References: ACI Code / Structural Concrete, Theory and Design (Copyright 1998), By M.

Nadim Hassoun

Foundations
Before starting with the foundations design, a soil investigation has to be performed to check the
soil characteristics and propertires. The site soil must be checked if its capable to hold the load
transferred to it through the footings (Shear test, Ultimate Bearing Capacity "qu", etc...).
The Bearing Capacity is required for designing the foundation. If the soil investigation indicates
poor ground conditions, (Such as the bearing capacity is less than the allowable), A Ground
Improvement technique must be performed to treat and improve the soil that support the footing
and make it safe to build with.

Common Solutions & Ground Improvement Techniques:

Grouting, Dewatering, Soil Reinforcement (Geograde, Geogrids, etc...), Piles,
Dynamic Compaction, Vibroflotation, Vibro-Compaction, Snad Drains, Soil Replacement.

Geogrids

Grouting

Dynamic Compaction Vibro-Compaction

Piles

Most Common Types of Soil Prone to Improvement Techniques

Collapsible Soil
Expansive Soil
Sanitary Landfills
Karastic Profile

Designing Notes
It is preferable to check the sizes or dimensions of each footing before starting designing them.
This must be done to choose the required and preferred system of footing (Single, Combined, etc.).
A fast calculation can be performed using the following formula:
Service Load / Stress
Where the Service load can be taken = 1.5 of the Ultimate Load that is being transferred from
The Columns. And the Stress is the one that is provided from the soil tests (i.e. 3 Kg/cm²)

Example
Pu = 250 Ton Area of footing = (250,000/1.5) / 3 = 55555.55 cm²
qu = 3 kg/cm² or A = 5.55 m²

Page 1 of 9
Project Name TWO STOREY RESDL BLDG
Subject Design of Combined Footing
Element Number CF3

Date 4/3/2020 3:21

DESIGN OF COMBINED FOOTING (ACI Strength Design Method)

fc' = 21 Mpa
fy = 275 Mpa
Concrete Density = 23.5 kN/m³ 200cm 200cm
Weight of Soil = 17.6 kN/m³ 350cm I II 350cm

Column Dimentions:
Column I 200 x 350 mm
Column II 200 x 350 mm
Column Spaces Center-Center = 1.6 m 0m 1.6m 0.6m
Space from Property line to center of 2.2m
Column I 0 m Property Line
Resultant
Loads Carried By Columns:
Column I D.L. = 58 kN 0m 1.05m
L.L. = 46.08 kN

Column II D.L. = 106 kN

L.L. = 95 kN

Allowable Soil Pressure = 105 KN/m²

Bottom of footing below the final grade = 1.2 m

Resultant of the column loads location

Taking moments about the center of the exterior column I:
x= 1.05 m from Column I
The distance of the resultant from the property line is 1.05415 m say 1.1
The length of the footing = 2.2 m

Area of the footing

Assume the footing total depth = 350 mm Assume Cover = 75 mm
d= 275 mm
Total actual (working) loads = 305.08 kN
Net upward pressure = 81.815 KN/m²
Required Area = 3.728901 m²
Width of footing = 1.694955 m Use 1.7 m
Then, Area of the footing = 3.74 m²

Ultimate upward pressure using ultimate loads

Pu1 (Column I) = 159.536 kN
Pu2 (Column II) = 309.9 kN Net ultimate upward pressure qu = 125.518 KN/m²
qu = 213.3806 Kg/m (per meter length of footing)
Factored shearing force
Vu (at outer face column I ) = 0 kN 0
Vu (at interior face column I ) = 80.01773 kN
Vu (at outer face column II ) = 261.3912 kN
Vu (at interior face column II ) = 111.5267 kN

Point of zero shear, x: distance from property line

x = 0.7476593467 m

Page 2 of 9
Project Name TWO STOREY RESDL BLDG
Subject Design of Combined Footing
Element Number CF3

Date 4/3/2020 3:21

Factored moment
Mu1 (at outer face column I) = 1.066903 Kg.m
Mu2 (at outer face column II) = 26.67258 Kg.m

The maximum moment occures at zero shear:

Maximum Mu (Calculated from column I side) = -59.64 Kg.m
Maximum Mu (Calculated from column II side) = 21.29 Kg.m 26.67258 Kg.m

Checking the depth for one-way shear

Maximum shear occures at a distance "d" from the
interior face of column II d= 275 cm 200cm 200cm
1.7m 350cm I II 350cm
Vc 303.5 kN
Vu 261.39 kN
At effective depth of 275 cm
Shearing capacity Vc 303.5 >261.39
Thus, Footing is adequate 0m 1.6m 0.6m
2.2m
Checking the depth for two-way shear 111.5267 Kg
Maximum Ultimate shear
Vu 272.64 kN 0 Kg
bo = 2200 mm4 0.75m -1.15m
Shearing capacity Vc
Vc 924.15 kN
cm 261.3912
At effective depth provided = 275 cm 80.01773 Kg Kg
Shearing Capacity Vc 924.15 >272.64 26.67258 Kg.m
Thus, Footing is adequate 0m
Mu (max) 1.23m
Checking the depth for moment & Determining
the required reinforcement in the long direction
Maximum bending moment = 26.67258 kNm 1.066903 Kg.m
Ru = 0.2305197429 N/mm² 26.67258
ρ = 0.0009937884 ρ(min) = 0.005091 ρ < ρ(min) use ρ(min) . Kg.m

As = 2380 mm²
Min. As (Shrinkage) = 1071 mm² Hence, As = 2380 mm² Controls

Insert Bar No. = 16 Concrete Cover = 15 cm

Then bar diameter = 16 mm
Use 12 of Bar No. 16 Spacing = 153.1818 mm
kael start editing here
The bars are extended between the columns at the top of the footing with a concrete cover 3 in. Place
minimum reinforcement at the bottom of the projecting ends of the footing beyond the columns to take care
of the positive moments. Extend the bars a development length ld beyond the side of the column.
The minimum shrinkage reinforcement As = 1071 mm2.

Insert Bar No. = 16 Concrete Cover = 15 cm

Then bar diameter = 16 mm
Use 6 of Bar No. 16 Spacing = 31 cm
The development length required for the main top bars is 1.3 ld = 1.5925 m Beyond the point of maximum
moment. Development length provided for both columns are adequate.

Page 3 of 9
Project Name TWO STOREY RESDL BLDG
Subject Design of Combined Footing
Element Number CF3

Date 4/3/2020 3:21

Page 4 of 9
Project Name TWO STOREY RESDL BLDG
Subject Design of Combined Footing
Element Number CF3

Date 4/3/2020 3:21

Reinforcement in short direction

The reinforcement under each column is to be placed within a maximum bandwidth equal to the column width
plus twice the effective depth "d" of the footing.

a. Reinforcement under the exterior column I 200cmx350cm 200cmx350cm

Bandwidth = 0.3 m 1.7m
Net upward pressure in the short direction under I II
Under column I = 418.3933 kN/m
Distance from the free end to the face of the column
= 0.675 m
Mu (at face of column I) = 28.59457 Kg.m 0.3m 0.8m
Ru = 1.400407438 N/mm² 2.2m
ρ = 0.0062964375
As = 519.4560922 mm² Min. As (Shrinkage) = 189 mm²
Hence, As (Control) = 519.4561 mm²

Insert Bar No. = 16 Concrete Cover = 13 cm

Then bar diameter = 16 mm
Use 3 of Bar No. 16 Spacing = 78.5 cm

b. Reinforcement under the interior column II

Bandwidth = 0.8 m
Net upward pressure in the short direction under under column I = 73.83412 kN/m2
Distance to face of column = 0.675 m
Mu (at face of column II in short direction) = 16.82033 kN/m
Ru = 0.3089134054 N/mm²
ρ = 0.0013352892
As = 293.76363486 mm² Min. As (Shrinkage) = 504 mm²
Hence, As (Control) = 504 mm²

Insert Bar No. = 16 Concrete Cover = 13 cm

Then bar diameter = 16 mm
Use 3 of Bar No. 16 Spacing = 78.5 cm

0.675m 350cm 0.675m 0.675m 350cm 0.675m

6 # 16 3 # 16 6 # 16 3 # 16
350cm 350cm

1.7m 1.7m
Exterior Footing I Interior Footing II
Shrinkage
Steel
-1m 200cm 200cm -0.4m

3 # 16 6 # 16 12 # 16 bars 6 # 16 3 # 16 350cm

2.2m

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Project Name TWO STOREY RESDL BLDG
Subject Design of Combined Footing
Element Number CF3

Date 4/3/2020 3:21

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Project Name Two Storey Resdl Bldg
Subject Design of Combined Footing

Date 4/3/2020 3:21

DESIGN OF COMBINED FOOTING (ACI Strength Design Method)

fc' = 4 Ksi
fy = 40 Ksi
Concrete Density = 150 lb/ft³ 15.744" 15.744"
Weight of Soil = 100 lb/ft³ 15.744" I II 15.744"

Column Dimentions:
Column I 15.744 x 15.744 in
Column II 15.744 x 15.744 in
Column Spaces Center-Center = 8.2021 ft 4.265' 8.20209973753281' 4.06290026246719'
Space from Property line to center of 16.53'
Column I 4.265 ft Property Line
Resultant
Loads Carried By Columns:
Column I D.L. = Kips 4.265' 4'
L.L. = 151 Kips

Column II D.L. = Kips

L.L. = 151 Kips

Allowable Soil Pressure = 2 Ksf

Bottom of footing below the final grade = 4.6 ft

Resultant of the column loads location

Taking moments about the center of the exterior column I:
x= 4 ft from Column I
The distance of the resultant from the properly line is 8.265 ft
The length of the footing = 16.53 ft

Area of the footing must be 415mm thick

Assume the footing total depth = 13.77953 in Assume Cover = 3 in
d = 10.77953 in
Total actual (working) loads = 302 Kips
Net upward pressure = 1482.585 psf
Required Area = 203.6982 ft²
Width of footing = 12.32294 ft Use 12.4 ft 3.77952
Then, Area of the footing = 204.972 ft²

Ultimate upward pressure using ultimate loads

Pu1 (Column I) = 241.6 Kips
Pu2 (Column II) = 241.6 Kips Net ultimate upward pressure qu = 2.357 Ksf
qu = 29.2268 K/ft (per foot length of footing)
Factored shearing force
Vu (at outer face column I ) = 105.4795 Kips
Vu (at interior face column I ) = 97.77492 Kips
Vu (at outer face column II ) = 99.57279 Kips
Vu (at interior face column II ) = 103.6816 Kips

Point of zero shear, x: distance between interior faces of columns I and II is:
x = 3.344041 ft

Page 7 of 9
Project Name Two Storey Resdl Bldg
Subject Design of Combined Footing

Date 4/3/2020 3:21

Factored moment
Mu1 (at outer face column I) = 190.3378 K.ft
Mu2 (at outer face column II) = 169.6173 K.ft

The maximum moment occures at zero shear:

Maximum Mu (Calculated from column I side) = -31.84464 K.ft Then:
Maximum Mu (Calculated from column II side) = 16.98265 K.ft Mu (max) = 190.3378 K.ft

Checking the depth for one-way shear

Maximum shear occures at a distance "d" from the
interior face of column II d = 10.77953 in 15.744" 15.744"
12.4' 15.744" I II 15.744"
Vu1 = 77.42739 Kips
d = 4.839637 in
The effective depth provided = 10.77953 in
Which is > 4.84"
Thus, Footing is adequate 4.265' 8.20209973753281' 4.06290026246719'
16.53'
Checking the depth for two-way shear 103.6816 K
For the interior column,
(c + d) = 2.210294 ft 105.4795 K
bo = 8.841176 ft 3.34' 3.55'
The shear at a section d/2 from all sides of the column:
Vu2 = 230.0851 Kips
d = 10.08529 in 99.57279
The effective depth provided = 10.77953 in 97.77492 K Kips
Which is > 10.09" 190.3378 K.ft
Thus, Footing is adequate 3.61'
Mu (max) 3.41'
Checking the depth for moment & Determining
the required reinforcement in the long direction
Maximum bending moment = 190.3378 K.ft 190.3378 K.ft
Ru = 132.1003 psi 169.6173
ρ = 0.003978 ρ(min) = 0.005 ρ < ρ(min) use min. K.ft

As = 6.381341 in²
Min. As (Shrinkage) = 3.690709 in² Hence, As = 6.381341 in² Controls

Insert bar No. = 8 Concrete Cover = 3 in

Then bar diameter = 1 in
Use 9 of Bar No. 8 Spacing = 18.225 in

The bars are extended between the columns at the top of the footing with a concrete cover 3 in. Place
minimum reinforcement at the bottom of the projecting ends of the footing beyond the columns to take care
of the positive moments. Extend the bars a development length ld beyond the side of the column.
The minimum shrinkage reinforcement As = 3.691 in2.

Insert bar No. = 8 Concrete Cover = 3 in

Then bar diameter = 1 in
Use 5 of Bar No. 8 Spacing = 36.45 in
The development length required for the main top bars is 1.3 ld = 109.448 in Beyond the point of maximum
moment. Development length provided for both columns are adequate.

Page 8 of 9
Project Name Two Storey Resdl Bldg
Subject Design of Combined Footing

Date 4/3/2020 3:21

Reinforcement in short direction

The reinforcement under each column is to be placed within a maximum bandwidth equal to the column width
plus twice the effective depth "d" of the footing.

a. Reinforcement under the exterior column I 15.744"x15.744" 15.744"x15.744"

Bandwidth = 3.2 ft 12.4'
Net upward pressure in the short direction under I II
Under column I = 19.48387 K/ft
Distance from the free end to the face of the column
= 5.544 ft
Mu (at face of column I) = 299.4275 K.ft 3.2' 3.2'
Ru = 805.2714 psi 16.53'
ρ = 0.028443
As = 11.77371 in² Min. As (Shrinkage) = 0.952441 in²
Hence, As (Control) = 11.77371 in²

Insert bar No. = 8 Concrete Cover = 3 in

Then bar diameter = 1 in
Use 15 of Bar No. 8 Spacing = 10.41429 in

b. Reinforcement under the interior column II

Bandwidth = 3.2 ft
Net upward pressure in the short direction under under column I = 19.48387 K/ft
Distance to face of column = 5.544 ft
Mu (at face of column II in short direction) = 299.4275 K.ft
Ru = 805.2714 psi
ρ = 0.028443
As = 11.77371 in² Min. As (Shrinkage) = 0.952441 in²
Hence, As (Control) = 11.77371 in²

Insert bar No. = 8 Concrete Cover = 3 in

Then bar diameter = 1 in
Use 15 of Bar No. 8 Spacing = 10.41429 in

5.544' 15.744" 5.544' 5.544' 15.744" 5.544'

5#8 15 # 8 5#8 15 # 8
1.14829396325459' 1.14829396325459'

12.4' 12.4'
Exterior Footing I Interior Footing II
Shrinkage
Steel
3.609' 15.744" 15.744" 3.407'

15 # 8 5#8 9 # 8 bars 5#8 15 # 8 1.14829396325459'

16.53'

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