Example 28
Elements Supporting Discontinuous Systems §1630.8.

 Required column design strength.

In this shear wall, the timber column carries only axial loads. The appropriate dead,
live and seismic loads are determined as:

D = 6.0 kips

L = 3.0 kips

E m = Ω o E h = 2.8 (7.0 ) = 19.6 kips (30-2)

For the required “design strength” check, both Equations (12-17) and (12-18) must be
checked.

P = 1.2 D + f 1 L + E m (12-17)

P = 1.2 (6.0) + 0.5 (3.0) + 19.6 = 28.3 kips

P = 0.9 D ± 1.0 E m (12-18)

P = 0.9 (6.0) ± 1.0 (19.6 ) = 25.0 kips or − 14.2 kips

Commentary
For allowable stress design, the timber column must be checked for a compression
load of 28.3 kips and a tension load of 14.2 kips . In making this “design strength”
check, §1630.8.2.1 permits use of an allowable stress increase of 1.7 and a resistance
factor, φ , of 1.0 . The 1.7 increase is not to be combined with the one-third increase
permitted by §1612.3.2, but may be combined with the duration of load increase
C D = 1.33 given in Table 2.3.2 of Chapter 23, Division III. The resulting “design
strength” = (1.7 )(1.0)(1.33) (allowable stress). This also applies to the mechanical
hold-down element required to resist the tension load.

The purpose of the “design strength” check is to check the column for higher and,
hopefully, more realistic loads that it will be required to carry because of the
discontinuity in the shear wall at the first floor. This is done by increasing the normal
seismic load in the column, E h , by the factor Ω o = 2.8 .

SEAOC Seismic Design Manual 

§1630.8.3 Example 29
At Foundation

 &-
7 , $%(4'3'(
Foundation reports usually provide soil bearing pressures on an allowable stress
design basis while seismic forces in the 1997 UBC, and most concrete design, are on
a strength design basis. The purpose of this example is to illustrate footing design
under this situation.

A spread footing supports a reinforced concrete column. The soil classification at the
site is sand (SW). The following information is given:
P
Zone 4 Grade
M
ρ = 1.0 for structural system V
PD = 80 k M D = 15 k - ft 4'
2'
PL = 30 k M L = 6 k - ft
PE = ± 40 k V E = 30 k M E = ± 210 k - ft
Snow load S = 0

Find the following:

 Determine the design criteria and allowable bearing pressure.

 Determine footing size.

 Check resistance to sliding.

 Determine soil pressures for strength design of the footing section.

Calculations and Discussion Code Reference

 Determine the design criteria and allowable bearing pressure. §1630.8.3

The seismic force reactions on the footing are based on strength design. However,
§1629.1 states that allowable stress design may be used for sizing the foundation
using the load combinations given in §1612.3. Here it is elected to use the alternate
basic load combinations of §1612.3.2.
D+L+S (12-12)

E
D+L+ (12-13)
1.4

E
0.9 D ± (12-16-1)
1.4
Because foundation investigation reports for buildings typically specify bearing
pressures on an allowable stress design basis, criteria for determining footing size are
also on this basis.

 SEAOC Seismic Design Manual

Example 29
At Foundation §1630.8.3

The earthquake loads to be resisted are specified in §1630.1.1 by Equation 30-1.

E = ρE h + E v (30-1)

Since Ev = 0 for allowable stress design, Equation 30-1 reduces to

E = ρE h = (1.0 ) E h

Table 18-1-A of §1805 gives the allowable foundation pressure, lateral bearing
pressure, and the lateral sliding friction coefficient. These are default values to be
used in lieu of site-specific recommendations given in a foundation report for the
building. They will be used in this example.

For the sand (SW) class of material and footing depth of 4 feet, the allowable
foundation pressure p a is

p a = 1.50 + (4 ft − 1 ft )(0.2 )(1.50) = 2.40 ksf Table 18-1-A and Footnote 2

A one-third increase in pa is permitted for the load combinations that include

earthquake load.

 Determine footing size.

The trial design axial load and moment will be determined for load combination of
Equation (12-13) and then checked for the other combinations.

E P 40
Pa = D + L + = PD + PL + E = 80 + 30 + = 138.6 kips (12-13)
1.4 1.4 1.4

E M 210
Ma = D + L + = M D + M L + E = 15 + 6 + = 171.0 k - ft (12-13)
1.4 1.4 1.4

Select trial footing size.

Try 9 ft x 9 ft footing size, B = L = 9 ft

BL2 9 3
A = BL = 81 ft 2 , S= = = 121.5 ft 3
6 6

Calculated soil pressures due to axial load and moment

Pa M a 138.6 171.0
p= + = + = 1.71 + 1.41 = 3.12 ksf
A S 81 121.5

Check bearing pressure against allowable with one-third increase,

SEAOC Seismic Design Manual 

§1630.8.3 Example 29
At Foundation

3.12 ksf < 1.33 p a = 1.33 (2.40) = 3.20 ksf , o.k.

Check for the load combination of Equation (12-16-1).

P
= 0.9 PD ± E = 0.9 (80) ±
E 40
Pa = 0.9 D ± = 100.6 kips or 43.4 kips (12-16-1)
1.4 1.4 1.4

M
= 0.9 M D ± E = 0.9 (15) ±
E 210
M a = 0.9 D ± = 163.5 k - ft or 136.5 k - ft
1.4 1.4 1.4
(12-16-1)

M a 163.5 k - ft 136.5 k - ft
Eccentricity e = = = 1.63 ft, or = .15 ft, ∴ e = 3.15 ft governs.
Pa 100.6 43.4

Check for uplift.

L 9 L
e> = = 1.5 ft (where is the limit of the kern area)
6 6 6

Since e = 3.15 > 1.5, there is partial uplift, and a triangular pressure distribution is
assumed to occur.
Center line

4.5' 4.5'
For the footing free-body:
Pa = R p = (3a )B
p e a

2 Pa
R p must be co-linear with Pa
such that the length of the
triangular pressure distribution
is equal to 3a . p

R p = Pressure resultant
a

Rp

3a

E
The load combination 0.9 D − , with Pa = 43.4 kips and M a = 136.5 k - ft (12-10)
1.4
governs bearing pressure

B
a= − e = 4.5 − 3.15 = 1.35 ft
2

 SEAOC Seismic Design Manual

Example 29
At Foundation §1630.8.3

Pa =
p
(3a ) B
2
or
2  1  2  
 = (43.4 ) 
1
p= Pa   = 2.38 ksf < 1.33 p a = 3.20 ksf o.k.
3  aB  3  (1.35)(9.0)

If p had been greater than 1.33 p a , the footing size would have to be increased.

Finally, check the gravity load combination (12-12) for p < p a = 3.2 ksf .

Pa = D + L = PD + PL = 80 + 30 = 110 kips (12-12)

M a = D + L = M D + M L = 15 + 6 = 21 k - ft (12-12)

Pa M a 110 21
p= + = + = 1.53 ksf < 3.2 ksf, o.k.
A S 81 121.5

All applicable load combinations are satisfied, therefore a 9ft x 9ft footing is
adequate.

 Check resistance to sliding.

Unless specified in the foundation report for the building, the friction coefficient and
lateral bearing pressure for resistance to sliding can be determined from Table
18-1-A. These values are:

Friction coefficient µ = 0.25 Table 18-1-A

Lateral bearing resistance p L = 150 psf × depth below grade Table 18-1-A

Assume the footing is 2 feet thick with its base 4 feet below grade. Average
300 + 600
resistance on the 2 feet deep by 9 feet wide footing face is = 450 psf .
2

p L = 450 psf = 0.45 ksf

Load combination of Equation (12-16-1) will 2'

be used because it has the lowest value of

vertical load 0.9 D = 0.9 PD ). The vertical and
300 psf

2'
lateral loads to be used in the sliding
resistance calculations are: 600 psf

P = 0.9 PD = 0.9 (80) = 72 kips

Face of footing

SEAOC Seismic Design Manual 

§1630.8.3 Example 29
At Foundation

V E 30
Lateral load = = = 21.4 kips
1.4 1.4

The resistance due to friction is

P (µ ) = 72(0.25) = 18.0 kips

The resistance from lateral bearing is

p L (face area) = 0.45 (2 ′ × 9 ′) = 8.1 kips

The total resistance is then the sum of the resistance due to friction and the resistance
due to lateral bearing pressure.

Total resistance = 18.0 + 8.1 = 26.1 > 21.4 kips, o.k.

∴ No sliding occurs

 Determine soil pressures for strength design of footing section.

To obtain the direct shear, punching shear, and moments for the strength design of
the reinforced concrete footing section, it is necessary to compute the upward design
soil pressure on the footing due to factored strength loads:

1.2 D + 1.0 E + f1 L (12-5)

0.9 D ± 1.0 E (12-6)

The section design must have the capacity to resist the largest moments and forces
resulting from these load combinations.

 Soil pressure due to load combination 1.2 D + 1.0 E + f 1 L .

f1 = 0.5 §1612.2.1

Pu = 1.2 PD + 1.0 PE + 0.5PL = 1.2 (80) + 1.0 (40) + 0.5 (30) = 151 kips (12-5)

M u = 1.2 M D + 1.0 M E + 0.5M L = 1.2 (15) + 1.0 (210) + 0.5 (6) = 231 k - ft (12-5)

 SEAOC Seismic Design Manual