DESIGN OF STRAP (CANTILEVER) FOOTINGS

Design Steps and Equations

For an example on Design of Strap Footing click here

(a)

(b)

(a) Strap Footing with non-uniform strap bean thickness

(b) Strap Footing with uniform strap bean thickness
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Advanced Foundation Engineering

Design Equations for Strap Footings
Dr. Adnan A. Basma

P1

P2
S

l2

l1
h

Strap Beam

L 1 x B1

L 2 x B2

R1

R2

L1

L2

B1

b1

Strap Beam

B2

b2

l2

l1

STEP 1 DIMENSION FOOTINGS (Determine L1, B1, L2 and B2)

Allowable load P = P1 + P2
Ultimate load

Pu = [1.4DL1 + 1.7LL1] + [1.4DL2 + 1.7LL2]

Ultimate ratio

ru =

Pu
, Ultimate applied pressure qu = qa x ru
P

!Mcol. 2 = 0
R1 (S " e) " Pu1 S = 0 ....................................................................... (1)
!MR1 = 0
Pu2 (S " e) " R2 (S " e) " Pu1 e = 0 .................................................. (2)

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Advanced Foundation Engineering

Design Equations for Strap Footings
Dr. Adnan A. Basma

!F = 0
Pu1 + Pu2 " R1 " R2 = 0 .................................................................. (3)
To solve these three equations assume a value for e,
a) Find R1 by eq. (1)
b) Find R2 by eq. (2).
c) Check eq. (3). If eq. (3) is not satisfied, then repeat 1 and 2
until eq. (3) is satisfied.
qu = ru qa
l %
(
Footing 1: L1 = 2 x & e ) 1 #
2$
'

Footing 2: let k2 =

B2 =

and

B1 =

R1
qu L 1

L2
(1.0 means footing 2 is square)
B2

R2
k 2 qu

and

L2 = k2 B2

Note: In step (c) above, any value of e will do, however, the best selection
is the one that gives B1 = B2

STEP 2 DRAW SHEAR AND MOMENT DIAGRAMS (L - DIRECTION)

qu1, L = qu x B1
qu2, L = qu x B2

The general shape of the shear and bending moment diagrams are shown
on the next page.

3 of 6

Advanced Foundation Engineering

Design Equations for Strap Footings
Dr. Adnan A. Basma

P1

P2
S

l2

l1
Strap Beam

qu1, L

qu2, L

Constant Shear in Strap Beam = VStrap

+
V(kN)

"

Top Steel
Footing 1
Top Steel, Strap
Beam, Mu(strap)

Top Steel
Footing 2

"
M(kN.m)

+
Moment drawn on tension side
Bottom Steel
Footing 2

4 of 6

Advanced Foundation Engineering

Design Equations for Strap Footings
Dr. Adnan A. Basma

STEP 3 DEPTH OF CONCRETE, d'

Estimate d' for footing 1 by 3-way punching shear under column 1 and for
footing 2 by 4-way punching shear under column 2.
(Use Equations For Punching Shear or approximate d' by Structural
Depth of Concrete table for punching shear failure).

Note: Usually punching shear govern over wide beam so there is no need
to check against wide beam.

STEP 4 REINFORCEMENT IN L-DIRECTION

The calculations below are repeated for both footings.
1. Select the appropriate moments (refer to moment diagram) and
estimate the moment per meter by Mu(x)/m = Mu(x)/B.
2. Using Mu(x)/m, d', fc' and fy estimate the reinforcement As (refer to
Equations for Reinforcement or the percent reinforcement can be
obtained directly from Percent Steel Tables).

STEP 5 REINFORCEMENT IN B-DIRECTION

For Footing 1
L1' =
Mu1 =

For Footing 2

B1 " b1
2
qu
*L 1 '+2
2

L2' =

B2 " b2
2

Mu2 =

qu
*L 2 '+2
2

Using Mu`-, d', fc' and fy estimate the reinforcement As (refer to Equations for
Reinforcement or the percent reinforcement can be obtained directly from
Percent Steel Tables).

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Advanced Foundation Engineering

Design Equations for Strap Footings
Dr. Adnan A. Basma

STEP 6 DEPTH AND REINFORCEMENT OF STRAP BEAM

Depth h of strap beam:
Assume that the width of the trap = b (with of the smallest of column 1
or 2). The shear stress, ,u =

Vstrap
b h

- ,c = 8.87 f ' c . Solve for h.

Reinforcement of strap beam:

Select the appropriate moments (refer to moment diagram) Mu(strap).
Using Mu(strap), d', fc' and fy estimate the reinforcement As (refer to
Equations for Reinforcement or the percent reinforcement can be
obtained directly from Percent Steel Tables). As is the total reinforcement
in strap beam.

For an example on Design of Strap Footing click here

6 of 6

Advanced Foundation Engineering

Design Equations for Strap Footings
Dr. Adnan A. Basma