of footing and soil
of horizontal force to vertical force that surcharge), using a factor of safety of 3.
will be applied will be 20%. (shashi K Cheng Liu and jack B Evett)
Gulati and Manoj Datta) 8. A load test is performed on a 0.3 m
3. A strip footing 1.2 m wide is supported square footing on a dense cohesion less
on a soil with its base at a depth of 1 m sand (unit weight = 18 kN/m3). The
below ground surface. The soil footing’s base is located 0.6 m below
properties are as below: the ground surface. If the footing fails at
c′=15 kN/m2 φ′ = 280, a load of 82 kN, what is the failure load
γ =18 kN/m3 γ′=10 kN/m3 per unit area of the base of a square
Determine the ultimate bearing capacity if footing of side 2m loaded with its base
• Water table is at a great depth at the same depth in the same material?
• Water table is at the level of the base Cheng Liu and jack B Evett)
of the footing 9. An 800kN column load will be
• Water table is at the ground surface. supported on a square spread footing
Use Terzaghi’s equation. foundation bearing on the surface of
(Gopalranjan and ASR Rao) cohesion less soil deposit. The soil has a
4. A column, carrying a load 750 kN, has unit weight of 20 kN/m3 and an angle of
to be supported by a square footing with internal friction of 340. Assume the
its base at 1.5m depth. What is the ground water table is deep. Determine
required size of the foundation, which the size of the required footing with a
will provide a factor of safety of 3 factor of safety of 3. (David F McCarthy)
against shear failure? Assume
′ 2 ′ 0
c =10kN/m φ = 30 . Water table is at Note: Hand outs are not exhaustive.
1.5mm depth. Use Terzaghi’s equation. Students are advised to refer numerous
(Gopalranjan and ASR Rao) references available in the library.

SOIL MECHANICS-II CHAPTER-V BEARING CAPACITY OF SOILS M U JAGADEESHA 8