BEARING CAPACITY EQUATION

TERZAGHI’S EQUATION

PROBLEM No. 1
A clayey soil has an unconfined compressive strength of 48kN/m2 and an angle of internal friction of
25o.
a) Compute the Terzaghi’s bearing capacity factor Nq.
b) Compute the Terzaghi’s bearing capacity factor Nc.
c) Compute the Terzaghi’s bearing capacity factor Ny.

Solution
a) Terzaghi’s bearing capacity factor Nq

( ∅
N q =tan 2 45+ e πtan ∅
2 )
(
N q =tan 2 45+
25 πtan25
2
e )
N q =¿10.662

b) Terzaghi’s bearing capacity factor Nc

N c =( N q−1 ) cot ∅
N c =( N q−1 ) cot ⁡(25)
N c =¿ 20.72

c) Terzaghi’s bearing capacity factor Ny

N y =2 ( N q+ 1 ) tan ∅
N y =2 ( N q+ 1 ) tan 25
N y =¿10.876

PROBLEM No. 2
A 1.2m x 1.2m square footing has its bottom 2.5m below the ground surface. The soil properties are:
angle of friction of soil is 28o, unit weight of 16kN/m3 and cohesion of 22 kPa. Terzaghi’s bearing
capacity factors are Nq = 14.72, Nc = 25.80 and Ny = 11.19
a) Compute the ultimate bearing capacity considering general shear failure.
b) Compute the ultimate bearing capacity considering local shear failure.
c) Compute the ultimate bearing capacity considering general shear failure if c=0.

Solution
a) Square footing bearing capacity considering general shear failure
q u=1.3 c N c + γ Df N q+ 0.4 γB N γ

q u=1.3 ( 22 ) ( 25.80 ) + ( 16 ) ( 2.5 ) ( 14.72 )+ 0.4 ( 16 ) ( 1.2 ) ( 11.19 )

q u=1412.619 kPa

b) Square footing bearing capacity considering local shear failure

q u=0.867 c N c +γ D f N q +0.4 γB N γ

q u=0.867 ( 22 ) ( 25.80 ) + ( 16 )( 2.5 ) ( 14.72 ) +0.4 ( 16 )( 1.2 ) ( 11.19 )

 q u=1166.848 kPa

c) Square footing bearing capacity considering general shear failure if c = 0

q u=γ Df N q +0.4 γB N γ

q u=( 16 )( 2.5 ) ( 14.72 ) +0.4 ( 16 )( 1.2 ) ( 11.19 )

q u=674.739 kPa

PROBLEM No. 3
A square foundation is 2m x 2m in plan. The soil supporting the foundation has a friction angle of 25 o
and cohesion of 20kN/m2. The unit weight of soil is 16.5kN/m3. Determine the allowable gross load on
the foundation with a factor of safety of 3. Assume that the depth of the foundation is 1.5m and that
general shear failure occurs in the soil. Use Nq = 12.72, Nc = 25.13 and Ny = 8.34
Solution
a. Solve for the ultimate bearing capacity
q u=1.3 c N c + γ Df N q+ 0.4 γB N γ

q u=1.3 ( 20 ) ( 25.13 ) + ( 16.5 ) ( 1.5 ) ( 12.72 )+ 0.4 ( 16.5 ) ( 2 ) ( 8.34 )

q u=1078.29 kPa

b. Solve for the allowable load per unit area of the foundation
q u 1078.29 2
q all = = =359. 429 kN /m
FS 3

c. Solve for the total allowable gross load

Q all .gross (load )=qall ( Area of footing )
Qall .gross (load)=359.429 ( 2 x 2 )
Qall .gross (load)=143 7.717 kN

PROBLEM No. 4
Refer to Problem No.3. Assume that the shear-strength parameters of the soil are the same. A
square foundation measuring BxB will be subjected to an allowable gross load of 1000kN with FS of 3
and depth of foundation of 1m. Determine the size of the foundation.
Solution
Ultimate Gross load
Qult . gross(load) =Qall. grossload (FS)
Qult . gross(load) =1000(3)
Qult . gross(load) =3000 kN

Ultimate bearing capacity

q u=1.3 c N c + γ Df N q+ 0.4 γB N γ

q u=1.3 ( 20 ) ( 25.13 ) + ( 16.5 ) ( 1.0 ) ( 12.72 )+ 0.4 ( 16.5 ) ( B )( 8.34 )

 q u=863.26+ 55.04 B

Size of footing
Qult .gross (load)
q u= =863.26+55.04 B
B2
B=1.77 m ≈ 1.8 m

PROBLEM No. 5
A square footing carries a gross mass of 30,000 kg. Using a factor of safety of 3, determine the size
of the footing—that is, the size of B if it has soil density of 1850kg/m 3, internal friction angle of 35o and
cohesion of 0. Depth of footing is 1.0m.
Solution:
Terzaghi’s bearing capacity factor Nq
∅
(
N q =tan 2 45+ e πtan ∅
2 )
N q =tan 2 45+
2
e(
35 πtan35
)
N q =¿33.296

Terzaghi’s bearing capacity factor Nc

N c =( N q−1 ) cot ∅
N c =( 33.296−1 ) cot ⁡( 35)
N c =¿ 46.123

Terzaghi’s bearing capacity factor Ny

N y =2 ( N q+ 1 ) tan ∅
N y =2 ( 33.296+ 1 ) tan 35
N y =¿48.029

Unit weight of soil

1850 x 9.81 3
γ= =18.15 kN /m
1000
Allowable gross load
30,000 x 9.81
Q all = =294.3 kN
1000
Solving for B
Q all qu
q all = 2
=
B FS
 294.3 1
= ( 1.3 c N c + γ Df N q + 0.4 γB N y )
B
2
3

294.3 1
= [ 1.3(0)( 46.123)+(18.15)(1)(33.296)+ 0.4(18.15)B (48.029) ]
B
2
3

B=0.968 m

BEARING CAPACITY EQUATION

MEYERHOF’S EQUATION

Problem No.1
A square foundation is 2m x 2m in plan. The soil supporting the foundation has a friction angle of ϕ =
25o and c’ = 20 kN/m2. The unit weight of soil, y, is 16.5 kN/m3. Determine the allowable bearing
capacity on the foundation with a factor of safety (FS) of 3. Assume that the depth of the foundation,
Df, is 1.5 m and Nq = 10.66, Nc = 20.72 and Ny = 10.88

Solution
a) Inclination Factor: Since the load is vertical then βo = 0o
Solving for Fci and Fqi Solving for Fyi

( ) ( )
o 2 o 2
β β
F ci=F qi = 1− F yi= 1−
90 ∅

( ) ( )
2 2
0 0
F ci=F qi = 1− F yi= 1−
90 25
F ci=F qi =1 F yi=1

b) Shape Factor
Solving for Fcs Solving for Fqs Solving for Fys

( )( )
F cs=1+
B Nq
L Nc ( )
F qs =1+
B
L
tan ∅ ()
F ys=1−0.4
B
L

F =1+ ( )(
2 20.72 )
F =1+( ) tan25 F =1−0.4 ( )
2 10.66 2 2
cs qs ys
2 2
F cs=1.514 F qs=1.466 F ys=0.6

c) Depth Factor:
D
Condition f ≤1 ; 0.75 ≤ 1
B
For ∅ >0.0 ; 25> 0.0
Solving for Fqd Solving for Fcd Solving for Fyd
F qd=1+2 tan ∅ ( 1−sin ∅ ) ( )
2 Df

B
F cd =Fqd −
1−F qd
N c tan∅
F yd =1

F qd=1+2 tan 25 ( 1−sin 25 )2 ( )

1.5
2
F cd =1.233−
1−1.233
20.72 tan 25
F qd=1.233 F cd =1.257

d) Meyerhof Ultimate Bearing Capacity:

q u=c N c F cs Fcd F ci + q N q Fqs F qd F qi + 0.5 Bγ F ys F yd F yi

q u=( 20 ) ( 20.72 ) ( 1.514 ) ( 1.257 ) ( 1 ) + ( 16.5 x 1.5 ) ( 10.66 ) ( 1.466 ) ( 1.233 ) (1 )+(0.5)(2)(16.5)(10.88)(0.6)(1)(1)
2
q u=1373.2 58 kN /m

e) allowable bearing capacity

q u 1373.2 58 2
q all = = =457.7 53 kN /m
FS 3

Problem No.2

118 lb/ft3, 𝜙 = 34o, Df = 4ft, and D1 = 2ft. The allowable bearing capacity, Qall, with FS = 3 is 150,000
A square foundation (B x B) has to be constructed as shown below. Assume that У = 105 lb/ft 3, Уsat =

lb. Determine the size of the foundation. Nq = 29.44 and Ny = 41.06

Solution

a) Allowable Bearing Capacity

Q all 150000 2
q all = 2
= 2
lb /ft (eq’n. 1)
B B
'
q u q N q F qs F qd +0.5 γ B N γ F ys F yd
q all = = (eq’n.2)
FS 3

b) Shape Factor
Solving for Fqs Solving for Fys
F qs =1+
B
L ( )
tan ∅ F ys=1−0.4
B
L ()
F qs =1+ ( BB ) tan 34 F ys=1−0.4 ( BB )
F qs=1.67 F ys=0.6

c) Depth Factor:
D
Condition f ≤1 ;
B
For ∅ >0.0 ; 34> 0.0
Solving for Fqd Solving for Fyd
F qd=1+2 tan ∅ ( 1−sin ∅ )
Df
B
2
( ) F yd =1

F qd=1+2 tan 34 (1−sin 34 )2

4
B ( )
1.05
F qd=1+
B

d) For the second term “q”

q=γ D1+ ( γ sat −γ w ) ( D f −D1 )

q=(2)(105)+ ( 118−62.4 ) ( 4−2 )

2
q=321.2 lb/ft

e) For Equation 2
'
q N q F qs F qd + 0.5 γ B N γ F ys F yd
q all =
3
1.05
(321.1)(29.44)(1.67)(1+ )+0.5(118−62.4 )B(41.06)(0.6)(1)
B
q all =
3
5527.1
q all =5263.9+ +228.3 B (eq’n 3)
B

f) Equate Eq’n 1 and 3

150000 5527.1
=5263.9+ +228.3 B
B
2
B

B=4.5 ft

Problem No.3
A square column foundation is to be constructed on a sand deposit. The allowable load Q will be
inclined at an angle β = 20° with the vertical. Determine the allowable load. N q = 18.4 and Ny = 22.4
Solution
a) Solving for the second term “q” and third term “y”
2
q=γ Df =18 ( 0.7 )=12.6 kN /m
3
γ =18 kN /m
) Shape Factor
Solving for Fqs Solving for Fys
F qs =1+( )
B
L
tan ∅ F ys=1−0.4 ()B
L
F qs =1+( )
B
B
tan 30 F ys=1−0.4 ()B
B
F qs=1.577 F ys=0.6

c) Depth Factor:
D
Condition f ≤1 ;
B
For ∅ >0.0 ; 30>0.0
Solving for Fqd Solving for Fyd
F qd=1+2 tan ∅ ( 1−sin ∅ )
2
( DB )
f
F yd =1

F qd=1+2 tan 30 ( 1−sin30 )2 ( 1.25

0.7
)
F qd=1.162

d) Inclination Factor: Since the load is vertical then βo = 20o

Solving for Fci and Fqi Solving for Fyi

( ) ( )
o 2 o 2
β β
F ci=F qi = 1− F yi= 1−
90 ∅

( ) ( )
2 2
20 20
F ci=F qi = 1− F yi= 1−
90 30
F ci=F qi =0.605 F yi=0.11

e) Ultimate Bearing Capacity

q u=( 12.6 )( 18.4 )( 1.577 )( 1.162 ) ( 0.605 ) +0.5 (18)(1.25)( 22.4)(0.6)(1)(0.11)
2
q u=273.66 kN /m

f) Allowable Bearing Capacity

q u 273.66 2
q all = = =91.22 kN /m
FS 3

g) Allowable Load
2
Qcos 20=qall B
2
Qcos 20=(91.22)(1.25)
Q=151.7 kN