Extension of Terzaghi’s bearing capacity theory

&
Recent bearing capacity theories
For square footing:
qu=1.2cNc+γDfNq+0.4γBNγ
B=dimension of each side of footing

Shape factors are included in the

For circular footing: original Terzaghi’s equation for
qu=1.2cNc+γDfNq+0.3γBNγ strip footing.
B=diameter of footing

For rectangular footing:

qu=(1+0.2*B/L)cNc+γDfNq+0.5γBNγ (1-0.2*B/L)
L=length of footing, B=width of footing
 Meyerhof’s bearing capacity analysis (Meyerhof, 1951, 1963)

The bearing capacity can be expressed as: sc, sq & sγ=shape factors
𝑞𝑢 = 𝑐𝑁𝑐 𝑠𝑐 𝑑𝑐 𝑖𝑐 + 𝑞𝑜 𝑁𝑞 𝑠𝑞 𝑑𝑞 𝑖𝑞 + 0.5𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾 𝑠𝛾 𝑑𝛾 𝑖𝛾 dc, dq & dγ=depth factors
ic, iq & iγ=load inclination
B
factors

qo τ E
Df qu III o
D
G A B 90-Ф

Linear III I II
II C
Logarithmic spiral Logarithmic spiral
P
Terzaghi’s failure Meyerhof’s failure surfaces
surfaces
Comparisons of Terzaghi’s and Meyerhof’s analysis
- Terzaghi’s failure surface extends up to the base level of footing, while Meyerhof’s failure
surface extends up to ground surface.
-In Terzaghi’s analysis the bearing capacity factors depends only on φ, while in Meyerhof’s
analysis it depends on φ, shape, depth, and roughness of base of footing.
 Meyerhof’s bearing capacity analysis (Meyerhof, 1951, 1963)

Bearing capacity factors are:

𝑁𝑐 = 𝑁𝑞 − 1 𝑐𝑜𝑡Ф

Ф
𝑁𝑞 = 𝑒 𝜋𝑡𝑎𝑛 Ф 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 45 +
2

Nγ = Nq − 1 tan 1.4Ф
 Hansen’s bearing capacity analysis
(Hansen (1957, 1970))

The bearing capacity can be expressed as:

𝑞𝑢 = 𝑐𝑁𝑐 𝑠𝑐 𝑑𝑐 𝑖𝑐 𝑏𝑐 𝑔𝑐 + 𝑞𝑜 𝑁𝑞 𝑠𝑞 𝑑𝑞 𝑖𝑞 𝑏𝑞 𝑔𝑞 + 0.5𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾 𝑠𝛾 𝑑𝛾 𝑖𝛾 𝑏𝛾 𝑔𝛾

• Equation is similar to Meyerhof’s equation but expressions for

bearing capacity factors, shape factors, depth factors, load
inclination factors were modified.

• Extended Hansen’s bearing capacity equation includes two

additional factors:
– Ground inclination factors (gc, gq and gγ)
– Base inclination factors (bc, bq and bγ)
Qv Qv
R θ Df β
Qh
Qh
α

Load inclination factor Ground/base factors

Hansen’s bearing capacity analysis
(Hansen (1957, 1970))

Bearing capacity factors are:

𝑁𝑐 = 𝑁𝑞 − 1 𝑐𝑜𝑡Ф

Ф
𝑁𝑞 = 𝑒 𝜋𝑡𝑎𝑛 Ф 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 45 +
2

Nγ = 1.5 Nq − 1 tan Ф
 Vesic’s bearing capacity analysis
(Vesic (1973, 1974))

The bearing capacity can be expressed as:

𝑞𝑢 = 𝑐𝑁𝑐 𝑠𝑐 𝑑𝑐 𝑖𝑐 𝑏𝑐 𝑔𝑐 + 𝑞𝑜 𝑁𝑞 𝑠𝑞 𝑑𝑞 𝑖𝑞 𝑏𝑞 𝑔𝑞 + 0.5𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾 𝑠𝛾 𝑑𝛾 𝑖𝛾 𝑏𝛾 𝑔𝛾

• Equation same as Hansen’s equation

• Only some modifications in bearing capacity
factors, load inclination factors, ground
factors, and base factors
 Vesic’s bearing capacity analysis
(Vesic (1973, 1974))

Bearing capacity factors are:

𝑁𝑐 = 𝑁𝑞 − 1 𝑐𝑜𝑡Ф

Ф
𝑁𝑞 = 𝑒 𝜋𝑡𝑎𝑛 Ф 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 45 +
2

𝑁𝛾 = 2 𝑁𝑞 + 1 𝑡𝑎𝑛Ф
 Skempton’s bearing capacity analysis
for cohesive soil
The bearing capacity can be expressed as:

𝑞𝑢 = 𝑐𝑢 𝑁𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓
For strip footing
𝐷𝑓
𝑁𝑐 = 5.14 1 + 0.2
𝐵
For square and circular footings
𝐷𝑓
𝑁𝑐 = 6.2 1 + 0.2
𝐵
For the footing resting on the surface:
• Nc= 5.14 for strip footing
• Nc= 6.2 for square or circular footing
The maximum values of Nc are 7.5 for strip footing
and 9 for square or circular footing.
Skempton’s bearing capacity analysis
for cohesive soil

Df/B
 IS code recommendations

𝑞𝑛𝑢 = 𝑐𝑁𝑐 𝑠𝑐 𝑑𝑐 𝑖𝑐 + 𝑞𝑜 (𝑁𝑞 −1)𝑠𝑞 𝑑𝑞 𝑖𝑞 + 0.5𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾 𝑠𝛾 𝑑𝛾 𝑖𝛾 𝑅𝑤

• Bearing capacity factors are similar to Vesic’s equation

• Water table correction factor is also added in the third
term.
 Bearing capacity from Standard
Penetration Tests
• Teng (1962) gave the following equation
relating directly to Standard Penetration
Number (N) for the net ultimate bearing
capacity of a strip footing.
𝑞𝑛𝑢 = 0.5𝑁 2 𝐵𝑅𝑤2 + 0.83(100 + 𝑁 2 )𝐷𝑓 𝑅𝑤1

• For circular and square footings,

𝑞𝑛𝑢 = 0.33𝑁 2 𝐵𝑅𝑤2 + 1.0(100 + 𝑁 2 )𝐷𝑓 𝑅𝑤1
 Eccentric loading B
ex
y B’=B-2ex 2ex
ex Qu

Qu

ey L’=L-2ey
x x Failure surface
L
In case of eccentric loading,
reduced dimension B’ and L’
are used to determine the
ultimate bearing capacity of
soil.
y Effective area for calculating
B Qu is,
A’=L’*B’
 Maximum and minimum base
pressures
B
e x

The general equation for pressure can be written as: Q

𝑄 𝑄𝑒𝑥 𝑄𝑒𝑦
𝑞= ± 𝑥± 𝑦
𝐴 𝐼𝑦 𝐼𝑥
pmin
𝑄 𝑀𝑥 𝑀𝑦 pmax
𝑞= ± 𝑥± 𝑦
𝐴 𝐼𝑦 𝐼𝑥

The maximum pressure (pmax) and minimum pressure (pmin) can be obtained by substituting,

𝐵𝐿3 𝐿𝐵 3 𝐵 𝐿
𝐼𝑥 = , 𝐼𝑦 = ,𝑥= ,𝑦= -To avoid tension between
12 12 2 2
𝑄 6𝑒𝑥 6𝑒𝑦 footing base and soil,
𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 1+ + ex<B/6 and ey<L/6.
𝐴 𝐵 𝐿
𝑄 6𝑒𝑥 6𝑒𝑦
-The load (Q) should fall
𝑞𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
𝐴
1−
𝐵
−
𝐿 within a middle third.
 Allowable bearing pressure from SPT
values
Peck, Hanson and Thornburn (1974) method
• Initial straight line portion radiating from the origin gives the
safe bearing capacity with a factor of safety of 2.
• Later horizontal portion gives the safe bearing pressure/safe
settlement pressure for a permissible settlement of 25mm.
 Allowable bearing pressure from SPT
values
Peck, Hanson and Thornburn’s (1974) method

Safe settlement pressure

𝑞𝑛𝜌 = 0.41 𝐶𝑤 𝑁 𝑠 (𝑘𝑁/𝑚2 )

Where,
N=average SPT number, corrected for overburden pressure
and dilatancy
s=Permissible settlement in mm
Cw=water table correction factor
𝐷𝑤
𝐶𝑤 = 0.5 + 0.5( )
𝐷𝑓 + 𝐵
 Allowable bearing pressure from SPT
values
Teng’s (1962) method

For a settlement of 25mm,

2
𝐵 + 0.3
𝑞𝑛𝜌 = 35 𝑁 − 3 𝑅𝑤2 𝑅𝑑 (𝐾𝑁/𝑚2 )
2𝐵
General expression,
2
𝐵 + 0.3
𝑞𝑛𝜌 = 1.40 𝑁 − 3 𝑅𝑤2 𝑅𝑑 𝑠 (𝐾𝑁/𝑚2 )
2𝐵
Where,
Rw2=water table correction factor
Rd=depth correction factor
s=permissible settlement in mm
𝐷𝑤2
𝑅𝑤2 = 0.5(1 + )
𝐵
0.2𝐷𝑓
𝑅𝑑 = 1 + ≤ 1.20
𝐵
 Allowable bearing pressure from SPT
values
Meyerhof’s (1974) method

For a settlement of 25mm,

𝑞𝑛𝜌 = 12.2 𝑁𝑅𝑤2 𝑅𝑑 (kN/m2) for B≤1.2
𝐵+0.3 2
𝑞𝑛𝜌 = 8.1 𝑁 𝑅𝑤2 𝑅𝑑 (kN/m2) for B≥1.2
𝐵
Where,
Rw2=water table correction factor
Rd=depth correction factor
𝐷𝑤2
𝑅𝑤2 = 0.5(1 + )
𝐵
0.33𝐷𝑓
𝑅𝑑 = 1 + ≤ 1.33
𝐵
 Allowable bearing pressure from SPT
values
Bowles’s (1977) method

-Allowable bearing pressure in Meyerhof’s equation can be increased by

50%.

For a settlement of 25mm

𝑞𝑛𝜌 = 18.3 𝑁 𝑅𝑤2 𝑅𝑑 (kN/m2) for B≤1.2

𝐵+0.3 2
𝑞𝑛𝜌 = 12.2 𝑁 𝑅𝑤2 𝑅𝑑 (kN/m2) for B≥1.2
𝐵

-Similarly, allowable bearing pressure in Teng’s equation can also be

modified.
 Allowable bearing pressure from SPT
values
IS code method

For a 40mm settlement

2
𝐵 + 0.3
𝑞𝑛𝜌 = 55.4 (𝑁 − 3) 𝑅𝑤2
2𝐵
-Depth factor is not considered.