Introduction
Combined footings are normally employed in cases where two or more columns are closely spaced
such that their individual pad footings would overlap each other. They are also used where property
boundaries would not permit design of separate bases. The most common method of design of
combined footings is the rigid approach, which makes the following assumptions;
(1)The footing is infinitely rigid, and therefore, the deflection of the footing does not influence the
pressure distribution.
(2) The soil pressure is distributed in a straight line or a plane surface such that the centroid of the
soil pressure coincides with the line of action of the resultant force of all the loads acting on the
foundation.
Solved example
Two (300 x 300)mm square columns spaced at a distance 2.45m is loaded as shown below. The foundation is
founded on a soil of bearing capacity 150 kN/m2. It is desired to design the footing to satisfy all requirements
using concrete grade of 30 N/mm2 and steel of yield strength 500 N/mm2. The concrete cover is 50mm.
Solution
At serviceability limit state;
PEd = 1.0Gk + 1.0Qk
Total service load on column P1 = 665 + 122 = 787 kN
Total service load on column P2 = 825 + 145 = 970 kN
Total load on column = 787 + 970 = 1757 KN
Assuming 10% of the service load to account for the self weight of the footing;
Sw = 0.1 × 1757 = 175.7 KN
Area of footing required = Total service load/Allowable bearing capacity = (1757 + 175.7)/200 =
9.6635 m2
The final disposition of the footing is given below assuming a trial footing depth of 600mm.
We can check the preliminary thickness of 600mm by considering the punching shear at the column perimeter. At the column
perimeter, the maximum punching shear stress should not be exceeded.
Where;
VRd,max = 0.5vfcd
Therefore;
1996874/1200d = 5.28
On solving; dmin = 315.263mm
k = MEd/(fckbd2 )
k = (376.875 × 106)/(30 × 2000 × 5402 ) = 0.0215
As1 = MEd/(0.87fyk z)
As1 = (376.875 × 106)/(0.87 × 500 × 0.95 × 540) = 1688 mm2
Provide 10B16mm @ 225mm c/c BOT (ASprov = 2010 mm2/m)
Read Also....
Top reinforcement
There is no hogging moment on the footing as shown in the bending moment diagram. However,
provide minimum reinforcement at the top.
Transverse Reinforcement
Cantilever arm = (2.0 - 0.3)/2 = 0.85m
MEd = [482.4 × 0.852]/2 = 174.267 kNm
Effective depth (d) = 600 - 50 - 10 = 540 mm (assuming B20mm bars).
k = MEd/(fckbd2 )
k = (174.267 × 106)/(30 × 1000 × 5402 ) = 0.0199
As1 = MEd/(0.87fyk z)
As1 = (174.267 × 106)/(0.87 × 500 × 0.95 × 540) = 781 mm2
Provide B16mm @ 250mm c/c BOT (ASprov = 804 mm2/m)
Let us investigate this at a distance d from the face of the column according to clause 6.4.4(2) of
Eurocode 2.
vEd,red = VEd,red / ud
where u is the control perimeter = 4(2d + 300) = 4(2 × 540 + 300) = 5520mm
vEd,red = (900.475× 1000) / (5520 × 540) = 0.3021 N/mm2