Queensland University of Technology

QUT

ENB371: Geotechnical Engineering 2

WEEK 7 PRACTICE QUESTIONS Shallow Foundation
Q1. A strip footing is to be designed to support a dead load of 500 kN/m and an imposed load of 300 kN/m at a depth of 0.7 m in sand. Characteristic values of the 0 shear strength parameters are c= 0, and = 40 . Determine the required with of the footing if a factor of safety of 3.0 against shear failure is specified and assuming that the water table may rise to foundation level. The unit weight of sand above the 3 water table is 17 kN/m and below the water table the saturated unit weigh is 20 3 kN/m . Hint: Use Terzaghis bearing capacity theory. A foundation 2.0 X 2.0 m is located at a depth of 4.0 m in stiff clay of saturated unit 3 weight 21 kN/m . The undrained shear strength at a depth of 4.0 m is given by the characteristic parameters cu = 120 kN/m2 (u = 0). The foundation supports permanent loaf of 1200 kN and a variable load of 700 kN. What is the factor of safety with respect to shear strength? Hint: Use Terzaghis bearing capacity theory A column foundation is 3 x 2 m in plan. Given: Df = 2 m, = 250, c = 50 kN/m2. Using Meyerhof bearing capacity theory, determine the net allowable load that foundation could carry with the factor of safety of 4. The water table is 1 m below the ground surface. Unit weights of soil above and below the water table are 16.8 and 19.4 kN/m3, respectively. Use bearing capacity, shape, and depth factors equations attached with this tutorial. A square column foundation 1.8 x 1.8 located at a depth of 1.2 m in sand is to be designed to carry gross allowable load with the factor of safety 3.0. The water table is located 2 m below the ground surface. The unit weight of sand above the water table is 17.66 kN/m3 and the saturated unit weight of sand below the water table is 19.42 kN/m3. The shear strength parameters for the sand are c = 23.94 kN/m2 and 0 0 = 25 . Determine the gross allowable load if it is inclined at an angle of 10 to the vertical. (Hint: Use Meyerhof bearing capacity theory and bearing capacity, shape, depth, and inclination factor equations given). How to increase the allowable load of foundation? A load of 425 kN/m is carried on a strip footing 2m wide at a depth of 1m in stiff clay of saturated unit weight 21 kN/m3, water table being at the ground level. Determine the factor of safety with respect to shear failure: (a) when cu = 105 kN/m2 and u = 0 (b) When c = 10 kN/m2 and = 280 Using both Terzaghis and Meyerhof bearing capacity theories.

Q2.

Q3.

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Q5.

Q6. A footing 2.5 x 2.5 carries a pressure of 400 kN/m2 at a depth of 1 m in sand. The saturated unit weight of sand is 20 kN/m3 and the unit weight above the water table is 17 kN/m3. The design shear strength parameters are c = 0, and = 400. Determine the factor of safety with respect to shear failure for the following cases: (c) The water table is 5 m below the ground level. (d) The water table 1 m below the ground level. Use Terzaghis bearing capacity theory

ENB371: Geotechnical Engineering 2 (2010 SEM2)

Chaminda Gallage

Queensland University of Technology

QUT

Terzaghis Bearing Capacity Theory (1943). For strip footing

qu = c' N c + qN q + 0.5BN
For square footing:

qu = 1.3c' N c + qN q + 0.4BN
For circular footing

qu = 1.3c' N c + qN q + 0.3BN
Equations for Terzagi bearing capacity factors: Nq = exp(3 / 2 ' ) tan ' 2 cos 2 (450 + ' / 2)

N c = ( N q 1) cot '
N = 1 K p 1 tan ' 2 cos 2 '

Table 1: Terzaghi bearing capacity factors

ENB371: Geotechnical Engineering 2 (2010 SEM2)

Chaminda Gallage

Queensland University of Technology

QUT

Meyerhof (1963) Bearing Capacity Theory

qu = c' N c Fcs Fcd Fci + qN q Fqs Fqd Fqi + 0.5BN Fs Fd Fi

Bearing capacity factors:

' N q = tan 2 450 + e tan ' 2

N c = (N q 1)cot '

N = 2(N q + 1) tan '

Table 2: Meyerhof bearing capacity factors

Shape factors:

B N Fcs = 1 + q L N c

B Fqs = 1 + tan ' L

B Fs = 1 0.4 L

ENB371: Geotechnical Engineering 2 (2010 SEM2)

Chaminda Gallage

Queensland University of Technology

QUT

Depth factors: IF D f 1 B Df B

Df Fcd = 1 + 0.4 B

D Fqd = 1 + 2 tan ' (1 sin ' ) 2 f B

Df Fqd = 1 + 2 tan ' (1 sin ' ) 2 tan 1 B

Fd = 1
Fd = 1

IF

>1

Df Fcd = 1 + (0.4) tan 1 B

Inclination factors

Fci = Fqi = 1 0 90

Fi = 1 '

ENB371: Geotechnical Engineering 2 (2010 SEM2)

Chaminda Gallage