Eng .

Haytham Besaiso
1
6
Geometric design of shallow foundations and Mat footing

1) Geometric design of isolated footing:
- Most economical type .
- Can be rectangular ,circular or square . It is preferred that the footing matches the
shape of its column .
- Used in case of light columns loads and when columns are not closely spaced
1- Find the net allowable bearing capacity
(Soil pressure):
( )
( )
( )
s c f c c
all
u net u
net all
u
all
h D h q
FS
q
q
FS
q q
FS
q
q
FS
q
q
+ =
=

= =
=

2- Find the required area of footing:
( )
L D
net all
req
P P Q
q
Q
A
+ =
=



Note: We can use gross allowable bearing capacity to find the
Area of footing, but the load Q should be also gross so that it
Includes the weight of foundation and soil above it.
( )
s c f soil
c c foot
soil foot L D Gross
all
Gross
req
h D B L W
h B L W
W W P P Q
q
Q
A

=
=
+ + + =
=

Eng . Haytham Besaiso
2
2) Geometric design of rectangular combined footing:
- Used under closely spaced and heavily loaded columns where individual footings , if
they were provided , would be either very close or overlap each other .
- Used as an alternative to an eccentrically loaded footing that has a property line
restriction so that the edge columns is linked to an interior column .
- rectangular combined footing is more preferred than trapezoidal combined footing
due to its simplicity in both design and construction .













Case I) No limitations:

1- Find the required area:
( )
net all
req
q
Q Q
A
2 1
+
=
2- Find the resultant force location (Xr):
R X L Q
Q M
Q Q R
r
=
= E
+ =
2 2
1
2 1
00 . 0 @

3- To ensure uniform soil pressure, the resultant force (R) should be in the center of
rectangular footing:
( )
L
A
B
X L L
X L
L
r
r
=
+ =
+ =
1
1
2
2

Eng . Haytham Besaiso
3

Case II) Limitation that we have known length or width of footing:

- Find center M@ E :

1- If center M@ E =0.00, uniform soil pressure
And find the required area:
( )
L
A
B
q
Q Q
A
net all
req
=
+
=
2 1


2- if 00 . 0 @ = E center M so that there is a value M
by means of eccentricity so that the soil pressure will not
be uniform.
- Calculate the soil pressure:
|
.
|

\
|

=
|
.
|

\
|
+

=
L
e
L B
R
q
L
e
L B
R
q
6
1
6
1
min
max

- Find the width of footing B, by equating
max
q
With( )
net all
q .
- Check adequacy of footing width B that is 00 . 0
min
> q









Eng . Haytham Besaiso
4
3) Geometric design of trapezoidal combined footing:

Trapezoidal combined footing is used rather than rectangular combined footing and
will be more economical in the following two cases :
- There are limitations on footing's longitudinal projection beyond the two columns.
- There is a large difference between the magnitudes of the columns loads .













1- Find the required area:
( )
net all
req
q
Q Q
A
2 1
+
=
As the area of trapezoidal is given by ) )( ( 5 . 0
2 1
L B B A + =
So put A A
req
= to get an equation which is function of
2 1
& B B .
2- Determine the resultant force location by taking as example 0 @
1
= E Q M
3- Put the resultant force location at the centroid of trapezoid to achieve uniform soil
pressure.
The centroid equation is:
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+
=
2 1
2 1
2
3 B B
B B L
X So we will have another equation of
2 1
& B B , solve them to
get
2 1
& B B where ,

B
1 :
the edge from which the centroid is measured .
B
2
: the other edge .
Please try to derive the centroid equation .
Eng . Haytham Besaiso
5
4) Geometric design of strap footing (Cantilever):
- Used when there is a property line which disables the footing to be extended beyond the
face of the edge column. In addition to that the edge column is relatively far from the
interior column so that the rectangular combined footing will be too narrow and long
which increases the cost .
- There is a "strap beam" which connects two separated footings . The edge footing is
eccentrically loaded and the interior footing is centrically loaded . The purpose of the
beam is to prevent overturning of the eccentrically loaded footing .

1- Find the resultant force location:
R X Q
Q M
Q Q R
r
=
= E
+ =
Lc
00 . 0 @
2
1
2 1

2- Assume the width of the exterior (edge) footing B1.
3- Find the distance X
1
, X
2
:

2 2
1 1
1
B c
X X
r
+ = , X
2 =
L
c
X
r

4- Find the resultant of each soil pressure:
( )
1 2
2 2 1 1 2
1 00 . 0 @
R R R
R Find X R X X R R M
=
= + = E

5- Find the required area for each foot:
( )
( )
net all
net all
q
R
A
q
R
A
2
2
1
1
=
=

Eng . Haytham Besaiso
6
5) Geometric and structural design of Mat foundation:
- Geometric design (Service loads):

1- Find the center of gravity of mat footing:
i
i i
i
i i
A
A Y
A
A X

=
~
Yg
~
Xg
2- Find the resultant force R:
i
Q R =
3- Find the location of the resultant force:
i
ri i
R
i
ri i
R
Q
Y Q
Y
Q
X Q
X

=
That means, the moment of the resultant equals the sum of forces' moments
i
A : shape's area .
i
X : distance between y-axis and the centroid of the shape
i
Y : distance between x-axis and the centroid of the shape
i
Q :The load of column i
ri
X : distance between column's center and y-axis
ri
Y : distance between column's center and y-axis
Note : X
g ,
Y
g ,
X
R
and Y
R
are all measured from the same axis.

Eng . Haytham Besaiso
7

4- Find the eccentricities:
'
Y Y e X X e
R y R x
= =
5- Find the following :

i y X
Q e M = .. moment of the columns loads about x-axis

i x y
Q e M = .. moment of the columns loads about y-axis

12
1

3
L B I
x
= .. moment of inertia of the mat's area about its centroidal x-axis

12
1
3
B L I
y
= .. moment of inertia of the mat's area about its centroidal y-axis
6- Find the stresses:
gravity of center the point to the from Distances : ,Y X
Y
I
M
X
I
M
A
Q
q
X
X
Y
y
mat
i

=

Now check that:
( )
00 . 0
min
max
>
s
q
q q
net all


Otherwise increase the dimensions of the mat foundation
- Structural design (Ultimate loads):
The mat foundation is divided into strips in both directions. The width of the strip is directly
proportion to the loads of the column included in this strip.
For the previous mat let we take a strip of width B
1
for the columns 13-14-15-16
- Locate the points E and F at the middle of strip edges.
- Find the stresses at E and F and be careful that we use ultimate loads:
( ) ( )
( )
( )
ui X u Y
ui y u X
X
u X
Y
u Y
mat
ui
Q e M
Q e M
Y
I
M
X
I
M
A
Q
q
=
=

=

Find the average stress:
2
F E
avg
q q
q
+
=
Find the summation of loads of the strip ( )
Strip ui
Q .
Check that:
( )
Strip ui
Q =
strip avg
A q
Eng . Haytham Besaiso
8
If ok, draw the SFD and BMD and design the mat.
Otherwise;
We have to make adjustment for the loads as follow:
( )
2
load Average
strip avg Strip ui
A q Q +
=
- Find the modified column loads:
( )
( )
strip ui
ui ui
Q
Q Q

=
load Average
mod

- Find the modified soil pressure:
( )
strip avg u
avg u avg u
A q
q q

=
,
,
mod
,
load Average

Now we must have that:
( )
Strip ui
Q =
strip avg
A q
Draw SFD and BMD.






















Eng . Haytham Besaiso
9
Example1
Find the Dimensions of the combined footing for the columns A and B that spaced 6.0m
center to center, column A is 40cm x 40cm carrying dead loads of 50tons and 30tons live
load and column B is 40cm x 40cm carrying 70tons dead load and 50 tons live loads.
( ) . / 15
2
m t q
net all
=


Solution
1- Find the required area:
( )
2 2 1
33 . 13
15
120 80
m
q
Q Q
A
net all
req
=
+
=
+
=
2- Find the resultant force location (Xr):
m X X
Q M
tons Q Q R
r r
6 . 3 200 6 120
00 . 0 @
200 120 80
1
2 1
= =
= E
= + = + =

3- To ensure uniform soil pressure, the resultant force (R) should be in the center of
rectangular footing:
m B
m L
L
76 . 1
6 . 7
333 . 13
6 . 7 8 . 3 2
2 . 0 6 . 3
2
= =
= =
+ =



Eng . Haytham Besaiso
10
Example 2.
Design a rectangular combined footing, given that ( )
net all
q = 5 ksf , Df = 5 feet, the edge of
column 1 is at the property line, and the spacing between columns is 18 feet center-to-
center (c.c.).

Column1 (18'' *18'') Column 2 (24'' *24'')
DL 80 kips 130 kips
LL 175 kips 200 kips

Solution:
1- Find the required area:
( )
2 2 1
117
5
330 255
ft
q
Q Q
A
net all
req
=
+
=
+
=

2- Find the resultant force location (Xr):
ft X X
Q M
kips Q Q R
r r
15 . 10 585 18 330
00 . 0 @
585 330 255
1
2 1
= =
= E
= + = + =


3- To ensure uniform soil pressure, the resultant force (R) should be in the center of
rectangular footing:
L = (0.7
5+10.15) * 2 = 21.8 ft =22 ft (approximately)
Note : This round off isn't required but it can be accepted
B = A/L = 117/22 = 5.31 ft = 5 ft- 4 in

4- Evaluate the net factored soil pressure :
u
Q
1
= 1.4 *80 + 1.7 *175 = 410 kips
u
Q
2
=1.4 *130 + 1.7*200 = 522 kips
net
u
q
|
|
.
|

\
|
= ksf 96 . 7
117
522 5 . 409
=
+

So, the uniform soil pressure along footing's length q' =
net
u
q
|
|
.
|

\
|
* B = 7.96 * 5.31=42.3 k/ft


Eng . Haytham Besaiso
11
5- Now, The column loads are treated as concentrated loads acting at the centers of the
columns. The shear and moment diagrams are












Eng . Haytham Besaiso
12
Example3
Find the Dimensions of the trapezoidal combined footing for the columns A and B that
spaced 4.0m center to center, column A is 40cm x 40cm carrying dead loads of 80tons
and 40tons live load and column B is 30cm x 30cm carrying 50tons dead load and 25 tons
live loads. ( ) . / 85 . 18
2
m t q
net all
=

Solution
1- Find the required area:
( )
2 2 1
34 . 10
85 . 18
75 120
m
q
Q Q
A
net all
req
=
+
=
+
=
As the area of trapezoidal is given by ) )( ( 5 . 0
2 1
L B B A + =
So put A A
req
= to get an equation which is function of
2 1
& B B .
( ) 75 . 4 34 . 10 35 . 4 5 . 0
2 1 2 1
= + = + B B B B ...............1
2- Determine the resultant force
m X X
Q M
r r
55 . 1 195 4 75
0 @
1
= =
= E



Eng . Haytham Besaiso
13
3- Put the resultant force location at the centroid of trapezoid to achieve uniform soil
pressure.
The centroid equation is:
( )
2 1
2 1
2 1
2 1
2 305 . 0
75 . 4
2
3
35 . 4 2
3
B B X
B B
B B
B B L
X + = |
.
|

\
| +
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+
=
For uniform soil pressure:
1.55 + 0.2 = X
( ) 75 . 1 2 305 . 0
75 . 1
2 1
= +
=
B B
m X

75 . 5 2
2 1
= + B B .........................2
Solve 1 and 2:
m B 75 . 3
1
=
m B 1
2
=


Example 4
Design a strap footing to support two columns, that spaced 4.0m center to center exterior
column is 80cm x 80cm carrying 1500 KN and interior column is 80cm x 80cm carrying
2500KN.
( ) . / 200
2
m KN q
net all
=



Eng . Haytham Besaiso
14

1- Find the resultant force location:
m X X
Q M
KN Q Q R
r r
5 4000 8 2500
00 . 0 @
4000 2500 1500
1
2 1
= =
= E
= + = + =

2- Assume the length of any foot, let we assume L1=2m.



3- Find the distance X
1 ,
X
2
:
m 4 . 4
2
2
2
8 . 0
5 X1 = + = , X
2 =
8-5 = 3.0 m

4- Find the resultant of each soil pressure:
KN R R R
KN R R R M
4 . 2378 6 . 1621 4000
6 . 1621 3 4000 4 . 7 00 . 0 @
1 2
1 1 2
= = =
= = = E

5- Find the required area for each foot:
m B A
m B m A
ext
45 . 3 892 . 11 892 . 11
200
4 . 2378
1 . 4
2
108 . 8
108 . 8
200
6 . 1621
2
1
2
= = = =
= = = =


Eng . Haytham Besaiso
15
Example 5
Design a strap-footing for ( )
net all
q = 2.5 ksf . The edge of column 1 is placed at the
property line, and the center of the columns are 25 feet center-to-center (c.c.).
Column1 (12'' *12'') Column 2(16'' *16'')
DL 80 kips 120 kips
LL 60 kips 110 kips
Solution:
1- Find the resultant force location:
ft X X
Q M
Kips Q Q R
r r
54 . 15 370 25 230
00 . 0 @
370 230 140
1
2 1
= =
= E
= + = + =

2- Assume the length of any foot, let we assume L1=7ft.
3- Find the distance X
1 ,
X
2
:
ft 54 . 12
2
7
2
1
54 . 15 X1 = + = , X
2 =
25-15.54 = 9.46 ft
4- Find the resultant of each soil pressure:
ft R R R
kips R R R M
9 . 210 1 . 159 370
1 . 159 46 . 9 370 22 00 . 0 @
1 2
1 1 2
= = =
= = = E

5- Find the required area for each footing:
ft B ft A
ft L ft A
2 . 9 36 . 84 36 . 84
5 . 2
9 . 210
9
7
64 . 63
64 . 63
5 . 2
1 . 159
2
2
1
2
1
= = = =
= = = =


1- Evaluate the net factored soil pressure :
u
Q
1
= 1.4 *80 + 1.7 *60 = 214 kips
u
Q
2
=1.4 *120 + 1.7*110 = 355 kips
Repeat the usual steps to find out R
1 =
243 kips and R
2
= 326 kips
Edge footing :
net
u
q
|
|
.
|

\
|
1
= ksf 85 . 3
9 * 7
243
=
So, the uniform soil pressure along footing's width q' =
net
u
q
|
|
.
|

\
|
* L = 3.85 * 9=34.65k/ft
Interior footing :
net
u
q
|
|
.
|

\
|
2
= ksf 85 . 3
2 . 9 * 2 . 9
326
=
So, the uniform soil pressure along footing's length q' =
net
u
q
|
|
.
|

\
|
* B = 3.85 * 9=34.65 k/ft
Eng . Haytham Besaiso
16











Eng . Haytham Besaiso
17
Example 6

For the shown mat foundation:
Interior columns Edge columns Corner columns
Column dimension 60cm x 60cm 60cm x 40cm 40cm x 40cm
Service loads 1800KN 1200KN 600KN
Ultimate loads 2700KN 1800KN 900KN

- ( ) . / 150
2
m KN q
net all
=
Check the adequacy of the foundation dimensions.
Calculate the modified soil pressure under the strip ABCD which is 2m width.
Draw SFD and BMD for the strip.



Check the adequacy of the foundation dimensions.
1) Find the center of gravity of mat footing:
X
g
= 13.4/2 0.2 = 6.5 m , Y
g
= 17.4/2 0.2 = 8.5 m
The distances are taken from (x-y) axes shown in the figure.
Eng . Haytham Besaiso
18
2) Find the resultant force R:
KN Q R
i
200 , 13 1200 6 1800 2 600 4 = + + = =
3) Find the location of the resultant force:
( ) ( ) ( )
m Y
m X
R
R
18 . 8
200 , 13
600 2 1200 17 1200 2 1800 12 1200 2 1800 4
81 . 5
200 , 13
13 1200 2 13 600 2 5 1800 2 5 1200 2
=
+ + + + +
=
=
+ + +
=


4) Find the eccentricities:
m e
m . e
y
x
32 . 0 5 . 8 18 . 8
69 0 5 . 6 81 . 5
= =
= =


5) Find the following :
m KN M
m KN M
y
X
. 108 , 9 200 , 13 69 . 0
. 224 , 4 200 , 13 32 . 0
= =
= =

4 3
4 3
627 . 882 , 5 4 . 13 4 . 17
12
1
851 . 488 , 3 4 . 17 4 . 13
12
1
m I
m I
x
y
= =
= =


6) Find the stresses:
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
2
min
2
max
/ 87 . 32 7 . 8
627 . 882 , 5
224 , 4
7 . 6
85 . 488 , 3
108 , 9
4 . 17 4 . 13
200 , 13
/ 35 . 80 7 . 8
627 . 882 , 5
224 , 4
7 . 6
85 . 488 , 3
108 , 9
4 . 17 4 . 13
200 , 13
gravity of center the point to the from Distances : ,
627 . 882 , 5
224 , 4
85 . 488 , 3
108 , 9
4 . 17 4 . 13
200 , 13
m KN q
m KN q
Y X
Y X q
=

=
=

=

( )
OK q
OK q q
net all
>
<
00 . 0
min
max


Calculate the modified soil pressure under the strip ABCD which is 2m width.
- Locate the points E and F at the middle of strip edges.
- Find the stresses at E and F and notice that we use ultimate loads:
Eng . Haytham Besaiso
19
( )
( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
2
2
/ 6 . 116 7 . 8
627 . 882 , 5
336 , 6
7 . 5
85 . 488 , 3
662 , 13
4 . 17 4 . 13
800 , 19
/ 8 . 97 7 . 8
627 . 882 , 5
336 , 6
7 . 5
85 . 488 , 3
662 , 13
4 . 17 4 . 13
800 , 19
627 . 882 , 5
336 , 6
85 . 488 , 3
662 , 13
4 . 17 4 . 13
800 , 19
336 , 6 800 , 19 32 . 0
662 , 13 800 , 19 69 . 0
800 , 19 2700 2 1800 6 900 4
m KN q
m KN q
Y X q
KN M
KN M
KN Q
F
E
u X
u Y
ui
=

=
=

=
= =
= =
= + + =

Find the average stress:
2
/ 2 . 107
2
6 . 116 8 . 97
2
m KN
q q
q
F E
avg
=
+
=
+
=
( ) KN Q
Strip ui
5400 1800 2 900 2 = + = .
KN A q
strip avg
76 . 3730 4 . 17 2 2 . 107 = =
( ) =
Strip ui
Q
strip avg
A q
We have to make adjustment for the loads as follow:
KN 4 . 4565
2
76 . 3730 5400
load Average =
+
=
- Find the modified column loads:
( )
0.845 by load column each
845 . 0
5400
4565.4
mod
Multiply
Q Q Q
ui ui ui
= =

- Find the modified soil pressure:
( )
2
mod
,
/ 2 . 131
76 . 3730
4565.4
2 . 107 m KN q
avg u
= =

Draw SFD and BMD.



Eng . Haytham Besaiso
20

Example 7
For the mat foundation shown below. All column dimensions are 50 cm x 50 cm with the
load schedule shown below. The allowable soil pressure is q
all
=60 kPa.
1) Check the adequacy of the foundation dimensions
2) Draw shear and moment diagrams for the strip AMOJ






Eng . Haytham Besaiso
21
DL, kN LL, kN Column
200 200 A
250 250 B
250 200 C
800 700 D
800 700 E
650 550 F
800 700 G
800 700 H
650 550 I
200 200 J
250 250 K
200 150 L















Solution
1- Find the center of gravity of mat footing:
X
g
= 8.25 m , Y
g
=10.75 m
The distances are taken from (x-y) axes shown in the figure.

2- Find the resultant force R:
KN Q R
i
000 , 11 = =

3- Find the location of the resultant force:
m Y
m X
R
R
85 . 10
000 , 11
) 450 500 400 ( 25 . 21 ) 1200 1500 2 ( 25 . 14 ) 1200 2 1500 ( 25 . 7 ) 350 500 400 ( 25 . 0
81 . 7
000 , 11
) 1200 2 450 350 ( 25 . 16 ) 1500 2 500 2 ( 25 . 8 ) 1500 2 400 2 ( 25 . 0
=
+ + + + + + + + +
=
=
+ + + + + +
=

4- Find the eccentricities:
m e
m . e
y
x
1 . 0 75 . 10 85 . 10
44 0 52 . 8 81 . 7
= =
= =


5- Find the following :
m KN M
m KN M
y
X
. 840 , , 4 000 , 11 44 . 0
. 100 , 1 000 , 11 1 . 0
= =
= =
Eng . Haytham Besaiso
22
4 3
4 3
048 , 8 5 . 21 5 . 16
12
1
665 , 13 5 . 16 5 . 21
12
1
m I
m I
x
y
= =
= =


6- Find the stresses:
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
2
min
2
max
/ 62 . 26 75 . 10
048 , 8
1100
25 . 8
665 , 13
840 , , 4
5 . 21 * 5 . 16
000 , 11
/ 4 . 35 75 . 10
048 , 8
1100
25 . 8
665 , 13
840 , , 4
5 . 21 * 5 . 16
000 , 11
gravity of center the point to the from Distances : ,
048 , 8
1100
665 , 13
5390
5 . 21 * 5 . 16
000 , 11
m KN q
m KN q
Y X
Y X q
= +

+ =
= +

+ =
+

+ =

( )
OK q
OK q q
net all
>
<
00 . 0
min
max

So, the mat dimensions are ok
Now, to draw shear and moment diagrams, factored forces are considered

( )
( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
2
2
/ 84 . 48 75 . 10
048 , 8
1694.5
125 . 6
665 , 13
8 . 455 , 7
5 . 21 * 5 . 16
16945
/ 37 . 53 75 . 10
048 , 8
1694.5
125 . 6
665 , 13
8 . 455 , 7
5 . 21 * 5 . 16
16945
048 , 8
1694.5
665 , 13
8 . 455 , 7
5 . 21 * 5 . 16
16945
1694.5 16945 1 . 0
8 . 455 , 7 16945 44 . 0
16945
m KN q
m KN q
Y X q
KN M
KN M
KN Q
b
a
u X
u Y
ui
= +

+ =
= +

+ =
+

+ =
= =
= =
=

Find the average stress:
2
/ 105 . 51
2
84 . 48 37 . 53
2
m KN
q q
q
b a
avg
=
+
=
+
=
( ) KN Q
Strip ui
5860 = .
KN A q
strip avg
4670 5 . 21 25 . 4 105 . 51 = =
( ) =
Strip ui
Q
strip avg
A q
We have to make adjustment for the loads as follow:
KN 5265
2
4670 5860
load Average =
+
=
Eng . Haytham Besaiso
23
- Find the modified column loads:
( )
0.9 by load column each
9 . 0
5860
5265
mod
Multiply
Q Q Q
ui ui ui
= =

- Find the modified soil pressure:
( )
2
mod
,
/ 62 . 57
4670
5265
105 . 51 m KN q
avg u
= =

The shear and bending moment diagrams for the selected strip in are shown below.




Eng . Haytham Besaiso
24


Note : This moment diagram could be mirrored about the horizontal axis to get
BMD we are used to (i.e, Moment drawn on tension side)