Comparison of the shape, depth and N factors used in the bearing capacity equation

Abstract

In this study, allowable bearing capacity values using different equations generally accepted in the literature for shape, depth and N factors in the general bearing capacity equation used in bearing capacity calculation of shallow foundations were calculated for different soil conditions varying from c=20 kPa to 200 kPa and from =0° to 40° and the results obtained were compared with each other. In the bearing capacity calculations, a residential type building resting on a mat foundation has been taken into account, and it has been assumed that the resultant of column loads from the building to the foundation are perpendicular to the foundation and at the center of the foundation, ground surface are level, and foundation base are horizontal. Earthquake and moment effects were not taken into account in the calculations, and static loading conditions were assumed to be valid. According to the results obtained; In the =0° analyses, the lowest (safest) bearing capacity values were obtained by Meyerhof [9]'s shape and depth factors, and the highest bearing capacity values were obtained by De Beer [12]’s shape and Hansen [11]’s depth factors. In the “c-” analyses, the lowest (safest) bearing capacity values for soils with approximately 20°, the lowest (safest) bearing capacity values were obtained using the shape factors with sin proposed by De Beer [12], dc factors suggested by Vesić [14] and dq and d factors proposed by Hansen [11] and N factor suggested in TBEC [18].

Keywords

• shallow foundation
• bearing capacity
• shape factor
• depth factor
• tbec-2018