BEARING CAPACITY

OF SHALLOW FOUNDATION
BY TERZHAGHI THEORY
CLASSIFICATION OF FOUNDATION

As Per Terzaghi
𝑫𝑭
• If ≤ 1, Called Shallow foundation
𝑩
Example : Strip footing, Raft footing, Isolated footing
𝑫𝑭
• If
𝑩
≥ 1 , Called Deep foundation
Example : Pile foundation, Pier foundation, Well/Caisson foundation
TYPES OF BEARING CAPACITY
FAILURE
GENERAL SHEAR FAILURE
• Low Compressibility – Stiff, Dense sand
• Failure is accompanied by TILTING of
the footing
• Well defined shear failure, reach up to
ground surface
• Bulging of sheared soil mass around
footing
• Ultimate bearing capacity is well
defined

• Q = Axial load from structural element (kN)

• A = Footing Area (m2)
• Soil Settlement at base of footing (m or mm)
• Load per unit area
q = Q/A (kN/m2)

** If q (applied load) becomes qu (soil) at S = SU,

soil supporting foundation undergoes sudden failure
LOCAL SHEAR FAILURE
• Medium Compressibility – Medium
Dense sand & Clayey soil of medium
consistency
• Failure pattern defined immediately
below footing
• Slight soil bulging around the footing
• No sudden failure & No tilting
• Failure is defined by large settlement
• Ultimate bearing capacity is not well
defined

• The magnitude of q increases with settlement

up to q = q′u and this is usually referred to as
the First Failure Load

• At this time, the developed failure surface in

the soil will be as shown by the solid lines
PUNCHING SHEAR FAILURE
• High Compressibility – loose sand /soft
clayey soil
• No Failure pattern is observed around
footing
• NO soil bulging around the footing
• NO tilting of footing
• Failure is defined by very large
settlement
• Ultimate bearing capacity is not well
defined
RELATIVE DENSITY :

HYDRAULIC RADIUS (R)

𝐴
R=
𝑃
*Rectangular
A = area of the foundation = BL
P = perimeter of the foundation
= 2*(B+L)
𝐵𝐿
R=
2∗(𝐵+𝐿)
*square 𝐵
B=L R=
4
TERZAGHI’S BEARING
CAPACITY THEORY
TERZAGHI’S ANALYSIS ASSUMPTIONS
• Footing is a strip footing (L>>B)
• Coulomb's shear strength theory 𝝉 = 𝒄 + 𝐭𝐚𝐧 ∅ is
applicable
• Soil mass is Homogenous & Isotropic
• Ground surface is Horizontal
• The footing should be shallow one (Df ≤ B)
• The base of footing is rough
• The load acting on foundation is truly concentric and
vertical
• Shearing resistance of soil between the ground
surface and base of footing is neglected, i.e, uniform
surcharge = (𝛾 D F ) at the footing
Line cf – log spiral
FAILURE SURFACE IN SOIL AT ULTIMATE LOAD

Zones
abc – Elastic equilibrium zone (triagnular soil wedge)
bcf - Prandtl’s radial shear zone (logrithmic spiral)
bfg – linear shear zone (Rankine earth passive)
 PASSIVE FORCE ON FACE BC OF WEDGE ABC

Passive pressure is the function of Total passive on wedge

• Surcharge q= 𝛾D bc/length
• Cohesion c Pp = Ppq + Ppc + Pp𝛾
• Unit weight 𝛾
• Angle of friction 𝜃
TERZAGHI’S EQUATIONS- GENERAL SHEAR FAILURE
Terzaghis Original Equations Qu= c Nc Sc + 𝛾𝐷𝑁𝑄 + 0.5 𝛾 B N𝛾 S𝛾
Frictional Cohesive soil
Strip Footing Qu= c Nc + 𝛾𝐷𝑁𝑄 + 0.5 𝛾 B N𝛾
Square Footing Qu= 1.3 c Nc + 𝛾𝐷𝑁𝑄 + 0.4 𝛾 B N𝛾
Circular Footing Qu= 1.3 c Nc + 𝛾𝐷𝑁𝑄 + 0.3 𝛾 B N𝛾
Rectangular Footing Qu= c Nc (1+ 0.3 B/L) + 𝛾𝐷𝑁𝑄 + 0.5 𝛾 B N𝛾 (1 - 0.3 B/L)
*Cohesive Soil – Pure Clay (∅ = 𝟎, 𝒄 > 𝟎) 𝑵𝒄 = 𝟓. 𝟕, 𝑵𝒒 = 𝟏 . 𝑵𝜸 = 𝟎
Strip Footing Qu= c *5.7 + 𝛾𝐷
Square Footing Qu= 7.4 * c + 𝛾𝐷
Circular Footing Qu= 7.4 * c + 𝛾𝐷
Rectangular Footing Qu= 5.7*c (1+ 0.3 B/L) + 𝛾𝐷
*Non-Cohesion Soil-Sand (∅ > 𝟎, 𝒄 = 𝟎)
Strip Footing Qu= 𝛾𝐷𝑁𝑄 + 0.5 𝛾 B N𝛾
Square Footing Qu= 𝛾𝐷𝑁𝑄 + 0.4 𝛾 B N𝛾
Circular Footing Qu= 𝛾𝐷𝑁𝑄 + 0.3 𝛾 B N𝛾
Rectangular Footing Qu= 𝛾𝐷𝑁𝑄 + 0.5 𝛾 B N𝛾 (1 - 0.3 B/L)
TERZAGHI’S EQUATIONS- LOCAL SHEAR FAILURE
*If foundations soil is very soft clay i.e,𝜑 < 28° ,
𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑
2
C’ = C LOCAL = * C
3
Terzaghis Original Equation:

Qu= c’ Nc Sc + 𝛾𝐷𝑁𝑄 + 0.5 𝛾 B N𝛾 S𝛾