Inadequacy and Anomalies of IS 6403 -1981 :

A quick presentation for SEFI web site

(A) IS 6403 1981: Code of Practice for determination of bearing capacity of
shallow foundations, BIS, New Delhi
Bearing Capacity Equation : Shear Criteria (Cl.5.1.2)
General Shear Failure:
(a) qd = c.Nc.Sc.dc.ic + q ( Nq -1) Sq dq iq + 0.5 B N S d i W (1)
Local Shear Failure Criteria :
(b) qd = 0.67 c.Nc.Sc.dc.ic + q( Nq -1) Sq dq iq + 0.5 B N S d i W (2)
Anomalies in the use of above equations and guide lines for evaluating bearing capacity factors
are listed below:
1. Shape Factors : (Table 2 of the Code)
(i) For rectangle: Sc = 1+0.2 (B/L)
For square:
Sc = 1.3
It is evident that the value obtained for the rectangle for B/L=1 should be the value for
square footing.
(ii) For rectangle: S = 1-0.4 (B/L)
For square:
S = 0.8
It is evident that the value obtained for the rectangle for B/L=1 should be the value for
square footing.
Depth Factors : dq and d : Cl . 5.1.2.2 : It gives the value of the factors for < 10 and
> 10. It remain silent for =10.
2. Criteria for use of general shear failure, eq.(a) & for local shear failure eq. (b). This is the
most important guide line for determination of safe bearing capacity of given soil :
(i) Cohesionless soil : use Table 3 of the code, it is given below:
Relative Density > 70%, void ratio < 0.55 : general shear failure
Relative Density < 30%, void ratio < 0.75 : local shear failure
Relative Density 20 to 70 %, void ratio 0.55 to 0.75
interpolate between general shear failure and local shear failure
While giving this guidelines code is silent to provide the means for finding Relative
Density.
Difficulty in using Relative Density / Void Ratio Guideline : For the UDS collected in the sand
(seldom possible), field unit weight is not representative hence the void ratio derived is highly
unreliable. There are software using this guidelines and producing erroneous results.

(ii) Cohesive soil : Cl. 5.3.1.1 recommends use of general shear failure for all the types
of clays.
qd = c.Nc.Sc.dc.ic
Bearing Capacity Equation : Shear Criteria GUIDELINES FOLLOWED IN PRACTICE

Method of Analysis for the given soil type is selected based on the type of soil and strength
parameters as given in Tables given below :

1.

Cohesionless soil
Sr.
No.

Relative
Density

>=70 %

20 % to 70 %

< 20%

>=36
29 to
35
<= 28

Corrected
SPT N-value

Void Ratio

Method of
Analysis

>= 30

<= 0.55

General Shear

10 to 30

0.55 to 0.75

Mixed Shear

=<10

>0.75

Local Shear

For example, Mixed shear failure parameters for = 32 are evaluated as :

Nc, m = Nc + [ (Nc Nc) / 8 ] x (32-28)
Where Nc = 17.59 as local shear parameter for =32
Nc = 35.49 as general shear parameter for =32
Hence we get, Nc,m = 26.54
The effect of the decision can be seen with the illustrative problem.
Prob-1 : A 2m x 2m square footing is placed at 1m depth below ground level in a homogeneous
cohesionless stratum. Unit weight of soil is 20 kN/m2. Ground water table is not encountered,
= 32

2.

Method of Analysis

Net Ultimate
Bearing Capcity,
kN/m2

Net Safe Bearing

Capcity, kN/m2

General Shear

1107

443

Mixed

717

287

Local Shear

327

131

Method of Analysis for Cohesive soil

Sr.
No.

Relative Consistency (as

qu, kN/m2)

SPT Nvalue

Condition

Method of
Analysis

>= 200

>=15

V. Stiff

General Shear

100 to 200

8 to 15

Stiff

Mixed/ Local

<100

<8

Med. Stiff &

Soft

Local Shear

For C-Phi soils any of the above criteria are difficult to use. A more generalized criteria which may
be used is based on Stress Strain Curve from direct shear test or Triaxial Compression test:
Failure strain =< 5% leads to general shear failure and >=15% leads to Local Shear Failure.
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