Foundation Engineering

Engineering Department

Building Technology (Civil) Engineering

Instructor: Luay I. Qrenawi, PhD Candidate

Second Semester 2018 – 2019

Mat Foundations
8.1 Introduction

8.2 Combined Footings

8.3 Common Types of Mat Foundations

8.4 Bearing Capacity of Mat Foundations

8.7 Compensated Foundation

8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations

Mat Foundations
8.1 Introduction
• Under normal conditions, square and rectangular footings are economical for
supporting columns and walls.

• However, under certain circumstances, it may be desirable to construct a

footing that supports a line of two or more columns.

• These footings are referred to as combined footings.

• When more than one line of columns is supported by a concrete slab, it is called
a mat foundation.

• Combined footings can be classified generally under the following categories:

1. Rectangular combined footing
2. Trapezoidal combined footing
3. Strap footing

Mat foundations are generally used with soil that has a low bearing capacity.
Mat Foundations
8.2 Combined Footings
Rectangular Combined Footing:
• In several instances, the load to be carried by a column and the soil bearing
capacity are such that the standard spread footing design will require extension
of the column foundation beyond the property line.

• In such a case, two or more columns can be supported on a single rectangular

foundation, as shown in Figure 8.1.

• If the net allowable soil pressure is known, the size of the foundation (B × L) can
be determined in the following manner:
Q1  Q2
1. Determine the area of the foundation: A …. (8.1)
Where: qnet ( all )
Q1 , Q2 = column loads
qnet(all) = net allowable soil bearing capacity
Q2 L3
2. Determine the location of the resultant of the column loads as: X
(See Fig. 8.1). Q1  Q2
…. (8.2)
Mat Foundations
8.2 Combined Footings
Mat Foundations
8.2 Combined Footings
Rectangular Combined Footing:
3. For a uniform distribution of soil pressure under the foundation, the
resultant of column loads will pass through the centroid of the foundation.

L  2( L2  X ) …. (8.3)
Where: L = length of the foundation.

4. Once the length L is determined, the value of L1 can be obtained as follows:

L1  L  L2  L3 …. (8.4)

Note: L2 will be known and depends on the location of the property line.

5. The width of the foundation is then:

A
B …. (8.5)
L
Mat Foundations
8.2 Combined Footings
Trapezoidal Combined Footing:
• Trapezoidal combined footing (Figure 8.2) is sometimes used as an isolated
spread foundation of columns carrying large loads where space is tight.
• The size of the foundation that will uniformly distribute pressure on the soil can
be obtained as:
1. If the net allowable soil pressure is known, the area of the foundation is:
Q1  Q2
A …. (8.6)
qnet ( all )
But, from Fig. 8.2:
B1  B2
A L …. (8.7)
2
1. Determine the location of the resultant for the column loads:

Q2 L3
X …. (8.8)
Q1  Q2
Mat Foundations
8.2 Combined Footings
Trapezoidal Combined Footing:

3. From the property of a trapezoid:

 B1  2 B2  L
X  L2    …. (8.9)
 B1  B2  3
With known values of A, L, X,
and L2 , solve Eqs. (8.7) and (8.9)
to obtain B1 and B2 .

Note that, for a trapezoid:

L L
 X  L2 
3 2
Mat Foundations
8.2 Combined Footings
Cantilever (Strap) Footing:

• Cantilever footing construction uses a strap beam

to connect an eccentrically loaded column
foundation to the foundation of an interior column
(Figure 8.3).

• Cantilever footings may be used in place of

trapezoidal or rectangular combined footings
when:

The allowable soil bearing capacity is high, and

the distances between the columns are large.
Mat Foundations
8.2 Combined Footings
Mat Foundations
8.2 Combined Footings
Mat Foundations
8.2 Combined Footings
Mat Foundations
8.2 Combined Footings
Mat Foundations
8.2 Combined Footings
Problem (1):
For the combined footing shown below.
Find distance X so that the contact pressure is uniform.
If qall(net)=140 kN/m2, find B.
Draw S.F.D. and B.M.D.

See Solved Problems File

Mat Foundations
8.3 Common Types of Mat Foundations
• The mat foundation (raft foundation), is a combined footing that may cover the
entire area under a structure supporting several columns and walls.

• Mat foundations are sometimes preferred for soils that have low load-bearing
capacities, but that will have to support high column or wall loads.

• Under some conditions, spread footings would have to cover more than half the
building area, and mat foundations might be more economical.

• Several types of mat foundations are used currently.

• Common types of mat foundations are shown schematically in Figure 8.4.

• Mats may be supported by piles, which help reduce the settlement of a

structure built over highly compressible soil.

• Where the water table is high, mats are often placed over piles to control
buoyancy.
Mat Foundations
8.3 Common Types of Mat Foundations

Flat plate, the mat is of Flat plate thickened Beams and slab. The beams
uniform thickness. under columns. run both ways, and the
columns are located at the
intersection of the beams.
Mat Foundations
8.3 Common Types of Mat Foundations

Flat plates with Slab with basement walls as

pedestals a part of the mat. The walls
act as stiffeners for the mat.
Mat Foundations
8.4 Bearing Capacity of Mat Foundations
• The gross ultimate bearing capacity of a mat foundation can be determined by:

… (4.26)

• The term B in Eq. (4.26) is the smallest dimension of the mat.

• The net ultimate capacity of a mat foundation is: qnet (u )  qu  q … (4.21)

• A suitable F. S. should be used to calculate the net allowable bearing capacity.

• For mats on clay, F. S. should not be < 3 under dead load or maximum live load.

• However, under the most extreme conditions, F. S. should be at least 1.75 to 2.

• For mats constructed over sand, a factor of safety of 3 should normally be used.

• Under most working conditions, F. S. against bearing capacity failure of mats on

sand is very large.
Mat Foundations
8.4 Bearing Capacity of Mat Foundations
• The gross ultimate bearing capacity of a mat foundation can be determined by:

• For saturated clays with f = 0 and a vertical loading condition, Eq. (4.26) gives

… (8.10)

Where:
cu = undrained cohesion.
(Note: Nc = 5.14, Nq = 1, and Ng = 0.)

• From Table 4.3, for f = 0:

Mat Foundations
8.4 Bearing Capacity of Mat Foundations
• Substitution of the preceding shape and depth factors into Eq. (8.10) yields:

… (8.11)

• Hence, the net ultimate bearing capacity is:

… (8.12)

• For F.S. = 3, the net allowable soil bearing capacity becomes:

… (8.13)
Mat Foundations
8.4 Bearing Capacity of Mat Foundations
• The net allowable bearing capacity for mats constructed over granular soil
deposits can be determined from the standard penetration resistance numbers.
• From Eq. (7.39), for shallow foundations:

… (7.39)

Where:
Fd = depth factor = 1 + 0.33(Df/B) ≤ 1.33
B = foundation width (m)
Se = settlement (mm)
N60 = the standard penetration resistance

• When the width B is large,

the preceding equation can
be approximated as:
… (8.14)
Mat Foundations
8.4 Bearing Capacity of Mat Foundations

… (8.14)

• In English units, Eq. (8.14) may be expressed as:

… (8.15)

• Generally, shallow foundations are designed for a maximum settlement of 25

mm (1 in.) and a differential settlement of about 19 mm (0.75 in.).
Mat Foundations
8.4 Bearing Capacity of Mat Foundations
• The net pressure applied on a foundation (Fig. 8.7) may be expressed as:
Q
q   gD f … (8.17)
A
Where:
Q = dead weight of the structure and the live load
A = area of the raft
In all cases, q should be less than or equal to qnet(all).
Mat Foundations
8.4 Bearing Capacity of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.4 Bearing Capacity of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.7 Compensated Foundation
• Fig. 8.7 and Eq. (8.17) indicate that the net pressure increase in the soil under
a mat foundation can be reduced by increasing the depth Df of the mat.
• This approach is generally referred to as the compensated foundation design
and is extremely useful when structures are to be built on very soft clays.
• In this design, a deeper basement is made below the higher portion of the
superstructure, so that the net pressure increase in soil at any depth is
relatively uniform (See Fig. 8.8.).
Mat Foundations
8.7 Compensated Foundation
• From Eq. (8.17) and Figure 8.7, the net average applied pressure on soil is:
Q
q   gD f … (8.17)
A
• For no increase in the net pressure on soil below a mat foundation, q should
be zero. Thus:
Q
Df  … (8.21)
Ag
• This relation for Df is referred to: the depth of a fully compensated foundation.
• F. S. against bearing capacity failure for partially compensated foundations
(i.e., Df < Q/Ag) may be given as:
qnet (u ) qnet (u )
FS   … (8.22)
q Q
 gD f
A
Where: qnet(u) = net ultimate bearing capacity.
Mat Foundations
8.7 Compensated Foundation
• For saturated clays, F.S. against bearing capacity failure can be obtained by
substituting Eq. (8.12) into Eq. (8.22):

… (8.23)
Mat Foundations
8.7 Compensated Foundation
Mat Foundations
8.7 Compensated Foundation
Mat Foundations
8.7 Compensated Foundation
Mat Foundations
8.7 Compensated Foundation
Mat Foundations
8.7 Compensated Foundation
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
• The structural design of mat foundations can be carried out by two methods:
1. The conventional rigid method
2. The approximate flexible method.

• Finite-difference and finite-element methods can also be used.

• This section covers only the basic concepts of the first two design methods.
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
1. The conventional rigid method:
The conventional rigid method of mat
foundation design is explained step by
step with reference to Fig. 8.10:
Step 1. Fig. 8.10a shows mat dimensions
of L × B and column loads: Q1, Q2, Q3, ….
Calculate the total column load as:
Q = Q1 + Q2 + Q3 + … … (8.24)
Step 2. Determine the pressure on soil,
q, below the mat at points A, B, C, D, ….,
by using the equation:
Q M yx Mx y
q   … (8.25)
A Iy Ix
Where: A = B × L
Ix = (1/12)BL3 = moment of inertia about the x-axis
Iy = (1/12)LB3 = moment of inertia about the y-axis
Mx = moment of the column loads about the x- axis = Qey
My = moment of the column loads about the y- axis = Qex
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
1. The conventional rigid method: cont.
The load eccentricities, ex and ey, in the x
and y directions can be determined by
(x’, y’) coordinates:

… (8.26)

… (8.27)

… (8.28)

… (8.29)

Step 3. Compare the values of the soil pressures determined in Step 2 with the
net allowable soil pressure to determine whether q ≤ qall(net).
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
1. The conventional rigid method: cont.
Step 4. Divide the mat into several strips
in the x and y directions.
Let the width of any strip be B1.

Step 5. Draw shear, V, and moment, M,

diagrams for each individual strip (in the
x and y directions).

For example, the average soil pressure of

the bottom strip in the x direction of
Figure 8.10a is:

… (8.30)

Where:
qI and qF = soil pressures at points I and F
(from Step 2).
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
1. The conventional rigid method: cont.
The total soil reaction is equal to qav×B1×B.
Now obtain the total column load on the strip as Q1 + Q2 + Q3 + Q4.
The sum of the column loads on the strip will not equal qav×B1×B, because the
shear between the adjacent strips has not been taken into account.
So, the soil reaction and the column loads need to be adjusted, or

… (8.31)

Now, the modified average soil reaction becomes:

… (8.32)

The column load modification factor is

… (8.33)
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
1. The conventional rigid method: cont.
The modified column loads are FQ1, FQ2, FQ3, and FQ4.

This modified loading on the strip under consideration is shown in Fig. 8.10b.

The shear and the moment diagram for this strip can now be drawn, and the
procedure is repeated in the x and y directions for all strips.
 Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
1. The conventional rigid method: cont.
Step 6. Determine the effective depth d of the mat by checking for diagonal
tension shear near various columns.
For the critical section: Vc ≥ U (8.34)
Where:
U = factored column load according to ACI Code 318-11 (2011)
Vc = shear capacity at the column location
According to ACI Code 318-11 and using SI units, for nonprestressed slabs and
footings, Vc shall be the smallest of:
b = ratio of long side to short side of the column
(8.35d) as = 40 for interior columns,
as = 30 for edge columns
as = 20 for corner columns
(8.35e) b0 = perimeter of the critical section for shear
f‘c = compressive strength of concrete at 28 days
l = modification factor reflecting the reduced mechanical
(8.35f) properties of lightweight concrete, all relative to normal
weight concrete of the same compressive strength
d = effective depth of the mat
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
1. The conventional rigid method: cont.
The expression for b0 in terms of d, which depends on the location of the column
with respect to the plan of the mat, can be obtained from Fig. 8.10c.
Step 7. From the moment diagrams of all strips in one direction (x or y), obtain the
maximum positive and negative moments per unit width (i.e., Mu = M/B1).
Since factored column loads are used in Step 6, Mu is the factored moment.
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
1. The conventional rigid method: cont.
Step 8. Determine the area of steel per unit width for positive and negative
reinforcement in the x and y directions. We have

… (8.36)

… (8.37)

Where:
As = area of steel per unit width
fy = yield stress of reinforcement in tension
Mu = factored moment
f = 0.9 = reduction factor
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural
Design of Mat
Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
2. Approximate Flexible Method:
• In conventional rigid method of design, the mat is assumed infinitely rigid.

• Also, the soil pressure is distributed in a straight line, and the centroid of the
soil pressure is coincident with the line of action of the resultant column loads.

• In the approximate flexible method of design, the soil is assumed to be

equivalent to an infinite number of elastic springs (Fig. 8.11b).

• This assumption is sometimes referred to as the Winkler foundation.

• The elastic constant of these assumed springs is referred to as the coefficient

of subgrade reaction, k.

• To understand the fundamental concepts behind flexible foundation design,

and estimating the value of subgrade reaction k, refer to Figure 8.11c and
Pages 373 – 377 at the textbook.
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat
Foundations
Mat Foundations
8.8 Structural Design of Mat Foundations
2. Approximate Flexible Method:
• For long beams, Vesic (1961) proposed an equation for estimating subgrade
reaction, namely:

… (8.49)

Where:
Es = modulus of elasticity of soil
B = foundation width
EF = modulus of elasticity of foundation material
IF = moment of inertia of the cross section of the foundation = 1/12(B1h3)
ms = Poisson’s Ratio of the soil
h = foundation height
• For most practical purposes, the previous equation can be approximated as:

… (8.50)

• You are advised to design a mat foundation using Robot or Safe computer software
Mat Foundations
For the shown mat foundation, If q(all,net)=150 kN/m2, check the adequacy of the
foundation dimensions.
Dimensions Loads Moment
Interior Columns 60*60 1800
Edge Columns 60*40 1200
Corner Columns 40*40 600
SW1 40*500 1500 800
SW2 40*400 1300 600
Units cm kN kN.m

+ Homework
8.2, 8.4, 8.6