FOOTING

Introduction
Footing are structural elements that transmit to the soil
column loads, wall loads or lateral loads. If these loads are to
be properly transmitted, footing must be designed to prevent
excessive settlement or rotation and to minimize differential
settlement.
To limit settlement within tolerably small amount, it is
necessary.
i.

To transmit the load of the structure to a soil stratum of

sufficient strength and

ii.

To spread the load over a sufficiently large area of that

stratum to minimize bearing pressure.

Introduction
If adequate soil is not found immediately below the
structure, if becomes necessary to use deep foundations such
as piles to transmit the load to deeper, firmer layers.

If satisfactory soil directly underlies the structure, it is merely

necessary to spread load by footings. Such substructure are
known as spread foundation.

Type of Spread Footing

i.

Wall Footing

A wall footing is simply

a strip of reinforced or
plain concrete, wider than
the wall that distributes its
pressure.

ii.

Isolated spread footing under

single column

These may be usually square,

sometimes rectangular or occasionally
circular in plan.

Type of Spread Footing iii. Combined Footing

Supporting two
or more column
loads. These may
be
continuous
with a rectangular
or
trapezoidal
plan or isolated
column
footing
joined by a beam
which is referred
to
as
strap
footing.

Type of Spread Footing

iii. Mat or Raft Foundation

Which is one large continuous footing supporting all

columns of the structure. This is used when the soil is poor.

Load, bearing Pressures & Footing Size

When the soil is

coarse grained
A req

DL

qa

qa

qult
2 .5 3

When the soil is

clayey or fine
grained

Load, bearing Pressures & Footing Size

D and L=loads (service) at the level of base of base of footing
Eccentric load e

M
but e does not exceed the kern distance.
P

qmax
min

P MC

A
I

Load, bearing Pressures & Footing Size

D and L=loads (service) at the level of base of base of footing
If eccentricity falls outside the kern distance

qmax qa

o qmax
P

2
3m b
2P
qmax
3mb

Design of Plain Concrete Wall Footing

Problem
Design a wall footing of plain concrete to carry 20 k/ft dead
load including the wall weight and 8 k/ft live load. Use
fc=3000, an allowable soil pressure of 6 k/ft. The bottom of the
footing is 4 ft below the final grade.

Solution
W =20 + 8 = 28 k/ft
Assume 24 thick footing
24
2
(145 ) 290 lb / ft
12

Footing weight

24
2
(
100
)

200
lb
/
ft
Soil Fill on footing

12

qe = Effective soil pressure = 6000 490 = 5510 lb/ft2

Width of footing required

28
5.08 ft say 5' - 3"
5.510

Solution

Wu = (20) (1.4) + (8) (1.7) = 41.6 k/ft

41.6
Net soil pressure under factored loads
7.923 ksf
5.25 1
2
2.15
Mu (7.923 )

2
17.89 [Link] / ft
(12)(22)3
4

10648
in
Moment of Inertia
12
2 bottom concrete is neglected
ft 5 fc
= modulus of rupture and = 0.65
ftI (0.65 )(5 3000 )(10648 )
Mn h
22

(12000 )
2
2
= 14.36 [Link]/ft
< Mu
ftI
Putting Mu h
2

bh3
(0.65 )(5 3000 )
12
(
17
.
89
)(
12000
)

h
2
h = 24.56
with poor concrete h = 26.56

Solution

Say total depth of footing = 27

Now revise with new thickness
27
2

Footing weight
(145 ) 326.25 lb / ft
12
21
2

Soil back filling

(100 ) 175 lb / ft
12
qe 6000 (326.25 175 ) 5498.75 lb / ft 2
28
Width of footing required
5.09 lb / ft
5.49875
Say 5 3

(12)(25)3
I
15625 in4
12
ftI (0.65 )(5 3000 )(15625 )
Mn h
25
(12000 )
2
2
= 18.54 [Link]/ft
So O.K.

Shear Check

Vc 2 fc b w d

2 3000 12 25

= 32863.35 lb

Vc = (0.85) (32863.35)
= 27933.85 lb
ba

d
Vu (qu )
2

5.25 1 25

So Vu (7.923 )(1000 )
2
12

= 330.125 lb
So O.K.

Design of wall footing of reinforced concrete

Problem
Design a Wall footing to support a 12 wide wall with a dead
load D = 20 k/ft and a live load L=15 k/ft. The bottom of footing
is 4 below the final grade and the soil weighs 100 lb/ft 3. The
allowable soil pressure qa is 4 k/ft2, fy = 40 ksi , fc = 4 ksi

Solution
Assume 12 thick footing
Footing weight

12
2

(
150
)

150
lb
/
ft

12

Soil fill

36
2
(100 ) 300 lb / ft
12
Total = 450 lb/ft2

qe = qa -450 = 4000 450 = 3550 lb/ft2

Solution

35
9.86 ft say 10 ft
3.550
(1.4)(20 ) (1.7)(15 )
Factored load reaction
5.35 k/ft 2
(10)(1)
Widh of footing

ba

d
2

10 1 8.5
5.35

2
12

20.29 k
Vc 2 fc bd 2 4000 12 8.5

Vu 5.35

1
1000

12.9 k
Vc 10.97 k

Since Vc < Vu, so depth should be increased.

1
Let 20.29 2 0.85 4000 12 d
1000
d 15.73 let 3.5
So d 19.23 Assume 20 thick footing

Solution
20
28
150
x 100
12
12
3516.67 lb / ft 2
35
width required
9.95 say 10
3.51667

1.4 20 1.7 15
qu
5.35 k / ft 2
10 1
qe 4000

Vu 5.35

9 16.5

2
2

16.72 k

Vc 2 fcbd
1
0.85 2 4000 12 16.5
1000
21.29 k

Solution
Mu 5.35

4 .5
2

54.17 k ft

Mu
Mn

bd2 bd2

54.17 12000

221.1 psi
2
0.9 12 16.5

Re quired R n

fy

40,000
m

11 .77
0.85 fc 0.85 4000
1
2mR n
1 1

m
fy
1
2 11 .77 221.1

1 1
0.00572
11 .77
40,000

min

200
200

0.005 or min 0.002 Therefore

fy
40,000

Solution

A s bd 0.00572 12 16.5 1.133 in2

Use

#9 @ 9 c / c

1.33 in2

Development Length
Length required for # 9 bars = 25 (Table A.11)
Length available = (4.5) (12) 3 = 51 So

Longitudinal & Temp. Reinforcement

At least As = (0.002)(b)(h)
As =(0.002)(12)(20) = 0.48 in2
"

1
Use #5 @ 7 c/c (As = 0.49 in2)
2

O.K

Design of Column Footing

Shear
Two Shear conditions
i. One way or beam shear
ii. Two way or punching shear

i.

Beam Shear

At a distance d from face of column

Similar as in beams and one-way slabs

V d
Vc 1.9 fc 2500 u bd 3.5 fc bd
Mu

b = width of footing at a distance d from face of column

Mu = Moment of Vu about section xx
Vu = Total factored shear force on section xx
= qu times footing area outside that section
In footing design, the simpler and more conservative eq. is used
Vc 2 fcbd

ii. Punching Shear

ACI code stated that the critical section for two-way shear is
located at a distance d from the face of column
2

Part that tends to punch out

bo=Perimeter
=4(a+d)

ii. Punching Shear

The ACI code give equation Vc 4 fcbo d (i) for nominal
punching shear on this perimeter.
For columns of very elongated x-section

Where

4
Vc 2 fc bo d (ii)
c

Long side
c
of column
Short side

bo
Test show that Vc decreases as the ratio
increases.
d

According ACI code states that Vc in punching shear must

not be taken greater than
sd

Vc
2
bo

fc bo d

(iii)

ii. Punching Shear

Where

s = 40 for interior columns

s = 30 for edge loading
s = 20 for corner loading of a footing
Punching shear strength should be taken smallest of all three
equations.
a
c
b

Bearing-Load transfer for column to footing

At the base of the column,
the permitted design
bearing strength is
Pn (0.85 fc )A 1

A2
(0.85fc )A 1 2
A1

A1 is column cross-sectional
area
A2 is the area of the portion of the
supporting footing as defined in
Fig.
At least four dowels having area not
less that 0.005 times the xsectional area of the column and
the diameter of dowel should not
exceed the diameter of the
column by more than 0.15.

Development Length

Dowel should have sufficient development length

0.02fy db
For compression bars, that is, ld
0.0003 fy db
fc
The lapped length must be at least that required for a lap
splice in compression. i.e. the length of lap must not be less
than the usual development length in compression and must
not be less than 0.0005 fydb
Where bars of different sizes are la spliced, the splice length
should be the larger of the development length of larger bar or
the splice length of the smaller bar.
Splice length for compression
For bar with fy 60,000 psi
0.0005 f d
y b

For bar with fy > 60,000 psi

(0.0009fy-24)db
Not less than 12

For fc <3000 psi lap is increased by one third.

Problem
Design a square column footing to carry a column dead load of
197 k and a live load of 160 k from a 16 squired tied column
containing # 11 bars as the principal column steal. The
allowable soil pressure is 4.5 k/ft2. Use fc=3000 psi fy=40000
psi , 4 below final grade.

Solution
Assume 2 thick column footing
qe = 4500 (2)(150) - (2)(100) = 4000 lb/ft2
Required area 197 160 89.25 ft 2
4

Let 9 6 = 90.5 ft2

Pu = (1.4) (197) + (1.7) (160) = 547.8 k
547.8
qu
6.07 k/ft 2
90.25

Let depth required for punching shear d=20

16+20=36=3

Solution

Vu = (qu) (Area)
=(6.07){(9.5)2-32} = 493.19 k
c=1
Vc 4 fc bo d 4 3000 4 36 20

1
1000

630.98 k
Vc 0.85 630.98 536.3 k
The other equations are checked and give larger value so
this value is valid and for this Vc
Vc > Vu
Therefore no shear reinforcement is required.
Vu
( 493.19 )(1000 )
d

4 fc bo (0.85 )( 4)( 3000 )(4)(36 )

18.39
So d=20 is O.K. w.r.t two-way shear.

Solution

For one-way shear

16
12
8.167 20

2.42
2
12
Vu 6.07 2.42 9.5 139 .55 k
9.5

According to ACI code

Vc 2 fc b w d

1
2 3000 9.5 12 20
1000
249.76 k
Vc 0.85 249.76 212.3 k

Since Vc>Vu therefore no shear reinforcement is required

Vu
139.55 1000
d

2 fc b w
(0.85 )( 2)( 3000 )(9.5 12)
13.15

Solution

Therefore depth d=20 is O.K. w.r.t. one-way shear.

Bending strength
16 8.167
4.083
Mu ( 6.07 )( 4.083 )
(
9
.
5
)
9
.
5

2
2
2

480.66 [Link]
4.083
Mu
( 480.66 )(12000 )
Re quired R n

2
bd
(0.85 )(114 )( 20 )2
148.81 psi
1

1
m

2mR n
1

fy

fy
0.85 fc

15.69
1

1
15.69

2 15.69 148.81
1

40,000

0.00384

Re quired A s bd 0.00384 114 20

8.76 in2

40,000
0.85 3000

Solution

Minimum As = (0.002)(114)(22) = 5.016 in2

Use As = 8.76 in2
Try 15 # 7 having As = 9 in2
C = 0.85fcba = (0.85)(3)(9.5)(12)(a) = 290.7 a
T = Asfy = (9)(40) = 360 k
C=T
360
a
1.2384"
290.7
a

Mn 0.9 A s fy d
2

1.2384
1

0.9 9 40 20

2
12

523.29 [Link]
Mn Mu 480.66 [Link]
So use 15 # 7 bars each way

Solution
Bearing strength
Pn = (0.85fc) Ag
= (0.7)(0.85 x 3000)(16)2
= 456960 lb = 456.96 k
Pu = 547.8 k

Pn < Pu thus column load can not be transferred by

concrete bearing alone and dowels bars are required.

Excess Pu = 547.8 456.96 = 90.84 k

Required

Excess Pu
90.84
As

3.25 in2
fy
(0.7 )( 40 )

More correctly Required

As

Excess Pu
90.84

( fy 0.85 fc ) (0.7)( 40 0.85 3)

3.47 in2

Solution
Bearing strength
Use 4 # 9 bars As = 4 in2

Min As=(0.005)(16)2=1.28 in2

The # 9 dowels must be developed below and above the

junction of column and footing.
0.02fy db
Development length in compression db
fc

0.02 40,000 1.128

3000
16.47
If should not be less than ldb = 0.0003 fydb
=(0.0003)(40000)(1.128)=13.56
and can not be less than 8
24 thick footing is adequate for straight dowels.

Solution
If bends are provided in dowels then the available length is
24-3.0(cover)-2x0.875(footing bars)-1.128(dowels)=
18.122 > 16.47
alternate solutions (i) thicker footing(ii) Larger number of
smaller bars(iii) pedestal
Development length of main bars
for # 7 bars from table ld = 18

Available length (9.5)(12) 16 3" (cov er )

2

=46 > ld=18

Solution

Design of Rectangular Footing

Use in restricted locations
Identical procedure for design, except that one-way shear
action and bending moment must be considered in both
principal directions.

In short direction, larger % age of reinforcement in band

width
Re inf orcement in band width
2
Long side

Total re inf orcement in short direction 1

short side

Rest of reinforcement should meet at least temperature

reinforcement requirement.

Problem
Design a rectangular footing for an 18 square column with
a dead load of 185 k and a live load of 150 k. Make the
length of the long side equal to twice the width of the short
side. fc=4000 psi , fy=40,000 psi, qa = 4000 lb/ft2. Assume
the base of the footing is 5ft below grade.

Solution
Assume 24 thick footing d = 19.5
24
36
qe 4000
150
100
2
12
3400 lb / ft 2

D + L = 185 + 150 = 335 k

335
98.53 ft 2
Area Required
3.4

Solution
b=4

L=24.6

b=5

L=19.7

b=6

L=16.4

b=7

L=14.08

So Use 7 x 14 = 98 ft2

(1.4)(185 ) (1.7)(150 )
qu
5.25 k / ft 2
98

One-Way Shear
b = 7 = 84

12.5
6.25
2
19.5
6.25
4.625
12

14 1.5

Vu = (7) (4.625) (5.25) = 169.97 k

Solution
One-Way Shear
d

Vu
169.97 x 1000

2 fc b 0.85 2 4000 84

18.82

so O.K.

b = 14 = 168

7 1.5
1.125

Vu = (1.125)(14)(5.25)
= 82.69 k
Vu
82.69 1000
d

2 fc b 0.85 2 4000 168

4.58 so O.K.

5.5
19.5

2.75
2
12

Solution
Two-Way Shear
bo = (4)(18 + 19.5) = 150

37.5
Vu 14 7

12

463.23 k

5.25

18 19.5 37.5

Vu
463.23 1000

2 fc b 0.85 4 4000 150

14.36 so O.K.

Steel in Long-Direction
6.25
Mu ( 6.25 )(7)(5.25 )
717.77 [Link]
2
Mu
717.77 12000
Re quired Rn

bd2 0.9 84 (19.5) 2

299.63 psi

Solution
m

fy

0.85 fc

40,000
11 .765
0.85 4000

1
2mR n
1 1

m
fy

1
2 11 .765 299.63

1 1

11 .765
40,000

00.7854
A s bd 0.007854 84 19.5
12.87 in2
A s min . 0.002 84 22 3.696 in2
Use

13 #9 ( A s 13 in2 )

Dev. Length
Required for # 9 bars

ld = 25

Available = 6.25 x 12 = 75 3 = 72

O.K

Solution
Longitudinal Steel in Short Direction

2.75
Mu (2.75)(14)(5.25)

2
277.922 [Link]
Mu
277.922 12000
Re quired Rn

2
2
bd
0.9 14 12 19.2
58 psi

Now m 11 .765

1
2mR n
1
2 11 .765 58

1 1
1 1

m
fy
11 .765
40,000

0.00146
A s 0.00146bd 0.00146 14 12 19.5
4.79 in2
200
200
min

0.005
fy
40,000

Solution
Longitudinal Steel in Short Direction
A s min . 0.005 14 12 12 18.48 in2
Use 24 #8 bars ( A s 18.96 in2 )

Re inf orcement in band width

2
2
2

Total re inf orcement

1 2 1 3
2
16 bars in band width
3
Re st 24 16 8 bars
Use 24

Solution
Dev. Length
For # 8 bar
ld = 20
Available (2.75)(12)-3=30

O.K

Bearing Strength
Pn (0.85 fc )A g
0.7 0.85 4000 18

1000

771.12 k

Pu = (1.4)(185) + (1.7)(150) = 514 k

Since Pn > Pu therefore only four bars will be used as
dowels
As(min) = (0.005)(18)2 = 1.62 in2

Solution

Use 4 # 6 (As = 1.77 in2)

Required Dev. Length = 9
Available is more than 9

O.K

Design of Combined Footing

Design a rectangular combined footing for the two columns
shown in fig. qa = 6000 lb/ft2 .The bottom of footing is 6
below grade. fc = 3000 psi
fy = 60,000 psi

Solution

Assume 3 6 thickness

h = 42

d=37.5

qe = 6000 (3.5)(150) - (2.5)(100) = 5225 lb/ft2

A req

170 130 250 200

143.54 ft 2
5.225

Location of Resultant
1 .5
1 .5

(300 )

(
450
)
12

2
2

7.95
x
750

Length of footing = (7.95)(2) = 15.9

Try 16
143.54
8.97 use 9 width
The required width is
16
The net upward soil pressure
(1.4)(170 250 ) (1.7 )(130 200 )
qu
7.98 k/ft 2
9 16

= 7.98 x 9= 71.82 k/ft

Location of Resultant
Va = 0
Vb = -(306)(1.5)+(1.5)(71.82) = -351.27 k
Vc = - 351.27 + (71.82)(10.25) = 384.885 k
Vd = 384.885 (345)(2)+(71.82)(2) = -161.475 k
Ve = -161.475 + (2.25)(71.82) = 0.12
Vbc = -(x)(306)(1.5) + (71.82)(x)
Vdc = -(x)(71.82) + (x-2.25)(345)
x = 2.84
Ma = 0

1 .5
1 .5
Mb (306 )(105 )
(1.5)(71.82)
263.45 k / ft
2
2
1 .5

6.39
MF (306 )(105 ) 6.39
(71.82)(6.39)
1122 .48 k / ft
2

Solution

4.25
Mc (71.82)( 4.25 )
(345 )(2)(1) 41.38 k / ft
2
2
2
.
84
(
2
.
84

2
.
25
)

MG (71.82)(2.84 )
229.59 k / ft
(345 )
2
2
2.25
MD (71.82)(2.25 )
181.79 k / ft
2

Shear

At a distance d to the left of the left face of the interior column.

37.5
Vu 384.885
(71.82) 160.45 k
12
At a distance d from right of point B
37.5
Vu 351.27
71.82 126.83 k
12
Now design shear strength
Vc 0.85 2 fcb d
0.85 2 3000 108 37.5
377106 .98 lb
3771 .1 k
Therefore d = 37.5 is O.K

Solution
Punching Shear
For exterior column
37.5
37.5

bo 2 1.5

2 12
12

2(3.0625 ) 5.125
11 .25 ft
Vu = column load soil pressure within the perimeter
= 459-3.0625 x 2.125 x 7.98 = 333.75 k
Design shear strength
Vc (0.85 )( 4 fc )bo d

0.85 4 4000 11 .25 12 37.5

942767 .45 lb
942.76 k

Solution
Longitudinal Steel
Re quired Rn

Mu
1122 .48 12000

bd2 (0.9)(9 12)(37.5)2

98.544 psi
fy
60,000
m

0.85 fc 0.85 3000

23.53
1
2mR n

1 1

m
fy

1
2 23.53 98.544
1

23.53
60,000

0.001675
200
200
min

0.0033
fy
60,000

Solution
Longitudinal Steel
So min holds
As = bd = 0.0033 x 9 x 12 x 37.5 = 13.365 in2
Use 17 # 8 bars
0.04 A b fy 1.3 0.04 0.79 60,000
l d 1 .3

fc
3000
45

Available length = 6.39 x 12 3 = 73.68 in

For bottom bars

ld = 34.62 in

Available 2.84 ft
For hooked bars

34.08 3

So O.K

31.08

1200 db 1200 1
Re quired d

21.9
fc
3000

Solution
Transverse Beams

The ACI code recommends band width d from the face

2
of the column

Interior Column

d
Width of beam 24 2 24 37.5 61.5
2
690 x 1000
76666 .67 lb / ft
Upward load /ft
9
3 .5
Mu 76666 .67 3.5

2
5635000 [Link]

Solution
Transverse bars are placed on top of the longitudinal bars,
with actual d = 37.5 1 = 36.5
Minimum requirement of steel criteria holds
200
2
A

61
.
5

36
.
5

7
.
48
in
s
fy
Use 13 # 7 bars with As = 7.8 in2

Exterior Column
Width of beam= 18

37.5
36.75"
2

Minimum steel criteria holds

200
2
A

35
.
75

36
.
5

4
.
47
in
s
fy
Use 8 # 7 (As = 4.8 in2)

Solution
Development Length
ld = 26

for # 7 bars in tension

Available 61.5

(Table)

So O.K

Bearing Strength
Interior Columns
Pn = (0.85fc) A1 = (0.7)(0.85fc)(24 x 24)

= 1028160lb

1028.16 k

Pu = 690 k < Pn So nominal dowels

As = 0.005 x 24 x 24 = 2.88 in2
Use 4 # 8 dowels (As = 3.14 in2) [Link] 22 So O.K

Solution
Bearing Strength
Edge column
Pu = (0.7)(0.85)(3000)(18 x 24) = 771120 lb = 771.12 k
Pu = 459 k < Pn So use nominal dowels
As = 0.005 x 18 x 24 = 2.16 in2
Use 4 # 7 (As = 2.41 in2) [Link] = 19

O.K