Module 4 Foundation Engineering

Footings
Footing and other foundation units transfer the loads from the structures to the soil or rock supporting the structures.
Common types of footings:
1. Wall footing or strip footing is a continuous strip of concrete that supports a bearing wall, cantilevering out on
each side of the wall.
2. Spread or square footings are pads that distribute the column load in two directions to an area of soil around the
column.
3. Rectangular footings are used to support loads on a single column where sometimes the location of the footing
is limited to its property line on one of the sides.
4. Combined footings are used to support two heavily loaded columns are so spaced, that normally designed single
footings would run into each other, it would be rectangular or trapezoidal in cross section.
5. Cantilever or strap footing which is really two footings joined by a beam instead of by a bearing portion of the
footing. Each of the two main parts of this footing supports a column load.
6. Floating or mat or raft foundation, which is a single thick mat or slab that supports the entire structure. This type
of foundation is frequently used with poor soil conditions to equalize deformations.
7. Pile caps are slabs of reinforced concrete used to distribute column loads to group of piles.
Types of Footings:
Soil Pressure under footing:
The distribution of soil pressure under the footing is a function of the type of soil and the relative rigidity of the soil and
foundation pad.

For structural design purposes, it is customary to assume that the soil pressure is linearly distributed uniformly on the
footing.
Column footing must be designed for a 6 strength conditions:
1. Bearing (compression) from column on top of footing
2. Dowels into the footing
3. Strength of soil beneath the footing
4. Shear strength
5. Reinforcements provided
6. Development length of bars
Figure shows a typical foundation plan indicating the different types of footing
Gross Soil Pressure in Footings
From the figure shown, a square footing having a total thickness of 1 m. has a column at its center and the top surface
of the footing is 1.5 m. below the ground surface. There is no load at this stage.

W1 = 1.5 (18) = 27 kN/m3

W2 = 1 (24) = 24 kN/m2
51 kN/m2
The total downward load from the weights of soil and the footing is 51 kN/m2. This is balanced by an equal W3 = 51 kN.m2
but opposite, upward pressure, which cases the net effective pressure on the footing is equal to zero. This causes no
moments or shear due to this loading.
120
When the column load P = 120 kN is applied, the pressure under the footing increases by (2)(2) = 30 𝑘𝑃𝑎

The total soil pressure is q = 51 + 30 = 81 kN/m 3, this is referred to as the gross soil pressure.
Gross soil pressure is 51 + 30 = 81 kN/m2

In designing any footing, the area must be selected so that the gross soil pressure does not exceed the gross soil pressure.
qnot = qallowable – wt. of soil – wt. of footing
a. Due to unfactored service dead load and live loads.
Area of footing:
𝑃𝐷𝐿 + 𝑃𝐿𝐿
𝐴1 =
𝑞𝑛𝑒𝑡
 b. Due to unfactored dead load, live load and wind load.
Allow a 33% increase in net soil pressure. (NSCP Specs)
Area of footing:
𝐷𝐿 + 𝐿𝐿 + 𝑊
𝐴2 =
1.33𝑞𝑛𝑒𝑡
Ultimate upward soil pressure or factored Net soil pressure (qu)
1.2𝑃𝐷𝐿 + 1,6𝑃𝐿𝐿
𝑞𝑢 =
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔
Note: factored soil pressure (qu) will exceed than the allowable soil pressure in most cases.
Problem 1 (CE Board May 2007)
A column 450 mm x 450 mm square supports a dead load of 1000 kN and a live load of 780 kN. The allowable soil bearing
pressure is 240 kPa. The base of the footing is 1.5 m. below the grade. Assume weight of concrete to be 24 kN/m3 and
that of soil to be 18 kN/m3. The total depth of footing is 600 mm with a steel covering of 100 mm.
1. Which of the following gives the effective soil pressure?
2. Which of the following gives the dimension of the footing?
3. Which of the following gives the moment at critical section?
Solution

1. Effective soil pressure

Eff. Soil pressure = 240 – 24 (0.6) – 18 (0.90)

= 209.4 kN/m2
2. Dimension of footing
1000 + 780
𝐿2 =
209.4
L = 2.92 m.
 Use 2.92 m. x 2.92 m. square footing
3. Moment at critical section

1.2𝐷𝐿 + 1,6𝐿𝐿
𝑞𝑢 =
𝐴
1.2(1000) + 1,6(780)
𝑞𝑢 =
(2.92)(2.92)
𝑞𝑢 = 287.10 𝑘𝑃𝑎

287.10(1.235)(2.92)(1.235)
𝑀=
2
𝑀 = 639.34 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚

Problem 2 (CE Board Nov. 2012)

A rectangular footing is subjected to the following service loads:

Axial load: DL = 580 kN

LL = 420 Kn
Moment about the x-axis:
MDL = 105 kN.m

MLL = 45 kN.m
Moment about y-axis:
 MDL = 140 kN.m
MLL = 110 kN.m
Height of earthfill above the footing = 1.5 m.
Soil unit weight = 17 kN/m3
Concrete unit weight = 24 kN/m3
1. Calculate the maximum net soil pressure.
2. Calculate the minimum net soil pressure.
3. Calculate the required soil bearing capacity.
Solution
1. Maximum net soil pressure
𝑃 𝑀𝑥 𝐶𝑥 𝑀𝑦 𝐶𝑦
𝑓𝐴 = + +
𝐴 𝐼𝑥 𝐼𝑦

3(2)3
𝐼𝑥 =
12
𝐼𝑥 = 2 𝑚4
2(3)3
𝐼𝑦 =
12
𝐼𝑦 = 4.5 𝑚4
1000 150(1) 250(1.5)
𝑓𝐴 = + +
3(2) 2 4.5
𝑓𝐴 = 166.67 + 75 + 83.33
𝑓𝐴 = 325 𝑘𝑃𝑎

2. Minimum net soil pressure

𝑃 𝑀𝑥 𝐶𝑥 𝑀𝑦 𝐶𝑦
𝑓𝐵 = − −
𝐴 𝐼𝑥 𝐼𝑦

1000 150(1) 250(1.5)

𝑓𝐵 = − −
3(2) 2 4.5
𝑓𝐵 = 8.34 𝑘𝑃𝑎

3. Required soil bearing capacity

𝑞𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑞𝑎𝑙𝑙 − 24(0.6) − 17(1.5)
325 = 𝑞𝑎𝑙𝑙 − 14.4 − 25.5
𝑞𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 364.90 𝑘𝑃𝑎
Combined Footing Subjected to Bending
Problem 3
A rectangular combined footing carries the given tabulated loads
Exterior column size Interior column size
(300 x 300 mm) (375 x 375 mm)
PDL = 268 kN.m PDL = 490 kN
PLL = 268 kN PLL = 400 kN
MDL = 27 kN.m MDL = 40.5 kN.m
MLL = 27 kN.m MLL = 40.5 kN.m

The total depth of the footing is 460mm with an effective depth of 376 mm. The bottom of the footing is 1.8 m below
the final grade. Allowable soil pressure is 96 kPa. Unit weight of soil is 15.7 kN/m3 and that of the concrete is 2400
kg/m3. fc’ = 20.7 MPa, fy = 414.7 MPa. The face of the exterior column is located on the property line. Distance
between two columns, center to center is 4.6 m. Use normal weight concrete 𝜆 = 1.0
1. Which of the following gives the dimensions of the rectangular combined footing.
2. Which of the following gives the shear stress (punching) at the critical section near the exterior column.
3. Which of the following gives the number of 28 mm ∅ reinforcement needed along the longitudinal section of
the combined footing?
Solution:
1. Dimensions of combined footing:
Effective soil pressure:
0.46 (2400)(9.81)
qe = 96 – 1.34 (15.7) -
1000

qe = 64.13 kPa

Area required:
536+890
Lw = 64.13

Lw = 22.24 m2

Locate the centroid of footing:

1426x = 890 (4.6) + 536 (0) + 54 + 81
x = 2.96
𝐿
= x + 0.15
2
𝐿
= 2.96 + 0.15
2

L = 6.22
6.22w = 22.24
w = 3.58
 2. Punching stress at the exterior column:

Pu1 = 1.2 (268) + 1.6 (268)

Pu1 = 750.4 kN
Pu2 = 1.2 (490) + 1.6 (400)
Pu2 = 1228 kN.
Net upward soil pressure:
750.4+1228
qu = 6.22 (3.58)

qu = 88.85 kPa
Punching force:
Vp = 750.4 – 88.85 (0.676) (0.488)
Vp = 721.09 kN
Punching stress:
𝑉𝑝
𝜐p = ∅ 𝑏
𝑜 𝑑

Bo = 1652

721090
𝜐p =
0.75 (1652)(376)

𝜐p = 1.55 MPa
3. No. of 28 mm ∅ reinforcement along the longitudinal section:
Upward pressure along the lengths:
750.4+1228
𝑞𝑢 = 6.22

qu = 318.07 kN/m
VA = 318.07 (0.3) – 750.4
VA = 654.98
VB = -654.98 + 318.07 (4.2625)
VB = 700.79
VC = 700.79 + 318.07 (0.325) – 1228
VC = -407.93
VD = -407.93 + 319.07 (1.2825)
VD = 0
Shear is zero at max, moment:
318.07y – 750.4 = 0
y = 2.35
654.98 (2.35)
Max. M = 2

Max. M = -769.80 kN.m

Mu = 796.60 x 106 N.mm
Mu = ∅ fc’ bd2 𝜔 (1 – 0.59 𝜔)
769.60 x 106 = 0.90 (20.7) (3580) (376)2 𝜔 (1 – 0.59𝜔)
𝜔 (1 – 0.59 𝜔) = 0.082
𝜔2 – 1.69w + 0.1383 = 0
𝜔 = 0.086

𝑓𝑐′ 0.086 (20.7)

𝜌=𝜔 =
𝑓𝑦 414.7

p = 0.0043

1.4 1.4
𝜌min = =
𝑓𝑦 414.7

𝜌min = 0.0034

Use 𝜌 = 0.0043

As = 𝜌bd
As = 0.0043 (3580) (376)
As = 5788 mm2
𝜋
(28) 2 N = 5788
4

N = 9.4 say 10
Use 10 – 28 mm∅
Note: Spacing bars should not be greater than 300 mm.
3580−75(2)
If we use 10 bars, the spacing would be = 381.10 mm
9

Therefore use 10 – 28 mm ∅ bars.

Footings on Piles
Piles maybe used when the surface soil layers are too soft to support the loads from the structure. Piles loads are either
transmitted to a stiff bearing layer below the ground surface or maybe transmitted to the soil by friction along the
length of pile.
Modes of failure for a pile cap:
a.) Crushing under the column or over the pile.
 b.) Bursting of the side cover where the pile transfers its load to the pile cap.
c.) Yielding of the tension tie connecting the top of the piles.
d.) Anchorage failure of the tension tie.
e.) Two way shear failure.
f.) Failure of the compression struts.
Design of pile cap under an eccentric loading or a concentric load is based on the following assumptions:
1. The cap is perfectly rigid.
2. Pile heads are hinged to the pile cap, therefore no bending moment is transmitted from the pile cap to the piles.
3. Piles are considered as an elastic column, therefore the deformation and stress distribution re planar.
4. Pile caps, similar to spread footings, may have pedestals, stepped as sloping tops.
5. Pile caps should be large enough to have a minimum edge distance of 150 mm of concrete beyond the outside
face of the exterior piles.
6. Piles are embedded at least 150 mm in the cap.
7. The reinforcing bars are placed at a clear distance of 75 mm above the pile head.
8. Depth of footing above bottom reinforcement shall not be less than 300 mm for footing on piles.
9. Under a concentric load, all piles in the same group are assumed to carry equal axials loads.
10. The soil under the pile cap is not assumed to offer any support.
Criteria for design of caps:
A. Critical section for computing moment (bending stresses)
𝑃𝑢
R= (ultimate load per pile)
𝑁

N = No. of piles
M = 3Rx2 + 3Rx1
 𝑃𝑢
R= 𝑁

M = 3Rx1 + 3Rx2
B. Critical section for computing shearing stress of footing.

Case 1:
Vu = 6R
For one way shear:
Vu < ∅ Vc

Vu = 0.17 𝜆 √𝑓𝑐 ′ 𝑏𝑑
Allowable shear stress:

Va = 0.17 𝜆 √𝑓𝑐 ′

Actual shear stress:

𝑉
𝑢
V = 𝜙 𝑏𝑑

For two way shear:

Vu < Pu – R

Vu = < 𝜙 0.33 𝜆 √𝑓𝑐 ′

Actual shear stress:

𝑉𝑢
V=
𝜙 𝑏𝑜 𝑑

Case 2: When critical section for shear is within the pile diameter.

1. If pile is located at a distance C1 outside from the critical section

Diameter of pile (Dp) = 300 m
C1 < 150 mm
𝑅 𝑅1 𝐶
R’ = 2 + 2 (150 )
1 11 𝐶
R’ = R (2 + 2 150 )
1 11 𝐶
R’ = R (2 + 2 300 )
1 1𝐶
R’ = R (2 + 2 𝐷𝑝1 )

Vu = 3R + 3R’
2. If the pile locate at the distance C1 inside from the critical section.

Diameter of pile (Dp) = 300

Vu = 3R + 3R’
1 1 𝐶
R’ = R (2 − 300 )
 3. If the pile is located at the critical section.
Vu = 3R + 3R’
𝑅
R’ = 2

Uplift:
When piles are required to resist uplift force in excess of the dead load of the structure, the following steps must be
taken:
1. The piles must be anchored sufficiently into the cap, the
cap tied to the column and the cap designed for the uplift
stresses. Timber piles should be embedded in concrete
pile cap for concrete piles, the tension reinforcements
must be extended into the pile cap to develop the bar
strength by bond by means of other anchorage and for
steel piles, the reinforcing bars or strap anchors maybe
welded to the pile heads and extended into the cap for
embedment.
2. Concrete piles must be reinforced with longitudinal steel
for the full net uplift. Splices in all types of piles should be
designed to the full uplift.
The total uplift resistance of a pile group is the smaller of the
following two values:
1. Uplift resistance of a single pile times the number of piles
in a group.
2. Uplift resistance of the entire group as a block.
 1. Uplift resistance of a single pile times the number of piles in the group.
𝜎 u = ∝ C P L n (uplift force)
∝ = adhesion coefficient
P = perimeter of pile
P=𝜋D
L = length of pile
n = number of piles
2. Uplift resistance of the entire group as a block.

𝜎 u = w 1 + w2 + w3 + F
w1 = weight of the soil above the pile cap
w2 = weight of the pile cap
w3 = weight of block of soil
w3 = (L) (w) h Ys
Ys = average unit weight of soil if there is no water level above the soil.
Or w3 = (L) (w) (Ysat – Yw) h
If the soil is below the water level.
F = frictional resistance along the perimeter of the block
F = SP (h + D)
P = perimeter of the block
P = (L + w) 2
S = shear resistance in kPa
S = C + 𝜎 tan 𝜃
C = cohesion of soil
𝜎 = normal stress on the surface of the block
𝜃 = angle of internal friction of the soil
𝜎 = Ys D
Problem CE Board May 2011
A 400 mm square colun shoen is supported by square footing on 5 piles as shown. Dimensions are a = 0.75 m, b = 2 m,
effective footing depth = 0.6 m. Ultimate pile capacity = 320 kN.
Dead Load: D = 420 kN
Live Load: L = 360 kN
Earthquake Load: E = 210 kN
Column moment, ME due to earthquake = 160 kN-m
Required strength of the footing is based on: U = 1.2D + 1.0E + 1.0L
a. Compute the critical beam shear stress at ultimate loads.
b. Compute the ultimate punching shear stress.
c. Compute the maximum design moment.
Solution:
a. Critical beam shear stress at ultimate loads.
Pu = 1.2D + 1.0E + 1.0L
Pu = 1.2(420) + 1.0(210) + 1.0(360)
Pu = 1074 kN

Mu = 1.2 MD + 1.0 ME + 1.0 ML

Mu = 1.2 (0) + 160 + 0
Mu = 160 kN-m

𝑝𝑢 𝑀𝑢 𝑐
𝑅= +
𝐴 𝐼
I = Ad2
Assume area of one pile = 1
 I = 2(1)2(2) = 4
C = 1.0

1074 160(1)
𝑅= +
5 4

R = 254.8 kN < 320 kN (Safe)

Vu = 254.8 (2)
Vu = 509.6 kN
𝑉𝑢
𝑣=
𝜙𝑏𝑑

509600
𝑣= = 0.32 𝑀𝑃𝑎
0.75(3500)(600)
b. Ultimate punching shear stress:

𝑝𝑢 𝑀𝑢 𝑐
𝑅 = +
𝐴 𝐼

1074 160(0)
𝑅 = +
5 4
R = 214.8 kN
Vu = 1074 -214.8
Vu = 859.2 kN

Punching shear stress:

𝑉𝑢
𝑣=
𝜙𝑏𝑑
bo = 4(1000) = 4000 mm
859200
𝑣= = 0.48 𝑀𝑃𝑎
0.75(4000)(600)
c. Maximum Design Moment

Mu = 2R(0.80) = 2(254.8)(0.80) = 407.68 kN-m