Bearing Capacity of Eccentrically Loaded Footings

The bearing capacity of an eccentrically loaded footing is determined by analytical formulation. In this analysis, the footing has been considered rigid with a rough base. It has been assumed that the rupture surface is a log spiral, and failure occurs on the same side as the eccentricity with respect to the center of the footing. The resistance mobilized on this side is fully passive and partial on the other. The footing has been assumed to lose contact with increase in eccentricity and the results are given in the form of bearing capacity factors N_γ, N_q, and N_c. For the verification of analytical solutions, model tests were conducted on sand both in dense as well as loose states. Footings were tested both at surface and at a depth such that D_f/B = 1 and eccentricity of load ranged from 0.1B and 0.4B, in which D_f and B are, respectively, depth and width of footing. Test data of the previous investigators are also analyzed and compared with the proposed theory. A reasonable agreement was found between the theory and the test data.