GENERAL BEARING CAPACITY EQUATION

Vesic (1973) confirmed that basic nature of failure surface in soil suggested
by Terzaghi was correct based on laboratory and field studies. However, the
value of was closer to 45 + /2 than to , originally assumed by Terzaghi.
Hence, new relations for bearing capacity factors were established
considering the new value of = 45 + /2.
= ( 1)
= 2 (45 +

)
2

= 2( + 1)

= + +

1

2

Where:

cs, qs, s
cd, qd, d
ci, qi, i

=
=
=

shape factors
depth factors
inclination factors

Prandtl (1921)
Reissner (1924)

Note:
The effect of the ground water table must be considered in
determining the values of q and in general bearing capacity equation.

Caquot and Kerisel (1953) and Vesic (1973)

Sample Problem

The soil bearing capacity equation for strip footing can be modified for
general use by incorporating the empirical correction factors:
1) Depth factor
- to account for the shearing resistance developed along the
failure surface in soil above the base of the footing
2) Shape factor
- to determine the bearing capacity of rectangular and circular
footings
3) Inclination factor
- To determine the bearing capacity of a footing on which the
direction of load application is inclined at a certain angle to the
vertical
Thus, the ultimate general bearing capacity equation can be written as
(Meyerhof, 1963):

A square footing is shown. Determine the safe gross bearing capacity that the
footing can carry. Use the general bearing capacity equation.

Table 6. Bearing Capacity Factors - NC, Nq, N (General Bearing Capacity

Equation)
(deg)

NC

Nq

(deg)

NC

Nq

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

5.14
5.38
5.63
5.90
6.19
6.49
6.81
7.16
7.53
7.92
8.35
8.80
9.28
9.81
10.37
10.98
11.63
12.34
13.10
13.93
14.83
15.82
16.88
18.05
19.32
20.72

1.00
1.09
1.20
1.31
1.43
1.57
1.72
1.88
2.06
2.25
2.47
2.71
2.97
3.26
3.59
3.94
4.34
4.77
5.26
5.80
6.40
7.07
7.82
8.66
9.60
10.66

0.000
0.002
0.010
0.023
0.042
0.070
0.106
0.152
0.209
0.280
0.367
0.471
0.596
0.744
0.921
1.129
1.375
1.664
2.003
2.403
2.871
3.421
4.066
4.824
5.716
6.765

26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50

22.25
23.94
25.80
27.86
30.14
32.67
35.49
38.64
42.16
46.12
50.59
55.63
61.35
67.87
75.31
83.86
93.71
105.11
118.37
133.88
152.10
173.64
199.26
229.93
266.89

11.85
13.20
14.72
16.44
18.40
20.63
23.18
26.09
29.44
33.30
37.75
42.92
48.93
55.96
64.20
73.90
85.38
99.02
115.31
134.88
158.51
187.21
222.31
265.51
319.07

8.002
9.463
11.190
13.236
15.668
18.668
22.022
26.166
31.145
37.152
44.426
53.270
64.073
77.332
93.690
113.985
139.985
171.141
211.406
262.739
328.728
414.322
526.444
674.908
873.843

Table 7. Approximate shape, depth, and inclination factors recommended

by Meyerhof
Shape Factors
For = 0o

= 1 + 0.2( )

= 1
= 1

Depth Factors
For = 0o

= 1 + 0.2( )

= 1
= 1

Inclination Factors

)
90
2
= (1
)
90

= (1 )2

= (1

For > 0o

= 1 + 0.2 ( ) 2 (45 + )

= 1 + 0.1 ( ) 2 (45 + )

2
=

For > 0o

= 1 + 0.2 ( ) (45 + )

= 1 + 0.1 ( ) (45 + )

2
=