TRIAL DESIGN PROBLEM 3-03

Shear Wall Footing Design and Analysis for Wind and Seismic Loading
SOLUTION

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Given:

1. Shear wall foundation shown in Figure No. 01, in Seismic Zone 2A.
2. The foundation and structure self weight (including the weight of the shear wall) shown are
included in the dead load shown on Figure No. 01. The lateral load shown on Figure No. 01
is either a seismic or wind load.
3. The shear wall foundation cannot cross the property line shown.
4. The footing width and thickness are to be as shown in Figure No. 01.
5. Soil Properties:
a. Allowable Soil Bearing Pressure = 4,000 psf
b. Allowable Passive Pressure = 250 psf/ft.
c. Coefficient of Friction = 0.30

Note: The allowable soil bearing pressure may be increased by 1/3 for short-term, transient
loads, such as wind or seismic loads.

Find:
1. Building Code & Edition used: Uniform Building Code – 1997 Edition.
2. Minimum footing length (L) based on the allowable soil bearing pressure.
Answer: 14’-0”.
3. Factor of safety against sliding for the foundation - for wind load, and for seismic load.
Answer: FSwind = 1.71, FSeq = 2.16 .
a. Is the footing adequately proportioned per Building Code if the listed lateral load is a
wind load? List Factor of Safety used to evaluate footing.
Answer: (Yes/No), FSwind =1.50.
b. Is the footing adequately proportioned per Building Code if the listed lateral load is a
seismic load? List Factor os Safety used to evaluate footing.
Answer: (Yes/No), FSeq =1.00.
4. Factor of safety against overturning for the foundation, given the ultimate soil bearing
pressure = 12,500 psf - for wind load, and for seismic load.
Answer: FSwind = 2.10, FSeq = 2.73 .
a. Is the footing adequately proportioned per Building Code if the listed lateral load is a
wind load? List Factor of Safety used to evaluate footing.
Answer: (Yes/No), FSwind =1.50.
b. Is the footing adequately proportioned per Building Code if the listed lateral load is a
seismic load? List Factor of Safety used to evaluate footing.
Answer: (Yes/No), FSeq =1.00.
 TRIAL DESIGN PROBLEM 3-03
Shear Wall Footing Design and Analysis for Wind and Seismic Loading
SOLUTION

PROBLEM STATEMENT (continued)

 TRIAL DESIGN PROBLEM 3-03
Shear Wall Footing Design and Analysis for Wind and Seismic Loading
SOLUTION

PROBLEM SOLUTION

Reference Code: Uniform Building Code 1997 Edition.

1. Determine Minimum Footing Length:

Use 1612.3.2 Load Combinations (Since using 1/3 increase in allowable soil bearing pressure).
Also assuming that the given lateral loads were derived per requirements of the ’97 UBC:
Load Combinations
LC 1. Dead + Live Eqn. 12-12
LC 2. Dead + Live + (Wind or Seismic/1.4) Eqn. 12-13
LC 3. 0.9 x Dead +/- Seismic/1.4 Eqn. 12-16-1

LC 1. fsallow = 4,000 psf

Pd+l = 100 k + 40k = 140 k
Wftg = 3’-0”

Lftg = 140k/(4.0ksf x 3’-0”) = 11.67’

~ try Lftg = 11’-8”

LC 2. fsallow = 4,000 psf x 4/3 = 5,333 psf

Pd+l = 100 k + 40k = 140 k
Pwind = 17.8k (governs by inspection)

Mot = 17.8k x (9’ + 1’) = 178’-k

Mr = 140k x (11.67’/2) = 816.67’-k

a = (Mr - Mot)/ Pd+l = (816.67’-k – 178’-k)/140 k

= 4.56’ (inside kern)

fs = (140k/35.0 sq.ft.) +/- (6 x 178)/(3’ x (11.67’)2)

= 6.61 ksf(maximum) & 1.39ksf(minimum) > 5.33ksf(allow)
n.g.

~ try Lftg = 14’-0”

fs = (140k/42 sq.ft.) +/- (6 x 178)/(3’ x (14’)2)

= 5.15 ksf(maximum) & 1.52ksf(minimum) < 5.33ksf(allow)
o.k.
 TRIAL DESIGN PROBLEM 3-03
Shear Wall Footing Design and Analysis for Wind and Seismic Loading
SOLUTION

1. Determine Minimum Footing Length (continued)

LC 3. fsallow = 4,000 psf x 4/3 = 5,333 psf
0.9 x Pd= 0.9 x 100 k = 90 k
Peq/1.4 = 12.71k
Mot = 12.71k x (9’ + 1’) = 127.14’-k
Mr = 90k x (14’/2) = 630’-k

a = (Mr - Mot)/ (0.9 x Pd) = (630’-k – 127.14’-k)/90 k

= 5.59’ (inside kern)
fs = (90k/42 sq.ft.) +/- (6 x 127.14)/(3’ x (14’)2)
= 3.44 ksf(maximum) & 0.84ksf(minimum) < 5.33ksf(allow) o.k.
~ Use
Lftg = 14’-0” Answer to Question 2

2. Determine Factor of Safety Against Sliding:

Note: Use ’97 UBC Eqn. 12-9 (load
combination – D + (W or E/1.4))
and Eqn. 12-10 (load combination –
0.9D +/- E/1.4), since not using 1/3
increase in allowable stresses.

Determine Load Cases

LC 1. Dead + Wind
LC 2. Dead + Seismic/1.4

Analyze Load Cases Figure 2: FBD of O.T. at Footing

LC 1. Dead + Wind
S Fx = 0,
Pd = 100 k
Pwind = 17.8k
Presist = 0.30 x 100k + 0.5 x (0.25kcf x 1’) x 1’x 3’ = 30.38k
FSsliding= 30.38k/17.8k = 1.71 > 1.50 o.k.

LC 2. Dead + Seismic/1.4
Note: Per ’97 UBC Section 1629.1 – Basis of Design: “Allowable Stress Design may be
used to evaluate sliding or overturning at the soil-structure interface regardless of the design
approach used in the design of the structure, provided load combinations of Section 1612.3
are utilized.”
0.9 x Pd= 0.9 x 100 k = 90k
Presist = 0.30 x 90k + 0.5 x (0.25kcf x 1’) x 1’x 3’ = 27.38k
Peq/1.4 = 12.71k
FSsliding= 27.38k/12.7k = 2.16 > 1.00 o.k.
 TRIAL DESIGN PROBLEM 3-03
Shear Wall Footing Design and Analysis for Wind and Seismic Loading
SOLUTION

3. Determine Factor of Safety Against Overturning:

a. Consider Wind Load:

Note: Per ’97 UBC Section 1621.1 – General: “The base overturning moment for the
entire structure, or for any one of its individual primary lateral-resisting elements,
shall not exceed two thirds of the dead-load resisting moment.”

Pd = 100 k
Pwind = 17.8k

1) stability criteria

Mot = 17.8k x (9’ + 1’) = 178’-k

Mr = 100k x (14’/2) = 700’-k
FSot = 700’-k/178’-k = 3.93 > 1.50 o.k.

2) bearing pressure criteria

Note: Per ACI Committee 442 Report – “Response of Buildings to Lateral Forces”,
paragraph 7.4 – Resistance to Overturning: “Resistance to overturning must be
investigated and the safety factor must be within the requirements of the local code.
Overturning calculations should be made under complete absence of fill or live load
and should be based on a safe (low) estimate of the actual available dead load. The
reference line for establishing the overturning moment should be taken through the
centroid of the soil pressure wedge that will ultimately resist the overturning, rather
than at the edge of the foundation.”

Use ’97 UBC Eqn: 12-6 (load combination, 0.9D +/- (1.0E or 1.3 W)), since
evaluating condition with ultimate soil bearing pressure.

Figure 2: FBD of O.T. at Footing

 TRIAL DESIGN PROBLEM 3-03
Shear Wall Footing Design and Analysis for Wind and Seismic Loading
SOLUTION

3. Determine Factor of Safety Against Overturning (continued)

a. Consider Wind Load (continued)

2) bearing pressure criteria (continued)

S Fy = 0,
90k = 0.5 (12.5ksf) x 3’ x Lwedge
Lwedge = 4.80’
Mr = 90k x (14’/2 - 4.80’/3) = 486’-k
Mot = 17.8k x (9’ + 1’) x 1.3 = 231.4’-k
FSot = 486’-k/231.4’-k = 2.10 > 1.50 o.k.

b. Consider Seismic Load:

Pd = 100 k
0.9 x Pd= 90 k
Peq = 12.71k

1) stability criteria

Mot = 12.71k x (9’ + 1’) = 127.1’-k

Mr = 90k x (14’/2) = 630’-k
FSot = 630’-k/127.1’-k = 4.96 > 1.00 o.k.

2) bearing pressure criteria

0.9 x Pd= 90 k
Mot = 17.8k x (9’ + 1’) x 1.0 = 178’-k

S Fy = 0,

90k = 0.5 (12.5ksf) x 3’ x Lwedge

Lwedge = 4.80’
Mr = 90k x (14’/2 - 4.80’/3) = 486’-k
FSot = 486’-k/178’-k = 2.73 > 1.00 o.k.

Footnote: If investigating the seismic condition to preclude an ultimate soil

bearing failure, use ’97 UBC Section 1612.4 – Special Seismic Load
Combinations, Eqn. 12-18 (load combination – 0.9D +/- 1.0Em)
 TRIAL DESIGN PROBLEM 3-03
Shear Wall Footing Design and Analysis for Wind and Seismic Loading
SOLUTION

3. Determine Factor of Safety Against Overturning (continued)

b. Consider Wind Load (continued)

2) bearing pressure criteria (continued)

Pd = 100 k
0.9x Pd = 90 k
Wo= 2.8 (shear wall structure), r = 1.0 (Zone 2a)
Em = 17.8k x 2.8 = 49.84k
Note: Em ~ estimated maximum earthquake force that can be developed in the
structure, per ’97 UBC Section 1630.1.1 – Earthquake Loads

Mot = 49.84k x (9’ + 1’) = 498.4’-k

S Fy = 0,

90k = 0.5 (12.5ksf) x 3’ x Lwedge

Lwedge = 4.80’
Mr = 90k x (14’/2 - 4.80’/3) = 486’-k
FSot = 486’-k/498.4’-k = 0.98 < 1.00 n.g.

~ Try using an equivalent rectangular soil stress block, assuming the soil
stress-strain curve is similarly shaped to that of concrete.

S Fy = 0,

90k = 0.85 (12.5ksf) x 3’ x Lblock

Lblock = 2.82’
Mr = 90k x (14’/2 - 2.82’/2) = 502.94’-k
FSot = 502.94’-k/498.4’-k = 1.01 > 1.00 o.k.