Principles of Foundation

Engineering
Braja M. Das

Chapter 5
Shallow Foundations:
Allowable Bearing Capacity
And Settlement
1
Bearing Capacity

Ultimate bearing capacity is the maximum

pressure a foundation can exert on the soil
before a large scale failure occurs. Such
failures can be catastrophic with collapse
of the structure.

Allowable bearing capacity has been defined

as the ultimate bearing capacity divided by an
adequate safety factor to prevent a large
scale “catastrophic” failure from occurring.

Due to our knowledge of soil mechanics, such

failures rarely occur today unless grossly inadequate
exploration of subsurface conditions was performed.

2
qallowable settlement
However is a foundation that has adequate
safety against a catastrophic failure performing
properly if movement is sufficient to cause
movements that is considered as damage
to the structure?

Allowable bearing capacity is also the pressure

where settlements will not create excessive
movements that cause damage.

qallowable = qu/FS or qallowable settlement

whichever is smaller. Rarely will qallowable settlement

be greater than qu/FS unless FS too high.

3
Types of Settlement
Three types of settlement to consider:
• Elastic (immediate) – classic stress strain
• Primary consolidation
• Secondary consolidation

Elastic settlements occur in sands and in

unsaturated fine grained soils (?).

Consolidation settlements occur in

saturated fine grained soils. Remember
consolidation theory is based on the soil
being 100% saturated. Also permeability
is sufficiently low that the stress is carried
initially by the water and is gradually
transferred to the soil as the pore water moves out.

4
Stress Creates Settlement
 A change in stress beyond what a soil is
currently subject to ’o causes the soil to
change properties:
 Density
 Strength and compressibility
 Moisture Content
 The change in stress,  , is estimated
from the new loading qo and and influence
factor I :  = qo(I)
 Several methods for determining I.
5
Elastic settlement of shallow
foundation

6
Elastic settlement of flexible
and rigid foundations

Examples

Flexible Foundation
Circular Fuel Storage Tank

Rigid Foundation
Concrete Building Foundation

7
Soils in Layers
 Subsurface conditions have layers.
 Soils are not homogeneous and
isotropic even within a single layer.
 Not only do we need to determine the
change in stress, , that a soil layer
experiences, we need to evaluate the
change in soil properties.
 Even then, we simplify. The amount
of simplification affects accuracy.
8
Elastic settlement below the
center of a foundation
St ress
St rain 
E

Deformation = Strain x Thickness

Bowles Weighted Average

H
 Es( i) z
Es 
z

where Es(i) = soil modulus of elasticity within a depth Dz

z = H or 5B whichever is smaller

9
Example Of Bowles Method

Es = (10000(2)+8000(1)+12000(2))/5
Es = 10400kN/m2

Strain = 150/10400 = 0.014

Settlement = 0.014(5) = 0.07m = 7 cm

This assumes no dissipation of stress

with depth.

10
Settlement Based on Elastic Theory

,  1   2
S  q     B 
For center of footing
I I =4
e o E s f
s
L
Where: m 
qo = net applied pressure of foundation B
 = Poisson’s ratio of the soil H
n 
Es = average elastic modulus of soil from  B
z = 0 to z = 5B  
 2
B’ = B/2 for center of foundation & B for
corner For corner of footing
Is = shape factor =1
If = depth factor
L
m 
B
 1  2   H
I  F  F n 
s 1 1   2 B
Get F1 and F2 from
Tables 5.8 & 5.9 Get If from Table 5.10
using n & m

11
Determining F1

12
Determining F2

13
Table 5.10 - If

B/L
s Df/B 0.2 0.5 1.0
0.3 0.2 0.95 0.93 0.90
0.4 0.90 0.86 0.81
0.6 0.85 0.80 0.74
1.0 0.78 0.71 0.65
0.4 0.2 0.97 0.96 0.93
0.4 0.93 0.89 0.85
0.6 0.89 0.84 0.78
1.0 0.82 0.75 0.69
0.5 0.2 0.99 0.98 0.96
0.4 0.95 0.93 0.89
0.6 0.92 0.87 0.82
1.0 0.85 0.79 0.72

14
Example
,
S  q     B 
 1
2  I I
e o E s f
s

Es = 10400 kN/m2 (average of all Es)

qo = 150 kN/m2
B’ = B/2 = ½ = 0.5m for center of footing
u 2= 0.3 2 = 0.09
 = 4 for center of footing
m’=L/B=2 n’=H/(B/2) =5/(1/2)=10
F1 = 0.641 F2 =0.031 from Tables 5.8 & 5.9
Is=F1+((1-2)/1-)F2 = 0.659
If=0.71 from Table 5.10

Se=((150)(4)(0.5)(1-0.09)/10400)(0.659)(0.71)
Se=0.012m = 1.2 cm

15
Improved Equation for Elastic
Settlement
Mayne & Poulos
• Rigidity
• Depth of embedment
• Increase in Es with depth
• Location of rigid layers with depth
( 4 BL)
B   equivalent foundation diameter
e 

where B = width of foundation

L = length of foundation

For circular foundations,

Be = B

where B = diameter of foundation

16
Improved equation for calculating elastic
settlement: general parameters
q B I I I
o e G F E 2
S   1  s
e E
o
where IG = influence factor for the variation of Es with depth
IF = foundation rigidity correction factor
IE = foundation embedment correction factor

 1
I  
F 4  E
f  2t 3
4.6  10  
 B
e 
B
e
 Eo   k 
 2 
t = foundation thickness
k = slope of increase in Es with depth
Es = Eo + kz
1
I  1 
E
 Be 
3.5 exp 1.22  s  0.4    1.6
E  57000 f '
f c
 Df 
E  3,100,000 psi for 3000 psi concrete
f  

17
Variation of IG with 

E
o
 
kB
e

18
Variation of rigidity correction
factor IF with flexibility factor KF

19
Variation of embedment
correction factor IE with D/Be

1
IE  1 

3.5exp 1.22  0.4
s  Be
Df
 1.6


Example 5.6 in book

20
 Schmertmann Strain
Influence Factor
Z2
 Iz 
  Z 
S  C  C  ( q  q ) 
e 1 2  E 
Z 0  s 

where Iz = strain influence factor

C1 = foundation embedment correction factor = 1-0.5[q/(q-q)]
C2 = creep correction factor = 1+0.2•log(time in years/0.1)
q = stress at level of foundation
q = Df

Strain influence factor variation dependent on foundation shape.

For square or circular foundations:

Iz = 0.1 at z=0
Iz = 0.5 at z1 = 0.5B
Iz = 0 at z2 = 2B

For continuous foundations (L/B>10):

Or use equations 5.51
thru 5.53
Iz = 0.2 at z=0 for rectangular footing
Iz = 0.5 at z1 = B
Iz = 0 at z2 = 4B

Values of L/B between 1 and 10 can be interpolated. Note the division of the soil based on type & Iz

21
Example 5.7 in Book
From Eq. 5.50, pg 258
From Eq. 5.51 pg 259

From Eq. 5.52, pg 259

Use Eq. 5.54&5.55

to convert qc to Es
then Eq. 5.56 to
convert Esquare to
Erectangle

From Eq. 5.53, pg 259

22
Example 5.7 Continued

To find Iz get the slope of the

line. For the top line it’s
(0.675-0.11)/1.12=0.504

Half way in Layer 1 is 0.25m

so 0.25*0.504=0.126

Add 0.11 to 0.126 and get

0.236

Once you get on the second

line, find it’s slope and
repeat.

23
 Stress Increase Under
Embankment

Iz

q  B1  B2  B 
     1   2    2
o 1
 
  B2  B 
  2 

1   B1  B2  B 
 1  tan    tan  1  1    q  I
 z   z o
1  B1 
 2  tan  
 z Will need this on 430 projects

24
Example 5.3
Problem in (a) and (b)
B B
1 2.5 = 0.5 2 14
  = 2.8 I’ = 0.445
z 5 z 5


  1  2   q o Ilefts id e  Irights id e 
  122.5 ( 0.445  0.445) = 109 kN/m2

Problem in (c)
  1  2  3

25
Material Parameters
From Properties Table
Will need this page on
midterm exam.

From CPT Data

Es = 2.5qc (square & circular)

Es = 3.5qc for continuous

From SPT Data

From Lab Data
E
s
 8 N Normally consolidated clays
p 60
a Es = 250cu to 500cu
where N60 = corrected SPT value Overconsolidated clays
pa = atmospheric pressure = 1 tsf Es = 750cu to 1000cu

26
 Seismic Bearing Capacity
qu = qNq + ½BN static conditions)

quE = qNqE + ½BNE earthquake conditions)

where Nq, N, NqE, NE = bearing capacity factors

q = Df
(Note: A = 45 + ’/2 and p = 45 – ’/2)
Note:
Nq and N = f (’)

and
NqE and NE = f (’, tan )

where tan kh/(1-kv)

with kh = horizontal coefficient of acceleration

kv = vertical coefficient of acceleration

27
Variation of Nq and N

Based on
simplified
failure surface

(Note: AE = 45 + ’/2 and PE = 45 – ’/2)

28
Variation of NE/N and NqE/Nq
(after Richards et al., 1993)

29
Critical acceleration k*h for c’ = 0

30
Seismic Settlement

* 4
V
2 k 
S
Eq
 0.174 
Ag  A 
h

 tan  AE  (in meters)

V = peak velocity for the design earthquake (m/sec)

A = acceleration coefficient for the design earthquake
g = acceleration due to gravity (9.18 m/sec2)

31
 AE

32
Seismic Example
A strip foundation is to be constructed on a sandy soil with B=4ft, Df=3ft,
=110 lb/ft3 and  = 30°.

a. Determine the gross ultimate bearing capacity quE. Assume kv=0 and kh=0.176.
b. If the design earthquake parameters are V = 1.3 ft/sec and A=9.81m/sec2,
determine the seismic settlement of the foundation. Use FS=3 to obtain the
static allowable bearing capacity.

Solution
Part a
From Fig 5.29, for  = 30°, Nq = 16.51 and N = 23.76. Also
tan = kh/(1-kv) = 0.176

For tan  = 0.176, Figure 5.30 gives

NE/N = 0.4 and NqE/Nq = 0.63

Thus,

NE = (0.4)(23.76) = 9.5

NqE = (0.63)(16.51) = 10.4

33
Seismic Example (cont)
And

quE = qNqE + 0.5BNE = (3)(110)(10.4) + (0.5)(110)(4)(9.5) = 5522 lb/ft2

Part b
For the foundation, Df/B = ¾ = 0.75

From Figure 5.31 for  = 30°, FS = 3, and Df/B = 0.75, the value kh* = 0.26
Also, from Table 5.11, for kh* = 0.26, the value of tan AE = 0.92.

SEq = 0.174(kh*/A)-4 tan AE(V2/Ag) (meters)

With
V=1.3 ft = 0.4 m

Then

SEq = 0.174(0.4)2/((0.32)(9.81))(0.26/0.32)-4(0.92) = 0.0187m = 0.74 in

34
Primary Consolidation
H e  o  
 e  C  log 
c 
H 1 e 
 o 
o

1
 avg 
6
 t  4 m   b
35
 Westergaard

Another method for determining

the increase in stress within a
soil layer with depth is using
the Westergaard or Bousinesq
stress distribution.

Westergaard assumes a layered

subsurface while Bousinesq
assumes a homogenous throughout
the subsurface.

is determined from charts

and used in same equations
Charts are in units of B.
36
 Westergaard Centerline q
If
1 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0
0

2 q=If(qo)
3

4
Square
5
Strip
D/B

10

11

12

37
Using Westergaard

The Westergaard chart is in units of B, both in the Z-direction as well

as the X-direction. For the center of a foundation X/B = 0 and you
use the Westergaard Centerline q chart for convenience. For the
depth where you want to determine q, you divide the depth by the
footing width (D/B). Find D/B on the left axis, draw a line straight
over to either the strip or square footing line, then draw a line straight
up to get If. Multiply the footing pressure by If and get the q for that
depth.

For determining what pressure a footing exerts on a nearby

underground structure, use the main chart. Determine X/B where
X is the lateral distance to the object, then determine Z/B where Z is
the depth to the object. Read If from the chart, then multiply by
footing pressure to get the pressure on the object.

38
Westergaard Problem

The clay is normally consolidated so we use the following equation:

Sc 
C H      
c c
 log   o avg
 
1e   
o  o 
39
Westergaard Cont.
Turn rectangular footing into equivalent square footing - 2 1  1.414 m Use 1.4m

’o = (2.5)(16.5)+(0.5)(17.5-9.81)+(1.25)(16-9.81) = 52.84 kN/m2

Next, determine average change in pressure in the clay layer.


avg

1
6

   4   
t m b 
Depth (m) D/B If 
 2.00 1.43 0.13 0.13(150)=19.5
 3.25 2.32 0.06 0.06(150)=9.0
 4.50 3.21 0.03 0.03(150)=4.5
1
   [ 19.5  ( 4) ( 9)  4.5] =10 kN/m2
avg 6
Sc  (0.32 2.5)  log (52.84  10)   0.033m or 33mm
1  0.8  52.84  40
 Secondary Consolidation
e
C 
a
 t2 
log
 t1 
 
where C = secondary compression index
e = change in void ratio
t1, t2 = time

C
  t2 
S   H  log  
c( s ) 1 e c  t1 
p  
ep = void ratio at the end of primary consolidation
Hc = thickness of clay layer

41
C Empirical Correlations

C = 0.0001w for overconsolidated soils

C/Cc = 0.04 for inorganic clays and silts

C/Cc = 0.05 for organic clays and silts

C/Cc = 0.075 for peats

42
Tolerable Settlements of Buildings
Two Settlements of Concern
• Total Settlement
• Differential Settlement

ST = total settlement at a given point

ST = difference in settlement between any
2 points, also called differential settlement

 = gradient between any 2 successive points

= angular distortion = ST/l

 = tilt
 = relative deflection
/L = deflection ratio

43
Limiting Values of Settlement

Locally – 1 inch maximum for columns, ¾ inch maximum for walls

44
Homework
From Chapter 5
CE 430 CE 530
 5.7 Same as CE430
 5.11
 5.13 Next Week
 5.20 Using Hand Out Projects
Westergaard
 5.5 but using
Westergaard
45