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Evaluation of Load Bearing Capacity of Foundations with Different Vertical Crosssectional Shapes

Musa Alhassan, Igor L. Boiko

The paper presents results of experimental and theoreticalevaluation of load bearing capacity of shallow foundations with different vertical cross-sectional shapes. Load-settlement relationships ofmodels of shallow foundations with rectangular, wedge and T shape vertical cross-sections were studied through experimentation, and theoretically using Terzaghi bearing capacity equation.The experimental and theoretical evaluations show the load bearing capacity increasing in the order: T shape > wedge shape >rectangular shape. The study indicate that the soil above the bases of shallow foundations with wedge and T vertical cross-sectional shapes, function not only as surcharge to the soil below the bases (as is the case of rectangular shape), but also offers additional resistance to structural loads, and thereby increasing the load bearing capacity of the foundations. The economicbenefit of using wedge and T shapes shallow foundations is also demonstrated