FOUNDATION CALCULATION

SULZBERGER METHOD

Ing. Tadeo Maciejewski, Society of Studies and Electrification Projects (SEPE)

Mtro. Oscar Javier Piñón Jiménez, Autonomous University of Chihuahua (UACH)

The method developed by Sulzberger was initially applied only to the calculation of foundations.
for posts or towers of electric power transmission, but its application has extended to
foundations for ductile structures, based on posts or poles, such as signs and
the telephone transmission antennas, etc.

The main advantage of this type of foundations based on a reinforced concrete block,
it is necessary when there is not enough space to place a traditional foundation
database and isolated footing of reinforced concrete.

This method is based on an experimentally verified principle, in which it is considered

that for limited inclinations, such astan 0.010 .57  , the soil has a behavior
elastic. Consequently, reactions are obtained on the vertical walls of the excavation,
normals to the lateral force acting on the post, and vertical reactions at the base of the
soil, by which its resistance to overturning is obtained.

In the Sulzberger method, it is considered that the depth of entry of the block within the
land will depend on the specific resistance of the ground against external pressure at the site
considered. This specific resistance is the allowable pressure of the soil and is measured inkg/cm. 2

The pressure is equal to the entry depth , multiplied by the compressibility factor
C . It is thus:

C  kg/cm 2  (1)

Where: It is the allowable soil pressure inkg/cm 2.

The depth of entry of the block into the ground atcm .
C Compressibility indexkg/cm 3Which is evaluated at a depth of 2.0m
below the level of the natural ground.

Following the mentioned principle, it can be considered that the resistance opposing the
Foundation tilt arises from two main effects:

1) Penetration of the foundation into the ground, as well as the friction between concrete and soil.
along the vertical walls normal to the acting force.

2) Reaction at the bottom of the excavation, caused by vertical loads.

The reactions mentioned in the first point produce the resistant moment. M S, called
moment of penetration and the second point, the background momentM b .

The equation for the sizing of the foundation will then be as follows:

M S M b
FSV
MV 1
 (2)
Being: F SV The overturning safety factor. A value is recommended. 2.0
MV The overturning moment produced by the workside load.
M S M bThe total moment resisting the overturning.

The formulas that will be developed below correspond to a concrete block.

in the most commonly used form in practice, that of a rectangular parallelepiped.

In the beginning, when the force exerted on a pole is not great and the friction in the
the excavation bottom acts with its maximum value, the axis of rotation of the block is located at the
depth, that t is to say it is located at the base of the block (Figure 1).

To an inclination with an angle it corresponds to a transverse movement of the surface

b d y equal toytan , where itbis the dimension of the block perpendicular to the force F , andyit is the
distance from the mentioned surface to the axis.

ytan dy
t
y
( Figure 1 )
a b

BeingC ythe compressibility index of the soil at the considered depth. The pressure
unified will be equal to Cy ytan , and the reaction force of the excavation wall on
this infinitesimal rectangle will be equal to:

Cy ytan bdy ( Inkg) (3)

The moment about the axis of rotation (still at the base of the foundation) will be given by the
expression:

2
 dMS Cy b d y y 2tan ( Inkg–cm (4)
The indexC it is a linear function of the depth, so it can be said that the surface
total load, has the shape of an isosceles triangle with a base equal toCt band heightt (Figure 2).

dy  ytan
t
y

( Figure 2 )
Ct b

Designating the value of C in the depth t , forCtit can be written:

y
C y C1 t 5
t
Substituting in(4):
t
y y
dM SC1 t
b dy y 2tan y MS C1
t
 b dy y 2tan
t 0
t

bt3
MS Cttan (6)
12

To determine the value of the angle that corresponds to the moment when the axis of rotation starts to
to rise from your position at the bottom of the excavation, we will proceed as follows:

The unit pressure at depth  t y  is equal to:

y
y y C y with y y tan y C C1 y t

t


y
It is held: y
C1t ytan 7
t
t
Being ya parabolic function of efforts, symmetric with respect toy see figure 3.
2
Yes we designate as R to the resultant of all the resisting forces in the analyzed wall,
can it be written:

t 2
t
MS R R
2 t
t 2

G 3
 ( Figure 3 )
At the moment when the friction is overcome, it hasR G where G it is the resultant
of the vertical loads, and it is the coefficient of friction between concrete and soil at the bottom of the
excavation. At this moment, the axis of rotation begins to lift and the angle that corresponds to
this moment can be calculated using the following moment equality:

t b t3
G Ct tan
2 12
6 G
Where from: tan 8
bt2 Ct

With the increase of the angle decreases friction until its disappearance.

Thus, disregarding the friction at the bottom, a condition is obtained such that the axis of rotation is located at
the center of gravity of the load surface, that is, at a depth y t 3 measure
from the base. There is now a distribution of pressures on the walls of the excavation
the shape shown in figure 4.
y

2


y t 3
2t 3

y
t 3 t 3


3

( Figure 4 )

Proceeding in a manner similar to the previous case, it is found that the unit pressure measured at the
depth  tisy  worth:

t
y y C y but with y y
tan
3

y t
y
C1t y tan (9)
t 3

The maximum efforts will be:

t
In y 2t 3 2 Cttan (10)
9

t
3 Ct tan
3 4
 In y 0 ( 11 )
The reaction force on the excavation wall is equal to:

Ct  1 y t   y t 3  tan bdy

The moment about the axis of rotation in depth y t 3 is given by:

dMS Ct  1 y t   y t 3  tan bdy  y t 3

0 tis obtained:
That when integrating with limits of a, the following

bt3
MS Cttan (12)
36

To determine now at the time of the bottom Mb , consider that vertical loads have
that the block enters the ground to a depth 0 .

G
0 encm.
a b Cb

Where: G It is the resultant of the vertical loads (kg)

a yb The dimensions of the base of the block (cm)
Cb The compressibility index at the bottom (kg/cm3)

Due to the force at the end of the pole, the foundation block tilts at an angle. ,
increasing its input on the far right and decreasing it on the left (Figure 5).

The resultant of the forces at the bottom is R and for balanceR G

Under these conditions and when the base of the block touches the bottom of the excavation in its entirety
surface, there is a pressure distribution whose resultant is located at a distance v.

The moment produced by these pressures will be:

a
a
Mb G s G v
2

a  0    0   a a G
With v 
3  0    0   2 6 0

s v
a G
Yes tan y 0
2 a b Cb
0  0

a b Cbtan
3
s
12G
( Figure 5 ) R

5
 a 3b Cbtan
It is given:M b    
12
For the condition  0  , the angle it can be calculated in the following way:

atan 2 0

G 2G
Yes 0 tan
a b Cb a b Cb
2

a Ga
And with v Mb (14)
3 6

Under conditions where the base is raised even more   0 not touching the bottom for a
part of its surface (figure 6). The background moment can be calculated as follows:

a x a
Mb G s G 
2 3

The volume of the pressure prism is equal to: G

x
G 1 b
2 s x
3
Where 1it is the maximum effort of the ground
at the bottom of the excavation. 0

1 Cb  0   x

1 Cb x tan     1

R
x x2 b Cb tan
G Cb x tan b ( Figure 6 ) 
2 2

2G
Where it is obtained from:x (16)
b Cb tan

a1 2G
Therefore: M b G  (17)
2 3 b Cb tan

The total resistant moment is given by:M R M S M b

b t3 a1 2G
MR Cttan G  (18)
36 2 3 b Cb tan

And the turning moment for:

6
 2t
MV F H n (19)
3
Example 1.

Determine the dimensions of a foundation block using the Sulzberger method.

to support a unipolar structure, which is subject to a horizontal force , F
applied at the top of the pole. The above is based on the following data and requirements:

Structure:

H 12.00m Height of the pole

n 0.20m Free height of the block
F 1,250kg Horizontal force
P 1,300kg Total weight of the pole and accessories

Soil:

C 10.00 kg/cm3Soil compressibility index, evaluated at a depth of2.0m

a 2.70 kg/cm2Allowable load capacity at a depth of2.0m
0.35 Coefficient of friction between concrete and soil

2t 3
t

t 3

3 1

a 7
Solution:

The following dimensions for the block are proposed:

a 1.25m;b 1.25m y t 2.20m

Calculation of the acting or overturning momentM Vthrough equation (19).

2t 2 2.20
MV F H n 1,250 12.00  0.20 17,083kg m
3 3

Calculation of the resistant momentMRusing equation (18).

b t3 a1 2G
MR Cttan G 
36 2 3 b Cb tan

Weight of the concrete block2,400 kg/m3 1.25m 1.25m 2.40m 9,000kg

Own weight of the pole 1,300kg
Total weight of structure G 1,300 9,000 10,300kg

125 (220) 3 125 1 2 10,300

MR 10 0.01 10,300  3,697,222  504,372
36 2 3,125 10 0.01

MR 4,201,594 kg/cm 42,016kg m

Safety factor against overturning (Equation 2).

M R 42,016
FSV 2.46 2.0 ok
M V17,083

Calculation of stresses in the soil under this extreme condition:

2G 2 10,300
Equation (16): x 40.60 cm
b Cb tan 125 10 0.01

Equation (15): 1 Cb x tan 10 40.60 0.01 4.06 kg/cm2

t 220
Equation (10): 2 Ct tan 10 0.01 2.44kg/cm2
9 9

8
 t 220
Ecuación (11): 3 Ct tan 10 0.01 7.33kg/cm2
3 3
The deformation and stresses that occur in the ground will now be determined under the
the action of the overturning moment, that is, when the resisting moment is equal to the moment of
service flip.

MR M V 17,083kg m

125 (220) 3 125 1 2 10,300

MR 10 tan  10,300  1,708,300kg cm
36 2 3 125 10 tan

Where from:tan 0.00352

The efforts of work on the ground are:

2G 2 10,300
x 68.42cm
b Cb tan 125 10 0.00352

1 Cb x tan 10 68.42 0.00352 2.41kg/cm2

t 220
2 Ct tan 10 0.00352 0.86kg/cm2 a 2.70 kg/cm2
9 9

t 220
3 Ct tan 10 0.00352 2.58 kg/cm2
3 3

The maximum horizontal deformation under service conditions, at the tip of the pole will be:

2t 2 220cm
max. tan H n 0.00352 1,200 cm 20cm 4.81cm
3 3


Different values can be proposed for a , b y t to obtain the most economical section, and
whose dimensions adapt to the limitations of the available area.