1/20/2015

2. Stress distribution (Elastic

Foundation Design solution)

CE-352A

Arghya Das
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Email: arghya@iitk.ac.in
pc: Wikipedia 

Westergaard equation for point load: Pressure bulbs (isobars):

Westergaard formulation, unlike Boussinesq equation, considers the effect of

Poisson’s ratio () for the stress calculation. This form of stress is particularly Pressure bulbs are the vertical stress
important in case of layered soil system like road pavement design. contours below the foundation. Each
isobar represents a fraction of the load
applied at the surface. This plot most
1 important in the calculation of settlements
 2 of footings.
Q  a 
Z  2  3 

 
2 z  a   r z 2
 

The depth corresponding to 10 per cent of
the foundation contact pressure q, (i.e,
equal to 0.1q) is known as significant
depth which can be used for all practical
1  2
a purposes.
2  2
DS is approximately equal to 2 times the 
width of square or circular footings.

Pressure bulbs (isobars): Pressure bulbs (isobars):

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Pressure bulbs (isobars): Pressure bulbs (isobars):

Approximate stress calculation (2:1 method): Foundation settlement (Elastic solution):

Q 1     z2 
 2 1    2 
Rectangular footing Elastic solution of vertical 
w
deformation under point load  2 ER  R 
q  B  L
Z 
 B  z  L  z 
Circular footing
The vertical displacement (si) under (z = 0) 
an area carrying a uniform pressure q. 
w  si 
qB
E
1  2  I S
qB 2
Z 
B  z
2
flexible Is rigid

Strip footing

qB
Z  0.82
B  z 1.2
1.7
0.86

Foundation contact pressure (cohesive soil): Foundation contact pressure (cohesion less soil):

Perfectly rigid foundation w = constant, the contact pressure

distribution will be, In the case of cohesionless the value of E varies with
confining pressure and, therefore, will increase with depth
q
p  x, y   Circular footing
and vary across the width of the loaded area.
2 1  l r 
2
of radius r
Uniformly loaded rigid surface footing sitting on
2q
  p  x, y   Strip footing of cohesionless soil may cause less soil contact pressure near
 1  l b 
2
width b the edge than near the center, because this soil is pushed
aside at the edges due to no overburden to give the sand
For flexible foundation w will vary depending on the bending of
shear strength. This leads to lower strength and lower
foundation. Additional flexibility factor needs to be calculated.
Therefore, the foundation settlement and contact pressure modulus of elasticity in soil near the edge compared with
distribution depends on the elastic properties of both foundation soil near the center.
material and soil.

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Foundation settlement and contact pressure:

Rigid foundation

Flexible foundation

Cohesive soil Cohesionless soil