LECTURE 05
SHALLOW FOUNDATION
Before commencing on the design of foundation, the design engineer
should have the information of the allowable bearing capacity of the
soil, the load that is induced by the structure through the coloumn to
the soil. 𝑫𝒇 ≤ 𝑩 𝑫𝒇 > 𝑩
Two categories of foundations
Fig.1: Shallow foundation
𝑆ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: 𝑫𝒇 ≤ 𝑩
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Fig. 2: Deep foundation
𝐷𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑓𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: 𝑫𝒇 > 𝑩
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Types of Shallow Foundation
Fig.3: Typical seismic refraction response of a three layer soil
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Two Main Criteria
Two main createria must be considered when desiging a foundation
The foundation has to be safe against overall shear failure in the soil.
The foundation cannot undergo excessive settlement.
The first criteria is the soil bearing capacity and the second is the settlement
criteria, the first criteria gives the Load carrying capacity and the second the
limit load for settlement from these two criteria, we derive the allowable
bearing capacity of the soil to be used for the design. These two criteria
are valid for Shallow Foundation
Recommendation For Location And Depth Of Foundation (IS: 1904-1986)
- All foundations shall extend to a depth of at least 50cm below natural
ground level.
- Foundation must be placed below the zone of volume change, where
volume change is expected.
- In fine sands and silts, foundation must be placed below the zone in
which trouble may be expected from frost.
- The depth of foundation for structures in a river (like bridge pier) must
be sufficiently be below the deepest scour level.
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- In an expansive clay soil (like black cotton soils, swelling and
shrinkage of the soil mass will occur due to rise or lowering of ground
water table. It is necessary in these soils, either to place the
foundation at such a depth where the effects of the seasonal
changes are not important or to make the foundation capable of
eliminating the undesirable effects due to relative movement by
providing flexible type of construction or rigid foundation.
- Construction activities above water supply lines, sewage pipes etc.
may not be allowed.
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The Requirements Shall Not Apply Under The Following Conditions
(IS: 1904-1986)
- Where adequate provision is made for the lateral support (such as with
retaining walls) of the material support the higher footing.
- When the factor od safety of the foundation soil against shearing is not
less than four.
Spacing between existing and new foundation
- The minimum horizontal spacing between existing and new footing
shall be equal to the width of the wider one.
- An analysis of bearing capacity and settlement has to be carried out.
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General shear failure and local shear failure conditions depend of the
compressibility of the soil.
Characteristic of General Shear Failure:
• Brittle-type stress-strain behaviour (like dense sand).
• Sudden failure in soil takes place and failure surface in the soil will
extend to the ground surface.
• A bulging of ground surface adjacent to the foundation is observed
• The ultimate load can be easily located.
Local Shear Failure Characteristics 12
• Observed in case of sand and clayey soil of medium compaction.
• Slight bulging of the ground surface adjacent to the foundation.
• Significant compression of the soil directly beneath the foundation.
• The peak value of stress is not realized.
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Punching Shear Failure
• Observed for fairly loose soil
• Poorly defined shear plane
• Soil zones beyond the load area being little affected
• The failure surface in soil will not extend to the ground surface.
• Beyond the ultimate failure load, 𝑞𝑢 the load settlement plot will
be steep and practically linear.
• Significant penetration of wedge-shaped soil zone beneath the
foundation.
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Based on the laboratory tests conducted by Vesic (1963) on circular and
rectangular plate supported by sand with different relative densities.
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