Engineering & geotechnics
Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations
Terzaghi, Meyerhof and Vesić side by side.
Calculates ultimate and allowable bearing capacity of strip, square, circular and rectangular footings with the Terzaghi, Meyerhof and Vesić methods, including shape, depth and inclination factors and the effect of the water table.
Overview
Enter footing geometry, soil strength and unit weight. The three classic methods are computed together so the spread between them is visible, and a chart shows how the allowable pressure changes with footing width.
What you enter · What you get
What you enter
- Footing shape, width B, length L and depth Df
- Cohesion c′, friction angle φ′, unit weights γ and γsat
- Water-table depth, load inclination and factor of safety
What you get
- Bearing capacity factors Nc, Nq, Nγ
- Ultimate, net and allowable bearing pressure
- Allowable column load
- Pressure–width chart and failure-zone sketch
How it works in the field
Enter geometry
Enter soil parameters
Compare methods
Method and equations
General bearing capacity equation
Meyerhof and Vesić multiply each term by shape (s), depth (d) and inclination (i) factors.
qu = c′Ncscdcic + qNqsqdqiq + ½γBNγsγdγiγ
Bearing capacity factors
Reissner–Prandtl factors with Vesić’s Nγ.
Nq = eπ tanφ tan²(45 + φ/2) · Nc = (Nq − 1) cotφ · Nγ = 2(Nq + 1) tanφ
Who uses it
Geotechnical and structural engineersCivil-engineering students
Standards and references
- Terzaghi, K. (1943). Theoretical Soil Mechanics. Wiley.
- Meyerhof, G.G. (1963). Some recent research on the bearing capacity of foundations. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 1(1), 16–26.
- Vesić, A.S. (1973). Analysis of ultimate loads of shallow foundations. JSMFD, ASCE, 99(SM1), 45–73.
- Das, B.M. (2019). Principles of Foundation Engineering, 9th ed. Cengage.
Results support professional judgement. They do not replace a licensed engineer’s or geologist’s sign-off.
At a glance
- Category
- Engineering & geotechnics
- Runs on
- Phone, tablet and desktop browser
- Export
- PDF report, PNG chart
- Access
- Subscribers
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