3.

15 Proble ms
Example 3.1 Raft foundation on sand
Given: A raft measuring 40

(12.2 m x 24.4 m) in plan, is to be founded on sand at a depth

of 10 ft (3 m). Five borings have been put down on the site and SPT have been carried
out at the depths shown. The results are given below.
Determine: The allowable soil pressure if the maximum settlement is not to exceed 2 in. (5.0cm)

10'

Z
40'

Section
B2

B1

B5

80'

B3

B4

Fig Ex. 3.1

Solution:
For 0 < Z < 10,

= 0.055 Z
Z > 10,

= 0.055+ 0.238 (Z - 10)

Z=0
=0
Cn = 0

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Ft

0.28

0.55

0.67

0.79

0.91

1.03

1.14

1.26

1.38

1.50

tsf

1.4

1.2

1.1

1.1

1.0

1.0

1.0

0.9

0.9

0.9

Corrected SPT N values

B1

B2

B3

B4

B5

Depth

N field

Ncorr

Nf

Nc

Nf

Nc

Nf

Nc

Nf

Nc

(ft)

10

12

15

18

18

22

11

13

16

10

16

17

22

24

18

20

15

16

17

19

15

12

13

17

19

14

15

19

21

20

22

20

19

19

14

14

15

15

16

16

24

24

25

26

26

23

23

17

17

22

22

23

23

30

20

20

18

18

17

17

25

25

28

25

35

31

28

25

23

23

21

37

33

31

28

40

27

24

35

32

28

25

41

37

37

33

45

35

32

27

24

27

24

33

31

35

32

50

Avg. *

21

Cw = 0.5
= 0.6
Settlement governs the design.

22

20

23

25

Using N avg = 20, qallow = 2.2 tsf, which can be doubled for a raft foundation; therefore,
qallow (net) = 2.2 x 2 x 0.6
= 2.64 tsf (253 kN/m2 )
qallow (gross) = qallow (net) + Df
= 3.19 tsf (306 kN/m2 )
*Since settlement governs and FS (BC) is high, we can use SPT values to depth B below raft.
Example 3.2 Design of Raft foundation on Saturated Clay
A raft 12 m x 18.0 m in plan has its base 3 m below the surface of a deep deposit of saturated
clay. If

= 19.0 kN/m3 and the unconfined compressive strength is 80 kPa find the total weight

of buildings plus foundations that can be safely supported by the raft.

How do you check the corresponding settlement?

3m

Fig. Ex. 3.2

i.

Bearing Capacity
qnet ult = 5Cu
= 5 x 40 x 1.133 x 1.050
= 238 kPa
Safe net qallow =

=
= 79.0 kPa
Safe gross q = 79.0 + 19.0 x 3
= 79.0 + 57.0

(No F.S. applied to soil wt.)

= 136 kPa
ii.

Settlement
In the case of a framed structure founded on isolated footings, the differential
settlements between pairs of columns are a relatively simple calculation. The settlement
below the centre of a footing is considered and an allowance is made for the variation of
stress and hence settlement over any horizontal plane.
The situation is very different in raft foundations. Differential settlement is
controlled by the rigidity of the raft and a complete structural analysis of the raft which
considers the interaction between structural deflection and contact pressure is required.

Example 3.3Combined Footings

A combined footing is to carry the following loads.
Column A

Column B

Dead Load

520 kN

660 kN

Reduced Live Load

180 kN

400 kN

Maximum Live Load

360 kN

800 kN

Determine the size of a rectangular footing for the conditions shown on Fig Ex. 3.3

6.1 m
Col.A

Col.B
0.6 m

0.5 m

1.5 m

Elevation
B

Plan
Fig Ex. 3.3
The allowable net soil pressure is15 kPa for (D.L. + Reduced L.L.)
(Add 0.9 +0.6 if concrete gross pressure required)
Solution:Rectangular Footing:
= Col. A:

D.L. + Reduced L.L. = 700 kN

= Col. B:

D.L. + Reduced L.L. = 1060 kN

= 1760 kN

= Col. A:

D.L. + Max. L.L.

880 kN

= Col. B:

D.L. + Max. L.L.

= 1460 kN
= 2340 kN

The footing should be proportioned to give a uniform sub grade reaction under DL and reduced
L.L.

Substitution of the appropriate column loads for this loading case into Eq. 3.11 gives the location
of the resultant load as eA = 3.67 m to the right of Col. A,
Eq. 3.12 then gives L = 8.34 m and,
From Eq.13, B = 1.41 m. For practical design select B = 1.50 m.
For the condition of D.L. + Max. L.L.,

and

Eq. 11 gives eA = 3.80 m so that the eccentricity of the resultant load from the centre o fthe
footing is,
e = eA

= 0.13 m to right of centre.

qmax (using Eq. 3.14) =

= 205 kPa (qmin = 170 kPa)
Max qnet applied< qnet allow and the design is adequate.