ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

MAPUA

I. INTRODUCTION
Footings are structural elements that transmit column or wall loads to the underlying
soil below the structure. Footings are designed to transmit these loads to the soil without
exceeding its safe bearing capacity, to prevent excessive settlement of the structure to a
tolerable limit, to minimize differential settlement, and to prevent sliding and overturning.
The settlement depends upon the intensity of the load, type of soil, and foundation level.
Where possibility of differential settlement occurs, the different footings should be
designed in such a way to settle independently of each other.
Depending on the structure and soil encountered, various types of foundations are
used. A spread footing is simply an enlargement of a load-bearing wall or column that
makes it possible to spread the load of the structure over a larger area of the soil. In soil
with low load-bearing capacity, the size of the spread footings required is impracticably
large. In that case, it is more economical to construct the entire structure over a concrete
pad. This is called a mat foundation.
Pile and drilled shaft foundations are used for heavier structures when great depth is
required for supporting the load. Piles are structural members made of timber, concrete,
or steel that transmits the load of the superstructure to the lower layers of the soil.
According to how they transmit their load into the subsoil, piles can be divided into two
categories: friction piles and end-bearing piles. In the case of friction piles, the
superstructure load is resisted by the shear stresses generated along the surface of the
pile. In the end-bearing pile, the load carried by the pile is transmitted at its tip to a firm
stratum.
In the case of drilled shafts, a shaft is drilled into the subsoil and then is filled with
concrete. A metal casing may be used while the shaft is being drilled. The casing may be
left in place or may be withdrawn during the placing of concrete. Generally, the diameter
of a drilled shaft is much larger than that of a pile. The distinction between piles and drilled
shafts becomes hazy at an approximate diameter of 1 m (3 ft), and the definitions and
nomenclature are inaccurate.
Spread footings and mat foundations generally are referred to as shallow foundations,
whereas pile and drilled-shaft foundations are classified as deep foundations. In a more
general sense, shallow foundations are foundations that have a depth-of-embedment towidth ratio of approximately less than four. When the depth-of-embedment-to-width ratio
of a foundation is greater than four, it may be classified as a deep foundation.

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ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

II. PROBLEMS
Note: The water table is located at depth of 2.0 m below the ground surface. Other data
necessary that are not given can be assumed using the Tables and Charts.

Based on the Boring Log Data and Atterberg Limits Test Results presented, answer the
following as indicated:

1. What is the ultimate and allowable bearing capacity based on soil strength up to 2B
below the base using Terzhagi, Meyerhof, and Hansen equations for each given size of
isolated footing? Use Factor of Safety = 3.
a. B = 2m , L = 2m, Df =1.5m
b. B = 5m , L = 5m, Df =2.0m

2. What is the allowable bearing capacity based on soil compressibility up to 2B below the
base using Terzhaghi & Peck, Meyerhof, and Bowles equations for each given size of
isolated footing? Use allowable total settlement = 35mm. Assume the time for creep to be
10 years.
a. B = 2m , L = 2m, Df =1.5m
b. B = 5m , L = 5m, Df =2.0m

3. Calculate the total settlement of each isolated footing up to 2B below the base. Use
Schmertmann's method for immediate settlement and assume all clay layers be over
consolidated. Disregard the secondary consolidation.
a. B = 2m , L = 2m, Df =1.5m
b. B = 5m , L = 5m, Df =2.0m

4. Summarize and tabulate all your answers. Compare and discuss briefly the results and
make your conclusion.

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ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

MAPUA

Sample Boring Log Report

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ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

MAPUA

ATTERBERG LIMITS TEST RESULTS

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ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

III.

MAPUA

SOLUTIONS
COMPUTATION OF SOIL BEARING CAPACITY

For the computation and determination of soil properties of the underlying foundation
materials, the following equations, parameters and engineering data were used:

A. EQUATIONS

A.1) for correcting the no. of SPT N values.

Correction is carried out when water table/ ground water was encountered
during drilling and potential submerged condition is likely to occur.

N=N
=15 +

for N< 15 blows

( )

for N> 15 blows

Where, N = adjusted/ corrected No. of SPT blows.

N= actual No. of SPT blows per 30 cm of penetration.
A.2) for computation of Soil Bearing Capacity

+ (1) + 0.5
+

= + + 0.5

Where:
= allowable bearing capacity in kg/m2

y= unit weight in kg/m3

= safety factor

B= base of footing in meters

= ultimate bearing capacity in kg/m2

D= depth of footing in meters

c= safety factor

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ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

, , , , ,
parameters

are dimensionless

B. ENGINEERING DATA

B.1.a) Cohesionless Soils (Sand and Sandy Silt): (Polish Code- PN-59/B-03020,
1959 Soil mechanics and Foundation Engineering by Wilun & Starzewski, v.1)
Cohesion, c = 0, for sand (assumed cohesionless)
Relative Soil Condition

N
<
>

4
10
30

4
10
30
50
50

(Relative Density)
Very Loose
Loose
Medium Dense
Dense
Very Dense

Approximate Angle
of Internal Friction
(0)

28
32
35

<
-

28
32
35
37

B.1.b) Clays (Essentials of Soil Mechanics, David F. McCarthy:

N
2
4
5
8
8
- 15
15 - 30
above 30

Relative Soil Condition

(Relative Density)
Soft
Firm
Stiff
Very Stiff
Hard

Approximate Cohesion
(kg/m^2)

1200
2400
4890
9780

2440
4890
9780
19300
25000

B.1.c) Mixed Soils: (Polish Code- PN-59/B-03020, 1959 Soil mechanics and
Foundation Engineering by Wilun & Starzewski, v.1)
1. Slightly Clayey Sands, Sandy Silt and Silts
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ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

Relative Soil Condition

N
4
8
15

<
>

(Relative Density)
4
8
15
30
30

Soft
Firm
Stiff
Very Stiff
Hard

Approximate Cohesion
(kg/m^2)
1200
1500
2050
3000

>

1500
2050
3000
4000
4000

Approximate Angle of
Internal friction (0)

2
10
16
20

10
16
20
25

1. What is the ultimate and allowable bearing capacity based on soil strength up to 2B
below the base using Terzhagi, Meyerhof, and Hansen equations for each given size of
isolated footing? Use Factor of Safety = 3.
a. B = 2m , L = 2m, Df =1.5m
b. B = 5m , L = 5m, Df =2.0m

Depth

MC

N'

1.50
3.00
4.50
6.00
7.50
9.00
10.50
12.00
13.50
15.00

25.1
33.2
22.4
25
43.4
34.5
67.2
53
48.4
33.4

17
13
20
17
26
9
5
9
10
10

32
32
32
32
32
28
28
28
28
32

Cohesion

Gs

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

2.65
2.65
2.65
2.65
2.7
2.73
2.74
2.73
2.75
2.75

0.6652
0.8798
0.5936
0.6625
1.1718
0.9419
1.8413
1.4469
1.331
0.9185

19.531
18.421
19.967
19.546
17.489
18.550
15.818
16.746
17.175
18.758

terzaghi's bearing capacity factors

Nc

Nq

Ng

44.040
44.040
44.040
44.040
44.040
31.610
31.610
31.610
31.610
44.040

28.520
28.520
28.520
28.520
28.520
17.180
17.180
17.180
17.180
28.530

26.870
26.870
26.870
26.870
26.870
13.700
13.700
13.700
13.700
26.870

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ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

Depth

MC

N'

1.50
3.00
4.50
6.00
7.50
9.00
10.50
12.00
13.50
15.00

25.1
33.2
22.4
25
43.4
34.5
67.2
53
48.4
33.4

17
13
20
17
26
9
5
9
10
10

Cohesion

Gs

unit wt.

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

2.65
2.65
2.65
2.65
2.7
2.73
2.74
2.73
2.75
2.75

0.6652
0.8798
0.5936
0.6625
1.1718
0.9419
1.8413
1.4469
1.331
0.9185

19.531
18.421
19.967
19.546
17.489
18.550
15.818
16.746
17.175
18.758

32
32
32
32
32
28
28
28
28
32

meyerhof

Nc

Nq

Ng

35.490
35.490
35.490
35.490
35.490
25.800
31.610
31.610
31.610
35.490

23.180
23.180
23.180
23.180
23.180
14.720
17.180
17.180
17.180
23.180

22.020
22.020
22.020
22.020
22.020
11.190
13.700
13.700
13.700
22.020

q = Df = 1.5(19.531) = 29.2965kN/m3
At depth of 2B of 2m x 2m footing from table 1 = 31 and at depth of 2B of 5m x 5m footing from table
1=0

1 .Using Terzhagi Equation

F.S
B
L
D
Df
q
D/B

=
=
=
=
=
=
=

3
2
1.5
1.5
1.5
29.2965
0.75

m
m
m
m
kN/m^2

Depth
1.50
3.00
4.50
6.00

= + + 0.5

q
kN/m^2
29.296
55.262
89.852
117.277

FS
3
3
3
3

kPa

1171.123
1972.053
2991.804
3764.919

.
kPa

390.374
657.351
997.268
1254.973

The table shows the ultimate bearing capacity and allowable bearing capacity
at a certain depth.
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ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

qult =

cNcscdci c+qNqsqdqi q+0.5BNsdi

qall =

qu/F.S.

Kp =
B/L =
Nc =
Nq =
N =

3.124035
1

MAPUA

tan (45+ /2)

(square footing)

32.8 Bearing cap. Factor

20.8 Bearing cap. Factor
18.85 Bearing cap. Factor

for Problem 1a:

sc =
1.624807 Shape Factor

1+0.2Kp B/L

dc =
ic =
sq =

1.265124 Depth Factor

1 Inclination Factor
1.312404 Shape Factor

1+0.2Kp D/B

dq =
iq =
s =

1.132562 Depth Factor

1 Inclination Factor
1.312404 Shape Factor

1+0.1Kp D/B

d =
i =

1.132562 Depth Factor

1 Inclination Factor

1+0.1Kp D/B

qult =

1679.799 kPa

qall =

559.9331 kPa

1+0.1Kp B/L

1+0.1Kp B/L

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ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

Hansen:
qult =
cNcscdcicgcbc + qNqsqdqiqgqbq + 0.5yB'Nysydyiygyby
qall =

qu/F.S.

Nc =
Nq =
N =

32.8 Bearing cap. Factor

20.8 Bearing cap. Factor
17.95 Bearing cap. Factor

B' =

B=

Effective width

B-2e B (assume e=0)

L' =
B'/L' =

L=

Effective length

B-2e L (assume e=0)

for Problem 1a:

-1

k=
sc =
dc =
ic =
gc =
bc =
sq =

0.75
1.634146 Shape Factor
1.3 Depth Factor
1 Inclination Factor
1 Ground Factor
1 Base Factor
1.515038 Shape Factor

tan (D/B) for D/B > 1 , D/B for D/B 1

1.0+(Nq/Nc)*(B'/L')
1.0+0.4k

dq =
iq =
gq =
bq =
s =
d =
i =
g =
b =

1.211973 Depth Factor

1 Inclination Factor
1 Ground Factor
1 Base Factor
0.6 Shape Factor
1 Depth Factor
1 Inclination Factor
1 Ground Factor
1 Base Factor

1+2tan(1-sin) k

qult =

1536.772 kPa

qall =

512.2572 kPa

1.0+(B'/L')sin
2

1.0-0.4(B'/L')
1.00 for all

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ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

for Problem 1b:
F.S. =
B=L =
use D =
Df =
q=
D/B =

3
5m
2m
2m

45.16 kN/m
0.4

Terzhagi:
qult =
1.3cNc+qNq+0.4BN (for square footing)
qall =
Nc =
Nq =
N =

qu/F.S.
26 Bearing cap. Factor
23.78 Bearing cap. Factor
39 Bearing cap. Factor

= 31

for Problem 1b:

kPa
qult =
9131.924 kPa
qall =

3043.975

qult =

cNcscdci c+qNqsqdqi q+0.5BNsdi

qall =

qu/F.S.

Kp =
B/L =
Nc =
Nq =
N =

1
1
32.8 Bearing cap. Factor
20.8 Bearing cap. Factor
18.85 Bearing cap. Factor

tan (45+ /2)

(square footing)
= 31

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ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

Hansen:
qult =
cNcscdcicgcbc + qNqsqdqiqgqbq + 0.5yB'Nysydyiygyby
qall =

qu/F.S.

Nc =
Nq =
N =

32.8 Bearing cap. Factor

20.8 Bearing cap. Factor
52.6 Bearing cap. Factor

B' =

B=

Effective width

L' =
B'/L' =

L=

Effective length
1

for Problem 1b:

-1

k=
sc =
dc =
ic =
gc =
bc =
sq =

0.4
1.634146 Shape Factor
1.16 Depth Factor
1 Inclination Factor
1 Ground Factor
1 Base Factor
1.515038 Shape Factor

tan (D/B) for D/B > 1 , D/B for D/B 1

1.0+(Nq/Nc)*(B'/L')
1.0+0.4k

dq =
iq =
gq =
bq =
s =
d =
i =
g =
b =

1.113052 Depth Factor

1 Inclination Factor
1 Ground Factor
1 Base Factor
0.6 Shape Factor
1 Depth Factor
1 Inclination Factor
1 Ground Factor
1 Base Factor

1+2tan(1-sin) k

qult =

10212.67

qall =

3404.225

1.0+(B'/L')sin
2

1.0-0.4(B'/L')
1.00 for all

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ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

2. What is the allowable bearing capacity based on soil compressibility up to 2B below the
base using Terzhaghi & Peck, Meyerhof, and Bowles equations for each given size of
isolated footing? Use allowable total settlement = 35mm. Assume the time for creep to be
10 years.
a. B = 2m , L = 2m, Df =1.5m
b. B = 5m , L = 5m, Df =2.0m

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ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

3. Calculate the total settlement of each isolated footing up to 2B below the base. Use
Schmertmann's method for immediate settlement and assume all clay layers be over
consolidated. Disregard the secondary consolidation.
a. B = 2m , L = 2m, Df =1.5m
b. B = 5m , L = 5m, Df =2.0m

Solution:
A. Find total settlement St = Se + Sc(p) for 2m x 2m at Depth of 1.5m from
ground
el 0m

Ground Surface
N=19
m=25.1%

clayey sand

Df=1.5

el -1.5m
WT
silty sand with gravel

N=13
m=33.2%

1.5m

silty sand

N=24
m=22.4%

1.5m

silty sand

N=19
m=25.0%

1.5m

2.0m

el -3.0m

el -4.5m

el -5.5m

Formula for Se & Sc

Se = C1C2(q-q) (Iz/Es)z
Sc = eHc/(1+e)

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ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

IMMEDIATE SETTLEMENT
Step 1 : Draw the strain influence diagram to compute Iz at Figure A

Depth below footing level

0.1

Influence factor (Iz)

0.2
0.3
0.4

0.5

B/2 = 1.0

B = 2.0

3.0

2B = 4.0
Figure A : Influence graph for square or circle footing (L/B = 1)

Layer boundaries are solid

Layer mid-points are dashed
From graph the dashed line at mid-layer at figure A we get
Iz(1) = 0.400
Iz(2) = 0.292
Iz(3) = 0.083

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ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

Step 2 : Determine the values of Elastic Modulus

See Appendices for Table 5.6 for SPT Sand (Saturated) Es = 250(N + 15). N values
should be estimated as N55.
Es(1) = 250(19+15)/1000 = 8.50Mpa
Es(2) = 250(13+15)/1000 = 7.00Mpa
Es(3) = 250(24+15)/1000 = 9.75Mpa
Layer
No.
1
2
3

mm
1500
1500
1000

Es

13
24
19

Iz middle of layer

(Iz/Es)xz

0.400
0.292
0.083
(Iz/Es)xz =

mm3/N
85.7
44.9
9.8
140.4

N/mm2
7.00
9.75
8.50

Step 3 : Determine Embedment and Creep Factors

Embedment Factor

C1 = 1-0.5(q/(q-q))
Also determined the following requirement
Layer
No.
1
2
3

GS

0.332
0.2
0.3

2.70
2.70
2.70

0.896
0.605
0.675

kN/m^2
18.6
20.2
19.8

kN/m^2
18.6
20.2
19.8

Note: Gs assumed to be 2.70

Then q = Df
Df =1.5m,
w=9.81kN/m3,
GS = 2.70,
w = 0.251 at 1.5 below ground surface
= GSw(1+w)/(1+e)
e = wGS for S = 1
e = 0.251(2.70) = 0.6777
= 2.70(9.81)(1+0.251)/(1+0.6777) = 19.75kN/m3
q = Df = 19.75(1.5) = 29.625kN/M2
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ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

q = 1500kN for 5 storey building (assumed)
q = 1500kN /(2m x 2m) - Df = 345.375kN/M2
Getting values
C1 = 1-0.5(q/(q-q))
C1 = 1-0.5(29.625/(345.375-29.625)) = 0.9530

Creep Factor

C2 = 1 + 0.2log(t/0.1)
For end of construction C2 = 1
At end of 1 year
C2 = 1 + 0.2log(1/0.1) = 1.2
se = C1C2(q-q) (Iz/Es)z

Immediate settlement per elevation at 1 year

(Iz/Es)xz
C1
C2
q'-q
mm3/N
0.923
1.200
0.140
191.4
0.923
1.200
0.131
191.4
0.923
1.200
0.086
191.4

Se
mm
30
28
18

elevation
-2.25m
-3.75m
-4.00m

PRIMARY CONSOLIDATION

Cc

0.880
0.594
0.663

0.1427
0.0998
0.1101

Hc
mm
1500
1500
1000

'o

'av

kN/m2
25.32
24.45
15.6

kN/m2
220.7
220.7
220.7

Sc
mm
73
69
78

Se
mm
30
28
18

St
mm
103
97
96

elevation
-2.25m
-3.75m
-4.00m

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ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

IV.

CONCLUSION

V. REFERENCE
1.
2.
3.
4.

Principles of Foundation Engineering, SI-7th ed-BRAJA M. DAS 2011

Soil Mechanics Foundations, 3rd edition Muni Budhu
Foundation Analysis and Design by Joseph Bowles
1959 Soil mechanics and Foundation Engineering by Wilun & Starzewski

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