SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS Those that transmit structural loads to the near-surface soils.

s. Include spread footing foundation and mat foundation.

1. Square spread footings Those footings that have a plan dimension of B x B (square) with a depth D from the ground to the bottom of the footing and a thickness T. 2. Rectangular spread footing Footings with a plan dimension of B x L, where L is the longest dimension Useful when obstructions prevent the construction of a square footing. 3. Circular spread footing Footings that are round in a plan view Frequently used as foundations for light standards, flagpoles and power transmission lines. 4. Continuous spread footing (strip footing or wall footings) Used to support bearing walls. 5. Rings spread footing Continuous footing that have wrapped into a circle. Commonly used to support the walls of above-ground circular storage tanks. 6. Mat foundation (Floating or raft foundation) A very large spread footing that usually encompasses the entire footprint of the structure. Usually made of reinforce concrete Used when dealing with the following conditions: o The structural loads are so high or the soil condition is so poor that spread footings would be large o The soil is very erratic and prone to excessive differential settlements o The structural loads are erratic, and thus increase the likelihood of excessive differential settlements. o The lateral loads are uniformly distributed through the structure and thus may cause differential horizontal movements in spread footings or pile caps. o The uplift loads are larger than spread footings can accommodate. o The bottom of the structure is located below the groundwater table, so waterproofing is an important concern.

Bearing Pressure (Gross) Is the contact force per unit area along the bottom of a shallow foundation.
P + Wf ud A

q=

where: o q = is bearing pressure o P = vertical column load o Wf = weight of foundation, including the weight of soil above the foundation, if any o A = base area of foundation (B2 for square foundation, or BL for rectangular foundation) o ud = pore water pressure For continuous footings, the bearing pressure is:

q=

P Wf + b b u d B

where: b = unit length (usually 1 meter strip or 1 foot strip) B = width of the continuous footing Example: The 1.52 square footing shown in figure supports a column load of 445 kN. Compute for the bearing pressure. 445 kN

0.91 mts.

0.76 mts. = 18.83 kN/m3 0.45 mts.

1.52 mts.

Solution: For conservative assumption, the concrete is assumed to extend from the ground surface to a depth D. (conservative because soil has a lower unit weight)

concrete = 23.5 kN/m3

Wf = 1.52(1.52)(0.76+0.45)(23.5) = 65.7 kN A = 1.52(1.52) = 2.3104 m2 ud = w zw = 9.81 kN/m3(0.76+0.45-0.91) = 2.943 kN/m2

q= q=
Example:

445kN + 65.7 2.943 2.3104 218.101 kN/m2

A 0.70 mts. wide continuous footing supports a wall load of 110 kN/m. The bottom of this footing is at a depth of 0.50 mts below the adjacent ground surface and the soil has a unit weight of 17.5 kN/m3. The groundwater table is at a depth of 10 mts below the ground surface. Compute for the bearing pressure. Solution:

concrete = 23.5 kN/m3 (unit weight of concrete)

P/b = 110 kN/m Assume a 1 meter strip Wf/b = 0.70 m(0.50 m)(23.5) = 8.225 kN/m Since water table is way below the base of the foundation ud = 0

q= q=

110kN / m + 8.225kN / m 0 0.70m 168.9 (kPa) or kN/m2

NET BEARING PRESSURE The difference between the gross bearing pressure and the initial vertical effective stress at depth D. Measure of the increase in vertical effective stress at the depth D.

q = q z

or

q = q soil (D)

Example: The mat foundation in the figure is to be 50 m wide, 70 mts. long, and 1.8 mts. thick. The sum of the column and wall loads is 805,000 kN. Compute the average bearing pressure, then compare it with the initial effective stress in the soil immediately below the mat.

5.0 mts. =19.0kN/m3 Mat or floating foundation 1.8 mts.

8.7 m

concrete = 23.5 kN/m3

Wf = 50 m(70 m)(1.8 m)(23.5) = 148,050 kN A = 50(70) = 3,500 m2 ud = w zw = 9.81 kN/m3(8.7-5.0) = 36.297 kN/m2

q=

805,000kN +148,050 36.297 3,500

q = 236.003 kN/m2
The vertical effective stress at a depth D before construction was:

= (H) u
where: = unit weight of soil H = total depth to the bottom of foundation u = pore water pressure

= 19.0 kN/m3(8.7 m) 36.297 kN/m2 = 129.003 kPa

The increase in the vertical effective stress below the mat as a result of excavating and constructing the building is:

q = q z q = 236.003 129.003 q = 107 kPa

Problem: (To be submitted soon) 1. A 400 kN vertical downward column load acts at the centroid of a 1.5 m. square footing. The bottom of this footing is 0.40 mts. below the ground surface and the top is flush with the ground surface. The groundwater table is at a depth of 3 meters below the ground surface. Compute the bearing pressure. 2. The mat foundation in the fig. is 45 meters wide and 90 meters long. It has a weight of 140,000kN. The sum of the applied structural loads is 1,300,000 kN. Compute the average bearing pressure with the groundwater table at position A. Repeat the computation with the groundwater table at position B. Explain why these two values of q are different.

6.5 mts

B
15 mts 21 mts

=17.5 kN/m3

BEARING FAILURES OF SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS 1. General Shear Failure Most common and occurs on soils that are relatively incompressible and reasonably strong, in rocks and in saturated, normally consolidated clays that are loaded rapidly where the undrained condition prevails. Failure surface is well defined and failure occurs quite suddenly. Bulges may appear on both sides, but ultimate failure occur only on one of the side, accompanied by rotation of the foundation.

General Shear Failure

2. Punching Shear Failure Opposite extreme of the general shear failure, which occurs in very loose sands, in thin crust of strong soil underlain by a very weak soil, or in weak clays loaded under slow, drained conditions. High compressibility of the above mentioned soils causes large settlements and poorly defined vertical shear surfaces. Little or no bulging occurs at the ground surface and failure develops gradually.

Punching shear failure

3. Local Shear Failure An intermediate case between the general shear and the punching shear failure. Shear surfaces are well-defined under the foundation and becomes vague near the ground surface. Small bulge may occur, but considerable settlement is necessary, before a clear shear surface forms near the ground. Unlike the general shear, sudden failure does not occur. Foundation just continues to sink even deeper into the ground. Local shear failure