Modes of Shear Failure of Soil - General, Local, Punching Shear

Failure
Modes of shear failure
There are three modes of shear failure, i.e. General, Local and Punching shear
failures depending upon the compressibility of soil and depth of footing with
respect to its breadth (i.e D/B Ratio). When the ultimate bearing capacity of the
soil is reached, it may fail in one of the following three failure mode depending
upon the type of soil and depth to width ratio of the footing (i.e. D/B)

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General Shear Failure

Local Shear Failure

Punching Shear Failure

1. General Shear Failure

In this mode a slight downward movement of the footing develops fully

plastic zones and a sudden failure takes place with a considerable bulging
of the ground surface adjacent to the footing

Characterized by well defined failure pattern, consisting of a wedge and

slip surface and bulging (heaving) of soil surface adjacent to the footing

Sudden collapse occurs, accompanied by tilting of the footing

This type of failure occurs in case of dense sand or stiff cohesive soil supporting the footing

Failure load is well defined

The load-settlement diagram is similar to stress-strain for dense sand or over-consolidated

clay as shown

The ultimate load is well defined on this curve as shown typically in figure given below

Also Read: Purpose of Foundation |

Capacity Analysis

Steel Structure Failure |

2. Local shear failure

Failure pattern consists of wedge and slip surface but is well
defined only under the footing. Slight bulging of soil surface occurs.
Tilting of footing is not expected.

Soil Bearing

In this mode a large deformation takes place under the footing before the development of
failure zones, i.e. large vertical settlement takes place before slight bulging of the ground
surface

Tilting of footing is not expected

Ultimate load is not well defined

It takes place in moderately compressible soils or loose sand i.e Occurs in soil of high
compressibility

Yielding takes place close to the lower edges of the footing

Several yield developments may occur accompanied by settlement in a series of jerks

The bearing pressure at which the first yield takes place is referred to as the first-failure
pressure or first failure load

3. Punching shear failure

Failure pattern is not well defined

No bulging of ground surface and no tilting of footing occurs

The yield surfaces are vertical planes immediately adjacent to the sides of the foundation

The ground surface may be dragged down thus, no bulging of the surface takes place

Failure take place immediately below footing and surrounding soil remains relatively
unaffected

Large settlements-ultimate load is not well defined

Punching Shear Failure takes place in weak compressible soils with considerable vertical
settlement i.e Occurs in soil of very high compressibility

It also occurs in the soil of low compressibility, if the foundation is located at considerable
depth.

After the first yield the load-settlement curve will steepen slightly, but remain fairly flat

Punching Shear Failure may also take place in soil of low compressibility, if the foundation is
located at a considerable depth

Modes of Shear Failure (Summary)

Relative Settlement

Bulging

Tilting of Footing

Ultimate Load

Failure Pattern

Occurs in (Soil Type)

General

Local

Punching

Less

Large

Large

Significant

Less

No

Expected

Not expected

Not expected

Well defined

Not well defined

Not well defined

Wedge +

Wedge +

Slip Surface +

Slip Surface +

Bulging

Bulging(no or less)

Dense

Less compressible

Not well defined

Highly Compressible