LECTURE 1

LECTURE 1
Bearing capacity
Introduction- Foundation types and loading types
Modes of shear failure, definitions, parameters and
tests

INTRODUCTION
Typical problem:

Foundation: - part of the structure in direct

contact with the ground

- transmits the load of the structure to the

ground

INTRODUCTION
Bearing capacity: there is a need to consider the
foundation arrangements, the parameters that
describe the performance criteria of the
superstructure.
The design process must include:

Limiting settlement or movement

Safety against ultimate shear failure
Functional serviceability and material durability
Economy- construction and maintenance phases

INTRODUCTION
THREE main criteria to be considered in the
design of shallow foundations:
Adequate depth
Limiting settlement
Factor of safety against shear failure- refer to the
modes of shear failure

INTRODUCTION
AIMS
evaluate the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil beneath a
foundation (Limit state design)
limit the settlement to a tolerable amount (Serviceability limit state)
Durability to resist attack by substances in the ground or
environment
Designed in accordance with BS 8004 and BS 8013 and Eurocode
7- Geotechnical Category 1

Solutions for:
A. Limit states-collapse-factors of safety applied to applied load
and to resistance of ground (material factors)

B.
Service
states
-settlements/deformations(ensure
that
deformations or deflections do not damage the appearance or
reduce the useful life of a structure or cause damage to installation
in a structure)

Types of loading:
A. Compression
B. Tension

C. Shearing

FOUNDATION TYPES

Pad
Strip
Raft
Pile

Types of loading:
A. Compression
B. Tension

C. Shearing

Modes of shear failure

Modes of shear failure

Modes of shear failure

Types of shear strength

Strength envelopes

Failure criteria
Need to evaluate the parameters which can be used
in design.
Apply a failure criterion to a set of shear test resul
Two applicable failure criteria:
The Tresca criterion- Stated in terms of total stress
The Mohr Coulomb Stated on terms of effective stresses

Shear strength tests and parameters

Three main stages and two main types of
drainage conditions exist
Stages:
saturation,
consolidation
and
shearing/axial loading
Drainage conditions:
drained test (no increase in pore water pressure after
consolidation- COMPLETE dissipation of pore water
pressure)
Undrained test- constant limiting shear stress is
displayed at all values of normal stress- NO dissipation
of pore water pressure

Shear strength tests and parameters

Types of shear strength test

Laboratory

Shear Box
Simple shear
Ring shear
Triaxial compression test
Stress path

In-situ
In- situ shear box
Standard Penetration and cone penetration
Shear vane

Shear box test

Shear box test

Features include:
A known normal force is applied- vertically- consolidation
occurs
The shear displacement (l) is applied and the
corresponding shear force T is measured.
The vertical displacement (h) ismeasured.

Stress strain relationships Types of

stress

Questions
How will peak and critical strengths vary with soils of
different densities (drained tests)?
Elaborate on the following two applicable failure
criteria:
The Tresca criterion- Stated in terms of total stress
The Mohr Coulomb Stated on terms of effective stresses

Nest week
Shear box and triaxial tests
Ultimate, safe and allowable bearing capacity
Shallow foundations:
Bearing capacity of foundations on cohesionless soils.