EXPLICIT STRESSES UNDER RECTANGULAR FOOTINGS

By R. Irles I and F. Irles 2

ABSTRACT: The calculation of stresses under rectangular footings with biaxial

bending is carried out by solving the three-equations system that sets up the load
and soil stresses equilibrium. When a planar soil stresses distribution is assumed,
and the area is in full compression, the just mentioned system is linear and its
solution immediate. With increasing eccentricities, some corners of the footing can
get detached from the soil, the system becoming nonlinear, and difficulties arise
in its resolution. In the paper an analytical alternative to the numerical and graphical
solutions is presented, which will lead to obtaining explicit solutions for these
stresses and neutral axis location.

INTRODUCTION

The derivation of stresses under rectangular footings subjected to biaxial

bending is calculated from the equations system (Fig. 1)

f fa %(x, y) dx dy = N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (la)

f Ja x%(x, y) dx dy = Nex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (lb)

f r o
y%(x, y) dx dy = Ney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (lc)

When a planar stresses distribution is assumed, and the area is in full

compression (resultant in central nucleus), the system (1) is linear and it
drives immediately to the well-known formula

N xNex yNey
................................. (2)
Xx, y) +T +
where A = ab; Ix = ab3/12; and Iy = ba3/12.
Eq. (2) fails when, for bigger eccentricities, a part of footing a r e a , d o e s n ' t
stand fully on the soil, as it can be d e t e c t e d from Fig. 2 (Teng 1962). Fig.
2 shows, in several footing regions, the d e t a c h e d corners (1, 2, 3, or 4) for
a given eccentricity (ex, ey), independently of N. F o r this reason, it can be
said that (1) is no longer linear and difficulties, which do not apply to
monoaxial bending, arise in its resolution. The general resolution of non-
linear system (1) has been solved up to now in the following ways:

~Prof., Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of Alicante, Ap. Correos 99, E-03080, Ali-
cante, Spain.
2Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of Alicante, Ap. Correos 99, E-03080,
Alicante, Spain.
Note. Discussion open until July 1, 1994. To extend the closing date one month,
a written request must be filed with the ASCE Manager of Journals. The manuscript
for this technical note was submitted for review and possible publication on April
20, 1992. This technical note is part of the Journal of GeotechnicalEngineering, Vol.
120, No. 2, February, 1994. 9 ISSN 0733-9410/94/0002-0444/$1.00 + $.15
per page. Technical note No. 3916.
444
 0"2
~:~-~:~:.::!::!:~!~i:i:~.:lN::i::i::!::!:;:::!:"-iS"!:":::-::::;Ao
~.``~!:~:~:!:i~: ~E;:!:~i:`~:i: i`:`;`~;i: !: : :~: : ~:-~::`:~e~-~.
~ ~-~.g~:~: :/-~:~: ~:~J

%
"I/
FIG. 1. Stresses under Rectangular Footing with Biaxial Bending

| I |
a/4 1-2-4
,+, J 1-3-4

~_
a/4 Y
3-4 ey
a/4
,,/4 t -2 -3 2-3-4

| I_,,/, _..L,/,_..l@
x ~ex
FIG. 2. Detached Corners for Resultant N, with Eccentricities (e~., ey), in Each
Footing Region

1. By means of iterations conducive to obtain neutral axis position, as

indicated by Peck et al. (1974) and others.
2. By means of iterative solutions for discrete values of certain geometric
parameters, enabling the drawing of an abacus for direct calculation of
neutral axis location and maximum stress (Hackman 1977; Hardin 1984),
even in the case of parabolic stresses distribution (Vitone et al. 1986).

In this paper an analytical alternative is presented that will lead to explicit

solutions for all the possible cases, except the one presenting one corner
detached. However, even in this last case, reduction of the equations system
to a single equation will be proposed that will, in some instances, provide
explicit solution.

DERIVATION
Due to the fact that the problem is symmetric, it will be enough to consider
just one quadrant.
445
Three Corners Detached (2, 3, and 4)
With Fig. 3 notation, (1) results in
N = al3crl
6 ................................................. (3a)

N(~ - eY) - ~ ....................................... (3b)

N(~-e~) - ~176 ....................................... (3c)

and we obtain easily

c~ = 2a - 4ex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4a)
= 2b - 4ey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4b)
6N 3N
~l = (a[3) = 2(a - 2ex)(b - 2ey) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4c)
explicit from N, e~, ey.

TWO Corners Detached (2 and 3)

With Fig. 4 notation, then

N = ~ 1 - , ................................ (5a)

b/ N I

4
!

FIG. 3. Three Detached Corners 12, 3, and 4)

,, NI/ b

FIG. 4. Two Detached Corners (2 and 3)

446
Dividing (5b) by (5a), we obtain

(~) 3 b 3 - 813b2 + 6132b

-- ey = 4(3132 _ 3t3b + b 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6)

only 13 depending.
Being IX = 2 - ( 4 e y / b ) and B = 13/b, then

(6 - 31~)B2 - (8 - 31x)B + 3 - tx = 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (7)

therefore

8 - 3Ix + (12Ix - 3Ix2 - 8) 1/2

B= . .......................... (8a)
(12 - 6Ix)
A n d dividing (5c) by (5a), we now obtain

a = 4B - ex 84 -- (8 -- ]_)4

Finally, from (5a)

6NB 2
3 - (8 - ]_)3]
(8c)

and from similarity relations

~/--~ (1-~) ............................................ (8e)

all explicit in terms of N , ex, ey.

The corners 3 and 4 being detached, similar equations can be obtained.

Only One Corner Detached (3)

According to Fig. 5, system (1) will be

FIG. 5. Only One Corner Detached (3)

447
N-- ~
abo3( ,x + 13 - 2,x13 + ........................... (9a)

( ~ ) ab2cr3
N er + = ~ (613 - 12a13 + 8a + az133) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (9b)

( ~ ) a2b~r3(6,x- 12a13 + 8 1 3 + 132a3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (9c)

N ex + = 24a13
also, dividing (9b) and (9c) by (9a)

4e. (3a + 313 - 6a13 + ,xz132) = 213 - 2,x2132 + [32,x3 . . . . . . . . . . . . (10a)

a

4ey (3a + 313 - 6et13 + o~z132) = 2a - 2ot2132 + 0/.2133 (10b)

b ............
a two-nonlinear-equations system for which we have not found a general
explicit solution. H o w e v e r , with some algebraic transformations, it can be
simplified greatly; rewriting the equivalent addition and quotient equations
system
A(3et + 313 - 6et13 + oL21~2) = 2 ( a + 13) - 40t2132 q- (or q- 13)02132 . . (lla)
C(2ot - 2ot2132 + ot2133) = 213 - 2o~2132 + [32ot3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (11b)
where
A = 4[(ex/a) + (ey/b)] e]e = 2/3, 2[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (12a)
and
C = bex/(aey) e]e = 0, oo[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (12b)
and being u = a + [3 e]e = 0, 2[; v = a13 e]e = 0, 1[ (11a) results in
A(3u - 6 v + v 2) = 2 u - 4v z + uv 2 .......................... (13)
where from

6A - (A + 4)v . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (14)
u = u(v) = v (3A - 2 - v 2)

can be explicited; and putting a = u - [3 into (11b)

13 = f3(v) = u ( v z - 2C) + 2v2(C - 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (15)

(C + 1)(v 2 - 2)
and
u ( C v 2 - 2) - 2v2(C - 1)
e~ = oL(v) = u ( v ) - 13(v) = ( C + 1)(v 2 - 2) ........... (16)

Thus, in order to solve the equations system, only et(v)13(v) = v is needed.

After its rationalization, it b e c o m e s a nine-degree polynomial equation on
U
Pg(v) = 0 ................................................. (17)
448
 A n d , finally, r e m o v i n g the c o m m o n factor v [v = 0 is one solution,
i n d e p e n d e n t l y of A a n d C, a c c o r d i n g to (14), (15), (16), and (12)]

P8(v) = 0 ................................................. (18)

an e i g h t - d e g r e e p o l y n o m i a l e q u a t i o n for which it can be shown ( t h r o u g h an
exhaustive n u m e r i c a l - g r a p h i c a l checking), that only one solution is possible
for the c o r r e s p o n d i n g a r e a in Fig. 2.
Thus, if (9) is still not explicitable, it has b e e n n o w greatly simplified.
F o r just the p a r t i c u l a r case of ex/a = er/b, ( C = 1), the p o l y n o m i a l
equation is f o u r - d e g r e e
4
P4(v) = E Bi vi = 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (19)
i=O

and v can be explicited, by successively o b t a i n i n g

3B~
p = B2 -- - - ............................................ (20a)
8

_
B3B2
_ _ + ~B__~ ...................................... (20b)
q= Bl
2 8
3B 4 B2B2 B3B 1
r = B~ - 2 - ~ + 16 4 .............................. (20c)

pZ _ 4r p2
p, - m ........................................ (21a)
16 12
q' p3 (p2 -- 4r) q2

= 108 P 96 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (21b)

+ = _ . ........................................... (22i0

-q'
e = arcos-- . .......................................... (22b)
2+

for i = 1, 2, 3 . . . . . . . . . (23)

finally (with S = q/lq[)

B3
......................... (24a)
4

4 ........................... (24b)

v3 = s ( - v ~ , - v~2 - v~;) 843 ......................... (24c)

93
v, = s(xC - vg~ + v~;) - -4
- ........................... (24d)

449
recalling (12) for choosing the correct root, and (15) and (16) to calculate
and 13.
Now, from (9a) and from stresses plane, respectively
2Na13
0" 3 ............................ (25a)
ab(e~+ 13 - 2al3 + - ~ )

0-1 = 0-3
,
+ 13
,) ..................................... (25b)

o (1 1) .........................................
APPENDIX. REFERENCES
Hackman, M. (1977). "Bearing pressures on bridge footings." Cir. Engrg., (11),
37-39.
Hardin, B. O. (1984). "Pressure under eccentrically loaded footings." Civil engi-
neeringfor practicingand designengineers,Vol. 3, Pergamon Press, Inc., Elmsford,
N.Y.
Peck, R. B., Hanson, W. E., and Thornburn, T. H. (1974). Foundationengineering.
2nd Ed., John Wiley and Sons, New York, N.Y.
Teng, W. C. (1962). Foundation design. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Vitone, D. M. A., and Valsangkar, A. J. (1986). "Rectangular foundations subjected
to biaxial bending." Civil engineeringfor practicing and design engineers, 5,799-
814.

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