(A) IS 6403 – 1981

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 γ Nγ Sγ dγ iγ W’ … (1)

Local Shear Failure Criteria :

(b) q’d = 0.67 c.N’c.Sc.dc.ic + q( N’q -1) Sq dq iq + 0.5 B γ N’γ Sγ dγ iγ 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 : Sγ = 1-0.4 (B/L)
For square : Sγ = 0.8
It is evident that the value obtained for the rectangle for B/L=1 should be the value for
square footing.

2. Depth Factor Shape Factors : dq and dγ :

Cl . 5.1.2.2 : It gives the value of the factors for Φ < 10 and Φ > 10. It remain silent for
Φ=10.

3. Criteria for use of general shear failure, eq.(a) / 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 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.
q’d = 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. Relative Corrected Method of
Φ Void Ratio
No. Density SPT N-value Analysis
1 >=70 % <= 28 >= 30 <= 0.55 General Shear
29 to
2 20 % to 70 % 10 to 30 0.55 to 0.75 Mixed Shear
35
3 < 20% >=36 =<10 >0.75 Local Shear

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

Nc, m = N’c + [ (Nc –N’c) / 8 ] (32-28)
Where N’c = 17.59 as local shear parameter for Φ =32
Nc = 35.49 as general shear parameter for Φ =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.

Net Ultimate
Net Safe Bearing
Method of Analysis Bearing Capcity,
Capcity, kN/m2
kN/m2
General Shear 1107 443
Mixed 717 287
Local Shear 327 131

2. Method of Analysis for Cohesive soil

Sr. Relative Consistency (as SPT N- Method of

Condition
No. qu, kN/m2) value Analysis

1 >= 20 >=15 V. Stiff General Shear

2 10 to 20 8 to 15 Stiff Mixed/ Local
Med. Stiff &
3 <10 <8 Local Shear
Soft
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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