T A N J U N G P U R A U N IV E R S IT Y

Civil Department Engineering Faculty

ENGINEERING FOUNDATION I
Dr.Ing. Eka Priadi

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Contents:

Lesson-1: Shallow Foundation-Bearing Capacity

Lesson-2: Shallow Foundation-Settlement
Lesson-3: Lateral Earth Pressure
Lesson-4: Retaining Wall

References:

1. Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, Das B. M.

2. Foundation Analysis and Design, 4th, Bowles J. E.
3. Foundation Engineering Handbook 2006, Day R. B.

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Lesson1: Shallow Foundation Bearing Capacity

Dr.Ing. Eka Priadi

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Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Definitions

A foundation is defined as that part of the structure that supports the

weight of the structure and transmits the load to underlying soil or rock. In
general, foundation engineering applies the knowledge of geology, soil
mechanics, rock mechanics, and structural engineering to the design and
construction of foundations for buildings and other structures.

The most basic aspect of foundation engineering deals with the selection
of the type of foundation, such as using a shallow or deep foundation
system.

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Foundations are commonly divided into two categories: shallow and deep
foundations. Table 1 presents a list of common types of foundations.
Some of the geotechnical aspects, foundation engineering often includes
the following (Day, 1999a, 2000a):
Determining the type of foundation for the structure, including the
depth and dimensions;
Calculating the potential settlement of the foundation;
Determining design parameters for the foundation, such as the
bearing capacity and allowable soil bearing pressure;
Determining the expansion potential of a site;
Investigating the stability of slopes and their effect on adjacent
foundations;
Evaluating possible soil treatment to increase the foundation bearing
capacity.

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Table 1 Common types of foundations (Day, 2006).

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Figure 1 Shallow vs deep foundations

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Figure 2 Types of shallow foundations

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Figure 3 Examples of shallow foundation: (a) combined footing,

(b) combined trapezoidal footing, (c) cantilever or strap footing,
(d) octagonal footing, (e) eccentric loaded footing with resultant
coincident with area so soil pressure is uniform. (Bowles, 1982)

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Figure 4 Examples of mat foundation: (a) flat plate, (b) plate

thickened under columns, (c) beam-and-slab, (d) plate with
pedestals, (e) basement walls as part of mat. (Bowles, 1982)

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1.2 Ultimate Bearing Capacity

A bearing capacity failure is defined as a foundation failure that occurs

when the shear stresses in the soil exceed the shear strength of the soil.
Bearing capacity failures of foundations can be grouped into three
categories, as follows (Vesic, 1963, 1975):

1. General shear. A general shear failure involves total rupture of the

underlying soil. There is a continuous shear failure of the soil (solid
lines) from below the footing to the ground surface. When the load is
plotted versus settlement of the footing, there is a distinct load at
which the foundation fails (solid circle), and this is designated Qult. The
value of Qult divided by the width B and length L of the footing is
considered to be the ultimate bearing capacity (qult) of the footing.

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Figure 5 General shear foundation failure. (Vesic, 1963)

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2. Local shear failure. The local shear failure involves rupture of the soil
only immediately below the footing. There is soil bulging on both sides
of the footing, but the bulging is not as significant as in general shear.
Local shear failure can be considered as a transitional phase between
general shear and punching shear. Because of the transitional nature
of local shear failure, the bearing capacity could be defined as the first
major nonlinearity in the load-settlement curve (open circle) or at the
point where the settlement rapidly increases (solid circle). A local
shear failure occurs for soils that are in a medium dense or firm state.

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Figure 6 Local shear foundation failure. (Vesic, 1963)

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3. Punching shear. A punching shear failure does not develop the

distinct shear surfaces associated with a general shear failure. For
punching shear, the soil outside the loaded area remains relatively
uninvolved and there is minimal movement of soil on both sides of the
footing. The process of deformation of the footing involves
compression of soil directly below the footing as well as the vertical
shearing of soil around the footing perimeter. As shown in Fig. 5, the
load settlement curve does not have a dramatic break and for
punching shear, the bearing capacity is often defined as the first major
nonlinearity in the load-settlement curve (open circle). A punching
shear failure occurs for soils that are in a loose or soft state.

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Figure 7 Punching shear foundation failure. (Vesic, 1963)

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Table 2 Summary of type of bearing capacity failure versus soil properties

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1.2.1 Terzaghis bearing capacity theory

Terzaghi (1943) was the first to present a comprehensive theory for the
evaluation of the ultimate bearing capacity of rough shallow foundations.
According to this theory, a foundation is shallow if the depth, Df (Figure
8), of the foundation is less than or equal to the width of the foundation.
Later investigators, however, have suggested that foundations with Df
equal to 3 4 times the width of the foundation may be defined as
shallow foundations.

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Figure 8 Transcona Grain Elevator, Canada, West side of foundation

sank 24-ft (Oct. 18, 1913).

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Figure 9 Bearing capacity failure in soil under a rough rigid

continuous foundation

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Based on Figure 9, it may also be assumed that the effect of soil above
the bottom of the foundation may be replaced by an equivalent surcharge
equal to q = g Df (where g = unit weight of soil). The failure zone under
the foundation can be replaced into three parts (see Figure 9) :
1. The triangular zone ACD immediately under the foundation
2. The radial shear zones ADF and CDE, with the curves DE and DF
being arcs of a logarithmic spiral.
3. Two triangular Rankine passive zones AFH and CEG

It is assumed that the angles CAD and ACD are equal to the soil friction
angle, f. Note that with the replacement of the soil above the bottom of
the foundation by an equivalent surcharge q, the shear resistance of the
soil along the failure surfaces GI and HJ was neglected.

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Using the equilibrium analysis, Terzaghi expressed the ultimate bearing

capacity in the form:

1
qu c Nc q Nq g B Ng (strip foundation) (1)
2

where c = cohesion of soil

g = unit weight of soil
q = g Df
Nc , Nq , Ng = bearing capacity factors that are nondimensional and are
only function of the soil friction angle, f.

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The bearing capacity factors, Nc , Nq and Ng are defined by the following

equations:

e 2( 3 4f 2) tanf
Nc cot f 1 (2)

2 cos2 f

4 2

4 f 2 ) tanf
e2( 3
Nq (3)
f
2 cos2 45
2

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1 K pg
Ng 1tan f (4)
2 cos2 f

where Kpg = passive pressure coefficient

For estimation of the ultimate bearing capacity of square or circular

foundations, may be expressed to the following forms:

qu 1.3 c Nc q Nq 0.4 g B Ng (square foundation) (5)

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qu 1.3 c Nc q Nq 0.3 g B Ng (circular foundation) (6)

In Eq. (5), B is equal to the dimension of each side of the foundation; in

Eq. (6), B is equal to the diameter of the foundation.

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Figure 10 Terzaghis bearing capacity factors for general shear

failure, Eq. (1).

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