Design of Reinforced
Concrete Foundation
1
Design of Reinforced Concrete
Foundation
Required Lectures 3
Lecture Goals
• Footing Classification
• Footing Design
Footing
Definition
Footings are structural members used to support
columns and walls and to transmit and distribute
their loads to the soil in such a way that the load
bearing capacity of the soil is not exceeded,
excessive settlement, differential settlement,or
rotation are prevented and adequate safety
against overturning or sliding is maintained.
Footing
Footings must be designed to prevent bearing
failure, sliding and overturning
Footings must be designed to prevent
excessive settlement or tilting
Typically, bottom of footing must be located
below frost line
Excavation may be required to reach a depth
where satisfactory bearing material is
located
5
Footings
Types of Footings
Wall footings are used to
support structural walls that
carry loads for other floors
or to support nonstructural
walls.
Types of Foundation
Isolated or single footings
are used to support single
columns. This is one of the
most economical types of
footings and is used when
columns are spaced at
relatively long distances.
Types of Footings
Combined footings – support two or more
columns – heavily loaded columns; closely
spaced columns; columns near property line
9
Types of Footing
Combined footings usually
support two columns, or three
columns not in a row.
Combined footings are used
when two columns are so close
that single footings cannot be
used or when one column is
located at or near a property
line.
Types of Footing
Cantilever or strap footings
consist of two single footings
connected with a beam or a
strap and support two single
columns. This type replaces a
combined footing and is more
economical.
Types of Footing
Continuous footings
support a row of three or
more columns. They have
limited width and continue
under all columns.
Types of Footing
Rafted or mat foundation
consists of one footing usually
placed under the entire building
area. They are used, when soil
bearing capacity is low, column
loads are heavy single footings
cannot be used, piles are not used
and differential settlement must
be reduced.
Mat Footing
Mat or raft foundation – continuous concrete
slab supporting many columns; soil strength
relatively low; large column loads; isolated
spread footings would cover more than 50
percent of area; reduce differential
settlement
14
Types of Footing
Pile caps are thick slabs
used to tie a group of piles
together to support and
transmit column loads to the
piles.
Pile Cap
Pile caps – distribute column loads to groups
of piles
16
Soil Pressure
Soil pressure is assumed to be uniformly
distributed beneath footing if column load
is applied at the center of gravity of the
footing
Footings supported by sandy soils
Footings supported by clayey soils
Footings supported by eccentric loads
17
Distribution of Soil Pressure
Soil pressure distribution in Soil pressure distribution in
cohesionless soil. cohesive soil.
Non Uniform Soil Pressure
• If the load is applied eccentrically
with respect to the C.G. we assume
a uniform variance in proportion to
the moment
Distribution of Soil Pressure
Eccentric Loading
Column
Footing
(Square)
qmin qmax
Stresses Under a Footing
P My
q
A I
• P = vertical load (+ compression)
• A = area of contact surface between the soil and the
footing
• I = moment of inertia of this area
• M = moment about the centroidal axis
• y = distance from the centroidal axis to the point where
you want to calculate the stresses
• This assumes that the loads are at or near the center of
the footing
P
M
P/A
My/I
Design of Combined Footing
Limitations
• M = P e, where e =
eccentricity
• Maximum e for this to
be a valid analysis is
when qmin = 0
• Load must be within
the kern L/6 L/6
• ek = L/6
L
Distribution of Soil Pressure
When the column load P is
applied on the centroid of the
footing, a uniform pressure is
assumed to develop on the soil
surface below the footing area.
However the actual distribution of the soil is not uniform,
but depends on may factors especially the composition of
the soil and degree of flexibility of the footing.
Allowable Soil Pressures
• Structural engineers usually rely on
geotechnical engineers for this information
– Test borings
– Load tests
We have none
– Other experiments of these!
What can we do ?
Maximum Allowable Soil
Pressure
(McCormac, 2001)
Soil Description Allowable
Rock 20% of ultimate
Compact sand or hard clay 8 ksf
Medium stiff or sandy clay 6 ksf
Compact sand and silt mix 4 ksf
Loose sand 3 ksf
Soft sandy clay or clay 2 ksf
Loose sand and silt mix 1 ksf
Muck or mud 0 ksf
Footing
Support structural members and transfer
loads to the soil
Structural members are usually columns or
walls
Design for load transfer to soil uses
unfactored loads
Structural design of footing is done with
factored loads
30
Size of Footing
The area of footing can be determined from the actual
external loads such that the allowable soil pressure is
not exceeded.
Total load including self - weight
Area of footing
allowable soil pressure
Strength design requirements
Pu
qu
area of footing
General Requirements for Footing Design
1. A site investigation is required to determine the
chemical and physical properties of the soil.
2. Determine the magnitude and distribution of
loads from the superstructure.
3. Establish the criteria and the tolerance for the
total and differential settlements of the structure.
General Requirements for Footing Design
4. Determine the most suitable and economic type
of foundation.
5. Determine the depth of the footings below the
ground level and the method of excavation.
6. Establish the allowable bearing pressure to be
used in design.
Design Considerations
Footings must be designed to carry the column loads
and transmit them to the soil safely while satisfying
code limitations.
1. The area of the footing based on the allowable
bearing soil capacity
2. Two-way shear or punch out shear.
3. One-way bearing
4. Bending moment and steel reinforcement
required
Design Considerations
5. Bearing capacity of columns at their base
6. Dowel requirements
7. Development length of bars
8. Differential settlement
Differential Settlement
Footing usually support the following loads:
1. Dead loads from the substructure and superstructure
2. Live load resulting from material or occupancy
3. Weight of material used in back filling
4. Wind loads
Design of Isolated Square Footings
Most isolated square footings have a constant
thickness
For very thick footings, it may be economical
to step or taper footing
Two types of shear must be considered – one-
way shear and two-way shear
37
Isolated Footings
Column
Footing
(Square)
q, soil pressure
Design of Isolated Square Footings
Constant thickness
39
Design of Isolated Square Footings
Stepped
40
Design of Isolated Square Footings
Tapered
41
Critical Sections for Bending
Square Footing Under Load
One-way Shear
Same as for wall footings d
Vu
2 f c' bw
45
One-way Shear
46
Two-way Shear
ACI Code Section 11.11.1.2 states that critical
section is at a distance d/2 from face of
support
47
Two-way Shear
48
Two-way Shear
49
Two-way Shear
Vc 4 f c' bo d <- ACI Code Equation 11-33
4
Vc 2 f c' bo d <- ACI Code Equation 11-35
c
c ratio of the length of the long side of the
column to the length of the short side of
the column bearing on the footing
sd
Vc 2 c bo d <- ACI Code Equation 11-34
'
f
bo
50
Two-way Shear
s = 40 for interior columns
s = 30 for exterior columns
s = 20 for corner columns
51
Flexural Design – Isolated Square
Footings
Flexural reinforcement is required in two
directions
The values of d for the layers of steel in
the two directions will be different
For square footings, design using the value of
d for the upper layer is typical
For square footings supporting non-square
columns, moments are larger in the
shorter direction of the column
52
Flexural Design – Isolated Square
Footings
Reinforcing steel areas required to resist
moment are often less than minimum
required steel: A
200
bd
s ,min w
fy
3 f c'
As ,min bw d
fy
Code Section 10.5.4 states that minimum
area and maximum spacing need only be
equal to values required for temperature
and shrinkage steel
53
Flexural Design – Isolated Square
Footings
Maximum steel spacing may not exceed three
times the footing thickness or 18 in.
54
Load Transfer from Column to
Footing
All forces at the base of the column must be
transferred to the footing
Compressive forces must be transferred by
bearing
Tensile forces may be transferred by
reinforcement or mechanical connectors
55
Load Transfer from Column to
Footing
Columns transfer loads directly over the area
of the column
Load transfer into the footing may by
assumed to occur over an effective area
which may be larger than the column area
For the same strength of concrete, the
footing can support more bearing load than
can the column
56
Load Transfer from Column to
Footing
Bearing strength permitted at the base of
the column -> 0.85 f '
c A1
Bearing strength permitted on the footing is
the same value multiplied by -> A2
2
A1
See ACI Code Section 10.14.1
57
Load Transfer from Column to
Footing
Definition of A1 and A2
A1 is the area of the column
A2 is the area of footing geometrically similar
to and concentric with the column
59
Column Dowels
60
Excess Bearing Load
Excess bearing load can be carried by dowels
or column bars extended into footing
ACI Code Section 15.8.2 requires that the
dowel area not be less than 0.005 times
the gross cross-sectional area of the
column
61
Development Length for Dowels
Development length of dowels must be
sufficient to transfer column force to
footing
Development length of dowels may not be less
than the length required if bearing stress
was not exceeded
62
Splice Length for Dowels
ACI Code does not permit splicing of No 14 or
No 18 bars
ACI Code Section 15.8.2.3 does permit No 14
or No 18 bars to be spliced to No 11 (or
larger) dowels in footings
These dowels must extend into the column
not less than the development length for
the No 14 or No 18 bar, or the
compression lap splice length for the
dowels, whichever is larger
63
Splice Length for Dowels
These dowels must extend into the footing
for a distance not less than the
development length for dowels
64
Insufficient Development or
Splice Length
Use a larger number of smaller dowels
Use a deeper footing
Add a cap or pedestal to the footing
65
Column Uplift
Development length must be those for
tension
Splice requirements are those found in ACI
Code Section 12.17
66
Isolated Rectangular Footings
Square footings are more econonical than
rectangular footings
Long direction steel is uniformly distributed
along short direction
Short direction steel is non uniformly
distributed along long direction
67
Isolated Rectangular Footings
ACI Code Section 15.4.4.2
Reinforcement in band width 2
Reinforcement in short direction 1
is the ratio of the length of the footing in
the long direction to the length in the
short direction
Remaining steel is distributed uniformly
throughout the two portions of the
footing outside the band
68
Isolated Rectangular Footings
69
Footing Design Examples
70
Example 1
Design a square column footing for a 16-in.
square tied interior column that supports
loads of D = 200 k and L = 160 k. The
column is reinforced with eight No 8 bars,
the bottom of the footing is 5 foot below
final grade, the soil weighs 100 lb/ft3 the
allowable soil pressure is 5 ksf. The
concrete strength is 3,000 psi and the
steel is Grade 60.
71
Example 1
Assume a footing thickness of 24 in. with a
minimum cover of 3 in., this gives a d value
of about 19.5 in. Compute the footing
weight and Footing weight
soil weight:
24 in
150 300 psf
12 in/ft
Soil weight
36 in
100 300 psf
12 in/ft
72
Example 1
Effective soil pressure and required area of
footing:
qe 5000 psf 300 psf 300 psf 4400 psf
200 k 160 k
A 81.82 ft 2
4.40 ksf
Use 9 ft x 9 ft
73
Example 1
Factored bearing pressure for design of
concrete:
1.2 200 k 1.6 160 k
qu 2
6.12 ksf
81 ft
74
Example 1
Depth required to resist punching shear:
bo 4(16 19.5) 142 in
Vu 2 81.0 ft 2.96 ft
2 2
6.12 442.09 k
442, 090 lb
d 18.95 in 19.5 in Ok
0.75 4 3000 psi 142 in
442, 090 lb
d
40 19.5 in
0.75 2 3000 psi 142 in
142 in
10.12 in 19.5 in Ok
75
Example 1
76
Example 1
Depth required to resist one-way shear:
Vu1 9 ft 2.208 ft 6.12 ksf 121.62 k
121, 620 lb
d 13.71 in 19.5 in Ok
0.75 2 3000 psi 108 in
77
Example 1
Flexural design
wL 6.12 ksf 9 ft 3.83 ft
2 2
Mu 404 k-ft
2 2
Mu
12 in/ft 404, 000 lb-ft
131.2 psi
bd 0.9 108 in 19.5 in
2 2
78
Example 1
Appendix Table 4.12, = 0.00225 < min
200
0.0033
60, 000 psi
3 3000 psi
0.00274
60, 000 psi
As 0.0033108 in 19.5 in 6.95 in 2
Use nine No 8 (As = 7.07 in2)
79
Example 1
Development length:
t e s 1
cb bottom cover 3.5 in
cb one-half center-to-center bar spacing 6 in
cb K tr 3.5 in 0
3.5 Use 2.5
db 1.0 in
80
Example 1
d 3 f y t e s
db 40 f c cb K tr
'
db
3 60, 000 1
32.86 diameters
40 3000 2.5
d As ,required 6.95 in 2
32.86 2
32.30 diameters
db As , provided 7.07 in
d 32.30 1.0 in 32.30 in
81
Example 1
Available length for development
9 ft 12 in/ft 16 in 3 in 43 in 32.30 in
2 2
82
Example 2
Design for load transfer for the column and
footing in Example 1. The strength of the
sand-lightweight concrete (different from
Example 1) in the column is 4 ksi.
83
Example 2
Bearing force at the column base:
1.2 200 k 1.6 160 k 496 k
Design bearing force at the column base:
0.85 f A1 0.65 0.85 4 ksi 16 in
' 2
c
566 k 496 k Ok
84
Example 2
Design bearing 108 in
2
6.75 Use 2
force in the 16 in
2
footing
concrete: A2
0.85 f A1
c
'
A1
0.65 0.85 3 ksi 16 in 2
2
848.6 k 496 k Ok
Minimum dowel area:
0.005 16 in 1.28 in 2
2
85
Example 2
Dowel development length into the column
0.02db f y 0.02 0.75 in 60, 000 psi
d 16.74 in
f c' 0.85 4000 psi
Dowel development length into the footing
0.02db f y 0.02 0.75 in 60, 000 psi
d 16.43 in
f c' 1.0 3000 psi
86
Example 2
Development length must not be less than:
d 0.0003db f y 0.0003 0.75 in 60, 000 ksi
13.50 in
d 8.0 in
87
Example 3
Design for load transfer for a 14-in. square
column to a 13 ft square footing if Pu =
800 k. Normal weight concrete is used in
both the column and the footing. The
concrete in the column is 5 ksi and in the
footing is 3 ksi. The column is reinforced
with eight No 8 bars.
88
Example 3
Bearing force at the column base = 800 k
Design bearing force at the column base:
0.85 f A1 0.65 0.855 ksi 14 in
' 2
c
541.5 k 800 k No good
89
Example 3
Design bearing force in the footing concrete:
156 in
2
A2
11.14 Use 2
2
A1 14 in
A2
0.85 f A1
c
'
A1
0.65 0.85 3 ksi 14 in 2
2
649.7 k 800 k No good
90
Example 3
Design dowels to resist excess bearing force:
800 k 541.5 k 258.5 k
258.5 k
As 4.79 in 2
0.9 60 k
0.005 14 in 0.98 in 2
2
Use eight No 7 bars (As = 4.80 in2)
91
Example 3
Dowel development length into the column
0.02db f y 0.02 0.875 in 60, 000 psi
d 14.85 in
f c
'
1 5000 psi
d 0.0003db f y 0.0003 0.875 in 60, 000 ksi
15.75 in
d 8.0 in
92
Example 3
Dowel development length into the footing
0.02db f y 0.02 0.875 in 60, 000 psi
d 19.42 in
f c' 1.0 3000 psi
d 0.0003db f y 0.0003 0.875 in 60, 000 ksi
15.75 in
d 8.0 in
93
Example 4
Design a rectangular footing for an 18-in.
interior square column for D = 185 k and
L = 150 k. The long side of the footing
should be twice the length of the short
side. The normal weight concrete
strength for both the column and the
footing is 4 ksi. The allowable soil
pressure is 4000 psf and the bottom of
the footing is 5 ft below grade.
94
Example 4
Assume a footing thickness of 24 in. with a
minimum cover of 3 in., this gives a d value
of about 19.5 in. Compute the footing
weight and Footing weight
soil weight:
24 in
150 300 psf
12 in/ft
Soil weight
60-24 in
100 300 psf
12 in/ft
95
Example 4
Effective soil pressure and required area of
footing:
qe 4000 psf 300 psf 300 psf 3400 psf
185 k 150 k
A 98.5 ft 2
3.40 ksf
Use a footing 7'-0" x 14'-0" A 98.0 ft 2
1.2 185 k 1.6 150 k
qu 2
4.71 ksf
98.0 ft
96
Example 4
Depth required to resist one-way shear. Take
b = 7 ft.
Vu1 7 ft 4.625 ft 4.71 ksf 152.49 k
152, 490 lb
d 19.14 in
0.75 1 2 4000 psi 84 in
h 19.14 4.5 in 23.64 in
97
Example 4
98
Example 4
Depth required to resist punching shear:
bo 4 18 19.5 in 150 in
Vu 2 98.0 ft 2 3.125 ft
2
4.71 ksf 415.58 k
415,580 lb
d 14.60 in 19.5 in Ok
0.75 1 4 4000 psi 150 in
415,580 lb
d
40 19.5 in
0.75 2 4000 psi 150 in
150 in
8.11 in 19.5 in Ok
99
Example 4
100
Example 4
Flexural design (steel in long direction)
14 ft 9 in
6.25 ft
2 12 in/ft
6.25 ft
M u 6.25 ft 7 ft 4.71 ksf 643.9 k-ft
2
Mu
12 in/ft 643,900 lb-ft
268.8 psi
bd 0.9 84 in 19.5 in
2 2
101
Example 4
Appendix Table 4.13, = 0.00467
As 0.00467 84 in 19.5 in 7.65 in 2
Use ten No 8 (As = 7.85 in2)
102
Example 4
Flexural design (steel in short direction)
7 ft 9 in
2.75 ft
2 12 in/ft
2.75 ft
M u 2.75 ft 14 ft 4.71 ksf 249.3 k-ft
2
Mu
12 in/ft 249,300 lb-ft
52.0 psi
bd 0.9 168 in 19.5 in
2 2
Too low for Table A.13
103
Example 4
200
0.0033
60, 000 psi
3 4000 psi
0.00316
60, 000 psi
As 0.0033168 in 19.5 in 10.81 in 2
Use 18 No 7 (As = 10.82 in2)
104
Example 4
Reinforcement in band width 2 2 2
Reinforcement in short direction 1 2 1 3
Use 2/3 x 18 = 12 bars in band width
105
Example 4
106
Concluded
