Verification manual No.

2
Update 03/2016

Verification Analysis of Spread Footing

Program:
File:

Spread Footing
Demo_vm_en_02.gpa

In this verification manual you will find a hand-made verification analysis of bearing capacity
of a spread footing for drained conditions in a permanent design situation. Results of the hand-made
calculations are compared with the results from the GEO5 Spread Footing program.

Terms of Reference:
In Figure 1, an example of a centric spread footing is shown. The spread footing has a width
h 1.80 m , a length l 2.20 m and a height t 0.40 m . The footing bottom is in a depth d 1.20 m .
The earth body is formed of silty sand (SM) and its terrain is adjusted in a 7 inclination. The
properties of soil (effective values) are shown in Table 1. In Figure 2, a load acting on the spread footing
is shown and its values are in Table 2. The spread footing is covered with soil of unit weight

z 20 .00 kN / m 3 after the realization. The spread footing is made from reinforced concrete with unit
weight c 23.00 kN / m 3 . The dimensions of the column on the spread footing are c x 0.40 m and
c y 0.40 m . The bearing capacity is calculated using the standard approach. The verification

methodology is done according to EC 1997 with design approach 2 reduction of actions and
resistances. In this example the self-weight in favour G 1.00 and disfavour G 1.35 is
calculated.

Figure 1 Top view and cross-section in x of spread footing

Soil

Unit weight
[kN/m3]

Saturated unit
weight
sat [kN/m3]

Angle of
internal
friction
ef []

Cohesion of
soil
cef [kPa]

Poissons
ration
[-]

SM

17.50

17.50

31.50

0.00

0.35

Table 1 Soil properties characteristic effective values

Figure 2 Load on the spread footing

Design value

N kN

H x kN

H y kN

M x kNm

M y kNm

Yes

910.00

0.00

120.00

200.00

0.00

Table 2 Values of the load

1. The Calculation with Self-Weight acting Favourably

Calculation of the effective area of the spread footing. An eccentric load acts on the spread
footing. Therefore, the effective area of the spread footing has to be calculated.

Characteristic weight of the spread footing:

G b h t c 1.80 2.20 0.40 23 .00 36 .432 kN

Characteristic weight of the overburden:

Z (d t ) b h (d t ) c x c y z (1.20 0.40 ) 1.80 2.20 (1.20 0.40 ) 0.40 0.40 20 .00
Z 60 .80 kN

Calculation of the load eccentricity at the footing bottom G 1.00 :

ey

Mx Hy t
N Z G G G

200 .00 120 .00 0.40

0.246 m
910 .00 60 .80 1.00 36 .432 1.00

In the program, eccentricity is calculated as a ratio.

e y , ratio

ey
l

0.246
0.112
2.200

Verification of the load eccentricity:

e x,ratio 0.000 0.333 ealw

- max. eccentricity in direction of the base length

e y ,ratio 0.112

- max. eccentricity in direction of the base width

0.333 e alw

et , ratio e x2.ratio e 2y ,ratio

- max. overall eccentricity

et ,ratio 0.112 0.333 ealw

The eccentricity of the load is SATISFACTORY.

Result from the GEO5 Spread Footing program:
e x,ratio 0.000 0.333 ealw
e y ,ratio 0.112

0.333 e alw

et ,ratio 0.112 0.333 ealw , SATISFACTORY

Calculation of the effective area of the spread footing (a rectangular shape of the effective
area is assumed):
beff b 1.80 m
l eff l 2 e 2.20 2 0.246 1.708 m
Aeff beff l eff 1.80 1.708 3.074 m 2

Calculation of the vertical bearing capacity.

A standard analysis proposed by J. Brinch Hansen is used.

Coefficients of bearing capacity:
tg ( )
31 .5 tg (31.5)
2
2
N q tg 45 e
2

tg 45
e
2

21 .861

N c ( N d 1) cot g ( ) (21 .861 1) cot g (31 .5) 34 .042

N 1.5 ( N d 1) tg ( ) 1,5 (21 .861 1) tg (31 .5) 19 .175

Coefficients of the shape of the foundation:

Due to the eccentricity, the following situation occurred: l eff beff . Therefore, b l eff and
l beff were used.
sq 1

b
1.708
sin( ) 1
sin( 31 .5) 1.496
l
1.800

s c 1 0 .2

b
1.708
1 0 .2
1.190
l
1.800

s 1 0 .3

b
1.708
1 0 .3
0.715
l
1.800

Coefficients of influence of the foundation depth:

d q 1 0.1

d
1.200
sin( 2 ) 1 0.1
sin( 2 31.5) 1.079
b
1.708

d c 1 0.1

d
1.200
1 0.1
1.084
b
1.708

d 1.000

Coefficients of influence of the slope load:

- angle of deviation of the resultant force from the vertical direction

arctg

Hy

N Z G G G

120

arctg
6.794

910

60
.
80

1
.
00

36
.
432

1
.
00

i q ic i (1 tg ( )) 2 (1 tg (6.794 )) 2 0.776

Coefficients of slope of the footing bottom:

- slope of the footing bottom
0.000
bq (1 tg ( )) 2 (1 0 tg (31 .5)) 2 1.000

bc b q

(1 bq )
Nc

tg ( ) 1

(1 1)
tg (31 .5) 1.000
34 .042

b bq 1.000

Coefficients of influence of the slope of the terrain:

- slope of the terrain

7.000
g q g 1 0.5 tg ( ) 1 0.5 tg (7.0) 0.728
5

2
gc 1
1
2

2 7.000

180

0.952
2

Equivalent uniform load accounting for the influence of the foundation depth:
q 0 1 d 17 .5 1.20 21 .00 kPa

Calculation of the vertical bearing capacity and its reduction by coefficient RV 1.40 :
Rd c N c s c d c ic bc g c q 0 N q s q d q i q bq g q

R d 0.0 21 .0 21 .861 1.496 1.079 0.776 1.0 0.728 17 .50

b
N s d i c b g
2

1.708
19 .175 0.715 1.0 0.776 1.0 0.728
2

Rd 0.0 418 .635 115 .753

Rd 534 .388 kPa

Rd

RV

534 .388
381 .706 kPa
1.40

Result from the GEO5 Spread Footing program: Rd 381 .92 kPa

Extreme contact stress at the footing bottom:

N Z G G G 910 .00 60 .80 1.00 36 .432 1.00

327 .662 kPa

Aeff
3.074
Result from the GEO5 Spread Footing program: 327 .70 kPa

Usage:

Vu

Rd

100

327 .662
100 85.8 % , SATISFACTORY
381 .706

Result from the GEO5 Spread Footing program: Vu 85 .8 % , SATISFACTORY

Calculation of the horizontal bearing capacity.
The earth resistance is taken as pressure at rest.

Coefficient of earth pressure at rest in a drained soil:

K 0 1 sin( d ) 1 sin( 31 .5) 0.4775

Pressure at rest in the axis on the upper and lower edge of the spread footing:
01 (d t ) K 0 17 .50 (1.20 0.40 ) 0.4775 6.6850 kPa
z 2 d K 0 17 .50 1.20 0.4775 10 .0275 kPa

Value of earth resistance:

1

S pd 02 01 t 01 t b 10.0275 6.6850 0.40 6.6850 0.40 1.80 6.017 kN

2
2

Resultant vertical force on the footing bottom:

Q V Z G 910 .00 60.80 36.432 1007 .232 kN

Horizontal bearing capacity and its reduction by coefficient RH 1.10 :

a d Aeff - is excluded for drained conditions (according to EC 1997)

Rdh

R dh

Q tg ( d ) a d Aeff S pd

RH
Q tg ( d ) S pd

RH

1007 .232 tg (31 .5) 6.017

566 .591 kN
1.10

Result from the GEO5 Spread Footing program: Rdh 566 .59 kPa

Usage:
H
120 .000
Vu
100
100 21 .2 % , SATISFACTORY
Rdh
566 .591
Result from the GEO5 Spread Footing program: Vu 21 .2 % , SATISFACTORY

2. The Calculation with Self-Weight Acting Unfavourably

Calculation of the effective area. The characteristic weights of the spread footing and the
overburden are the same as in the calculation with self-weight in favor.

Characteristic weight of the spread footing:

G 36.432 kN

Characteristic weight of the overburden:

Z 60.80 kN

Calculation of the load eccentricity at the footing bottom G 1.35 :

ey

Mx Hy t
N Z G G G

200 .00 120 .00 0.40

0.238 m
910 .00 60 .80 1.35 36 .432 1.35

In the program, eccentricity is calculated as a ratio.

e y , pom

ey
l

0.238
0.108
2.200

Verification of the load eccentricity:

e x, pom 0.000

0.333 ealw

- max. eccentricity in direction of the base length

e y , pom 0.108

0.333 ealw

- max. eccentricity in direction of the base width

et , pom e x2. pom e 2y , pom

et , pom 0.108

- max. overall eccentricity

0.333 e alw

The eccentricity of the load is SATISFACTORY.

Result from the GEO5 Spread Footing program:
The GEO5 Spread Footing program shows the verification of a load that causes greater
eccentricity. In this case a load with self-weight in favour is verified.

Calculation of the effective area of the spread footing (a rectangular shape of the effective
area is assumed):
beff b 1.80 m
l eff l 2 e 2.20 2 0.238 1.724 m
Aeff beff l eff 1.80 1.724 3.103 m 2

Calculation of the vertical bearing capacity.

Coefficients of bearing capacity:
tg ( )
31 .5
2
2
N q tg 45 e
2

tg ( 31.5)
tg 45
21 .861
e
2

N c ( N d 1) cot g ( ) (21 .861 1) cot g (31 .5) 34 .042

N 1.5 ( N d 1) tg ( ) 1.5 (21 .861 1) tg (31 .5) 19 .175

Coefficients of the shape of the foundation:

Due to the eccentricity, the following situation occurred: l eff beff . Therefore, b l eff and
l beff were used.
sq 1

b
1.724
sin( ) 1
sin( 31 .5) 1.500
l
1.800

s c 1 0. 2

b
1.724
1 0. 2
1.192
l
1.800

s 1 0 .3

b
1.724
1 0 .3
0.713
l
1.800

Coefficients of influence of the foundation depth:

d q 1 0.1

d
1.200
sin( 2 ) 1 0.1
sin( 2 31.5) 1.079
b
1.724

d c 1 0.1

d
1.200
1 0.1
1.083
b
1.724

d 1.000

Coefficients of influence of the slope of the load:

- angle of deviation of the resultant force from the vertical direction

arctg

Hy

N Z G G G

120

arctg
6.574

910 60 .80 1.35 36 .432 1.35

i q ic i (1 tg ( )) 2 (1 tg (6.574 )) 2 0.783

Coefficients of the slope of the footing bottom:

-slope of the footing bottom
0.000

bq (1 tg ( )) 2 (1 0 tg (31.5)) 2 1.000

bc b q

(1 bq )
Nc

tg ( ) 1

(1 1)
tg (31 .5) 1.000
34 .042

b bq 1.000

Coefficients of influence of the slope of the terrain:

- slope of the terrain

7.000
g q g 1 0.5 tg ( ) 1 0.5 tg (7.0) 0.728
5

2
gc 1
1
2

2 7.000

180

0.952
2

Equivalent uniform load accounting for the influence of the foundation depth:
q 0 1 d 17 .50 1.20 21 .00 kPa

Calculation of the vertical bearing capacity and its reduction by coefficient RV 1.40 :
Rd c N c s c d c ic bc g c q 0 N q s q d q i q bq g q

R d 0.0 21 .0 21 .861 1.500 1.079 0.783 1.0 0.728 17 .50

b
N s d i c b g
2

1.724
19 .175 0.713 1.0 0.783 1.0 0.728
2

Rd 0.0 423 .541 117 .561

Rd 541 .102 kPa

Rd

RV

541 .102
386 .501 kPa
1.40

Result from the GEO5 Spread Footing program: Rd 386 .61 kPa

Extreme contact stress at the footing bottom:

N Z G G G 910 .00 60 .80 1.35 36 .432 1.35

335 .567 kPa

Aeff
3.103

Result from the GEO5 Spread Footing program: 335 .61 kPa

Usage:

335 .567
Vu
100
100 86 .8 % , SATISFACTORY
Rd
386 .501

Calculation of the parameters of a slip surface below the foundation. The parameters of a slip
surface are calculated according to Prandtls theory.

Depth of the slip surface:

z sp

cos( )
e 4

cos 45
2

arc ( )
tg ( )
2

1.80

cos(31 .5)
e 4
31 .5

cos 45

arc ( 31.5)
tg ( 31.5)
2

3.008 m

Result from the GEO5 Spread Footing program: z sp 3.01 m

Length of the slip surface:

l sp

tg ( )
b

1.80
31 .5 2 tg (31.5)

1 2 tg 45 e 2
1 2 tg 45

9.316 m
e
2
2
2
2

Result from the GEO5 Spread Footing program: z sp 9.31 m

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