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Introduction to Spread Footing Design Flow Charts

Spread Footing Charts in Bullets:

• All code provisions are listed, where applicable, on the charts for quick
reference.
• Analysis assume rigid footing condition, resulting in a uniform soil
pressure for concentric load, and a triangular or trapezoidal soil
pressure for eccentric loading (combined axial and bending)
• Establish preliminary size under service loads, and proportion
rectangular footing dimensions, if required, around a rectangular
column.
• Calculate in one single equation one -way shear, two -way shear, and
design moment, under factored loads, respectively.
• Deal separately with two eccentricity conditions, while e<L/6 flexural
equations are used, and for e>L/6 equilibrium equations are used.
• Drive the nominal shear strength of the concrete for bo th beam shear
(one way) and punching shear (two way, or slab shear). Alternatively,
provide reference to the code provisions where shear reinforcement
may be used in case of factored shear force exceeded nominal
concrete shear strength with restricted foot ing depth.
• Calculate required flexural reinforcement ratio and compared with the
minimum and maximum permitted by code, and provide required
tensile reinforcement, and calculate rebar development length.
• Address axial force transfer at the column base (f or compression only),
and fully detailing the dowels design and development length required
into footing and column.
• Include sketches illustrating the subject under investigation.

Include notations sheet explaining in details all symbols used in the char s.

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 STRUNET
CONCRETE DESIGN AIDS

Notations for Spread Footing Design Flow Charts

As = area or reinforcement.
b = column width dimension.
bo = perimeter of critical shear section for footing.
B = footing width dimension.
d = distance from extreme compression fiber to centroid of tension
reinforcement.
db = nominal diameter of bar.
f’c = specified compressive strength of concrete.
fy = specified tensile strength of reinforcement.
h = overall member thickness.
l = column length dimension.
lava = available length for bar development.
ld = development length of bar in tension.
ls = compression lap splice length.
ldb = basic development length of bar in compression.
L = footing length dimension.
Po = axial load, service.
Pu = axial load, ultimate.
qact = actual soil pressure based on service loads condition.
qall = allowable soil bearing pressure.
qs = factored actual soil pressure.
Ru = coefficient of resistance.
Vu = factored shear force at section considered.
Vc = nominal shear strength of concrete.
βc = ratio of long side to short side of column dimensions.
ρ = ratio of tension reinforcement.
ρb = ratio of tension reinforcement at balanced strain condition.
ρmax = maximum ratio permissible by code.
ρmin = minimum ratio permissible by code.
ρreq’d = required ratio of tension reinforcement.
ρprov’d = provided ratio of tension reinforcement.
φ = strength reduction factor.

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 Spread Footing Analysis & Design
STRUNET Main Chart
CONCRETE DESIGN AIDS

Main Input &

Notation

Footing Subjected
Footing subjected to vertical load
to vertical load only and moment

Preliminary Size Preliminary Size

Flexural Equilibrium
Ultimate Design
Equations Equations
Forces Vu & Mu

Ultimate Soils Ultimate Soils

Pressure Pressure

Ultimate Design Ultimate Design

Forces Vu & Mu Forces Vu & Mu

One Way Shear Two Way Shear

Shear Check
(Beam Action) (Slab Action)

Rebar
Reinforcement
Development

Force transfer at for compression

column/footing force only

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 Preliminary Size of Footing Subjected to Vertical Loads only.
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CONCRETE DESIGN AIDS

Footing
subjected to
vertical load only

Preliminary
Size

footing size
NO YES
is given?
Po
AF =
l= column longer dimension qall
b= column shorter dimension

square or
Rect. rect. footing? Square

B ≅ L = AF
proportion of
footing w/ column

a′ = 4 Roundup B,L

b′ = 2(l + b) AF = BL

c′ = lb − AF Po
qact = < qall
AF

-b′ + b′2 - 4a′c′

k′ = Pu
2a′ ultimate bearing qs =
pressure AF

L = l + 2k'
Proceed to
ultimate Design
forces
AF
B=
L

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 STRUNET Ultimate Forces for Footing Subjected to Vertical Loads only
CONCRETE DESIGN AIDS

L
Ultimate Design
l
Forces Vu & Mu
B

l
finding Vu

Note: the following footing forces

calculations are based on: L
l= column dimension parallel to L one way shear
b= column dimension parallel to B (beam action) d

d/2 Pu d/2
Vu = qsB (0.5L - 0.5l - d )
Short
Direction

qs qs
long. Vu = qsL ( 0.5B - 0.5b - d )
Direction

L two way shear

l+d (slab action)
b+d
B

use w/ Vc
bo = 2 ( l + d ) + ( b+ d ) calculation

Vu = qs  AF - ( l + d )( b+ d )

finding M u

Longitudinal
Mu = 0.125qsB (L - l )
2
Direction

Transverse
Mu = 0.125qsL (B - b )
2
Direction

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 Preliminary Size of Footing Subjected to Vertical Load and Moment
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CONCRETE DESIGN AIDS

Preliminary
Size
L
e Po
Mo
e= Mo
Po qmin
Lmax= maximum
qmax
permissible footing L=Lmax L
length . Soils Pressure distribution if e<
6

NO L>6e YES
L
e Po
3Mo 1  Po 6Mo  Mo
Le =1.5L - B=
Po  + 2 
qall  L L 
qmax
Le
2Po
B= AF = BL
qall Le L
Soils Pressure distribution if e>
6

B&L BL2
SF =
6

2Po Po Mo
qmax = qmax = +
BLe AF SF

NO qmax > qall YES NO qmax < qall YES

Po Mo
qmin = -
Proceed to Ultimate AF SF
Bearing Pressure, use
equilibrium equations STOP.
Increase B or L
NO qmin > 0.0 YES

Proceed to Ultimate Proceed to Ultimate

Soils Bearing Soils Bearing
Pressure, use Pressure, use
equilibrium equations flexural equations
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 Ultimate Forces with Flexural Equations for Footing l
Subjected to Vertical Load and Moment

STRUNET L
CONCRETE DESIGN AIDS
P M d
qmax = u + u
AF SF
d/2 Pu d/2
Pu Mu
qmin = - Mu
AF SF
qmin

NO qmin > 0.0 YES qmax

q2 q1
q
q5 q4 3
qmin L
Le = L - δ q = qmax - qmin
qmin + qmax

 0.5 ( L - l - d ) 
STOP.
q1 = qmin + δ q  
 L 
go to equilibrium for
continuation  0.5 ( L - l ) 
q2 = qmin + δ q  
 L 
Ultimate Design
Forces Vu & Mu  0.5 ( L + l ) 
q3 = qmin + δ q  
 L 
 0.5 ( L + l + d ) 
finding Vu q4 = qmin + δ q  
 L 
 0.5 ( L + l ) + d 
q5 = qmin + δ q  
one way shear  L 
(Beam Action)

Short
Direction
Vu = 0.5B (qmax + q5 )(0.5L - 0.5l - d )
finding M u

long.
Vu = 0.5L (qmax + qmin )(0.5B - 0.5b - d ) Longitudinal
Mu = 0.0625B (q3 + qmax )(L - l )
2
Direction
Direction

two way shear

(Slab Action)
Transverse
Mu = 0.0625L (qmin + qmax )(B - b )
2
Direction
Vu = 0.25B (q min + q1 )(L - l - d )
+ 0.5 (q1 + q 4 )(B - b - d )(l + d )
+ 0.25B (q 4 + q max )(L - l - d )

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 Ultimate Forces with Equilibrium Equations for Ultimate Bearing
Footing Subjected to Vertical Load and Moment Pressure using
Equilibrium Equations
l
STRUNET
CONCRETE DESIGN AIDS 3Mu
L Le = 1.5L −
Pu
d
2Pu
d/2 d/2 qmax =
Pu BLe

Mu
0.5qmax
q1 = ( 2Le − L − l − d )
Le
qmax q1
q2 0.5qmax
q3
q5
q4 q2 = ( 2Le − L − l )
Le
Le 0.5qmax
q3 = ( 2Le − L + l )
Le
0.5qmax
Ultimate Design q4 = ( 2Le − L + l + d )
Forces Vu & Mu Le
0.5qmax
q5 = ( 2Le − L + l + 2d )
Le
one way shear
(Beam Action)

Vu = 0.5B ( q5 + qmax )( 0.5L − 0.5l − d )

Short finding M u
Direction

long.
Direction Vu = 0.5qmaxLe ( 0.5B − 0.5b − d )
Longitudinal
Mu = 0.0625B ( q3 + qmax )( L − l )
2
Direction

two way shear

(Slab Action)
Transverse
Mu = 0.0625Leqmax ( B − b )
2
Direction

NO Le > 0.5 ( L + l + d ) YES

NO Le > 0.5L + 0.5l YES

Vu = 0.25q1B ( 2Le − L − l − d )
STOP.
Vu = 0.25B ( q4 + qmax )( L − l − d )
+ 0 .5 ( q1 + q4 )( B − b − d )( l + d )
increase L
+ 0.25q4 (2Le − L + l + d )(B − b − d )
+ 0 .25B ( q4 + qmax )( L − l − d )

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 One-Way Shear Check for Spread Footing
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CONCRETE DESIGN AIDS
ACI 11.12.1.1
ACI 15.5.1
ACI 11.12 One way Shear

bw = B , footing width short direction finding Vc ACI 11.1.2

bw = L , footing length long direction ACI 11.2.1

f c' ≤ 100 psi
d = h - 3.5 , h = footing depth
Normal or Light
NORMAL
Wt Concrete
LIGHT

NO is fct given? YES

ACI 11.2.1.2 ACI 11.2.1.1 ACI 11.3.1.1

(
all-Light wt : Vc = 0.75 2 fc′bw d )  f 
Vc = 2  ct  bw d
 6 .7 
Vc = 2 fc' bw d
(
Sand Light wt : Vc = 0.85 2 fc′bwd )  fct 
 ≤ fc
'

 6 .7 

Vc
ACI 9.3.2.3

see Vu
Vu φ = 0.85
calculations

NO Vu > φVc YES

one way NO can increase fc' YES

shear o.k. or footing depth?
use ACI
11.3.2.1
As = provided
Req'd increase
flexural reinf. Vu =φVc
As
ρw = find d or f'c
bw d

 Vd
Vc = 1.9 fc' + 2500 ρw u  bw d ≤ 3.5 fc' bwd repeat check
 Mu 

NO Vu > φVc YES

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 Two-Way Shear Check for Spread Footing

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CONCRETE DESIGN AIDS
ACI 11.12.1.2
Two way
Shear ACI 11.1.2

bo = 2 ( b + d ) + ( l + d )  fc' ≤ 100psi

Vc
l
βc =
b
 4  ' L
Vc =  2 +  fc bo d l+d
b & l are column  βc 
width and lenght
 α d

b+d
Vc =  2 + s  fc' bod

B
 bo 
Vc = 4 fc' bod

ACI 9.3.2.3
Vu
φ = 0.85

NO Vu > φVc YES

option to use
ACI 11.12.3
NO shear
reinforcement? YES
N.G. increase footing
depth d or f'c
ACI 11.12.3.2 ACI 11.12.3.1
Vc > 2 fc' bod
NO YES
Repeat
Check N.G., increase footing
NO Vu > 6 fc' bod YES depth d or f'c

φVs =Vu - φVc

ACI 11.5.6.2 Repeat
Check
Av fy d
Vs =
s

two way Proceed to

shear is o.k. reinforcement

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 Area of Reinforcement
for Spread Footing finding ρmin
STRUNET ACI 7.12.2
CONCRETE DESIGN AIDS

see M u
fy > 60 ksi ?
calculations
Mu NO YES

ACI 9.3.2.1
Mu fy > 60 ksi ?  60,000 
φ = 0.9 Ru = ρmin = 0.0018  
φ bd 2 NO YES
f
 y 

0.85fc′  2Ru  ρmin = 0.0018 ρmin = 0.002

ρreq' d = 1− 1− 
fy  0.85fc′ 
ACI 10.3.3
ρmin finding ρmax
ACI 10.2.7.3

NO fc′ ≤ 4000psi YES

ACI 10.2.7.3

 fc′ - 4000  β1 = 0.85

β1 = 0.85 - 0.05   ≥ 0.65
 1000 
NO ρreq' d ≥ ρmin YES

ACI 8.4.3
ρreq' d ≤ ρmax
0.85fc′  87,000 
ACI 10.5.2 NO
ρb = β1  
YES fy  87,000 + fy 
ρ = 1.33ρreq' d
use deeper ACI 10.3.3
section or higher
strength ρMAX =0.75 ρb
NO ρ < ρMin YES

use ρ = ρMin ρ = 1.33ρreq' d

As = ρbd ≥ Asmin = ρminbh

proceed to rebar
development

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 STRUNET Rebar Development
CONCRETE DESIGN AIDS

ACI 318-95
12.2.3
ACI 12.2.4 Rebar
Development
c=one-half bar spacing , or
center of bar to the nearest k tr=0.0 for footing
concrete surface, which is smaller
ACI 12.2.3
c + ktr
≤ 2.5
db

α =1.3 fresh concrete below bars is more t han 12"

α =1.0 fresh concrete below bars is 12" or less αβ ≤ 1.7

β = 1.5 Epoxy coated w/ cover < 3db and cl ear spacing < 6db
fc′ ≤ 100psi
β = 1.5 all other epoxy coated
β = 1.5 uncoated
ACI 12.2.3

γ = 0.8 for bar size 6 or smaller. 3 fy αβγλ

ld = db
40 fc′ c + ktr
γ = 1.0 for bar size 7 or larger.
db

λ = 1.0 , normal weight concrete.

λ = 1.3 , light weight concrete, if fct is not s pecified.
6.7
λ= fc′ ≥ 1.0 , light weight concrete, if fct is speci fied
fct

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 Forces Transfer at Column/Footing Interface
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CONCRETE DESIGN AIDS

ACI 15.8
for
compression
force only
fcf′ = fc′ footing A1 = bl
fcc′ = fc′ column φ = 0.7 ACI 9.3.2.4
fcc′ > 2fcf′

Bearing strength Bearing strength

of column of footing

ACI 10.17.1

φPnb = φ( 0.85fcc′ A1 ) A2
φPnb = [φ( 0.85fcf′ A1 )] ACI 10.17.1
A1
A2
≤ 2.0
A1
φPnb = 0.595fcc′ A1 φPnb = 1.19fcf′ A1

ACI 15.8.1.1the least

φ Pnb

NO Pu > φPnb YES

ACI 15.8.2.1 ACI 15.8.1.2
Pu − φPnb
Asmin = 0.005A1 As =
φ fy

the largest

Asreq' d = max ( As ,Asmin )

select dowels
reinforcement
Asprov ' d

Asreq' d
kr =
Asprov ' d

Proceed to
Strunet.com: Spread Footing Design V1.01- Page 13 dowels
development
 Column Dowels Development
STRUNET
CONCRETE DESIGN AIDS

l2
dowels

l1
development

into footing into column

l1 l2
fyc = fy column rebar
& dowels
ACI 15.8.2.3

col. bars are #14

NO or #18 and in YES
compression only? ACI 15.8.2.3

ACI 12.3.2 development is

the largest of
0.02dbfyc
ldb = ≥ 0.0003dbfyc
fcc′ dowel comp. lap col. bar (db 14 &
splice ls 18) develop. length
ACI 12.3.2

0.02dbfyc ACI 12.16.1

ldb = ≥ 0.0003dbfyc 0.02dbfyc
fcf′ ldb = ≥ 0.0003dbfyc
NO fy ≤ 60 ksi YES
fcc′
ACI 12.3.3.1

ld = kr ldb ls = ( 0.0009fyc − 24) db > 12" ls = 0.0005dbfyc > 12"

the largest
lava = h − 6
NO
fc′ < 3000 psi YES

ld > lava ls = ls ls = 1.33ls

YES
NO

STOP. dowels are use larger number of

fully developed. smaller size dowels, or
increase footing depth ls l2 = max ( ls ,ldb )

Repeat
Check

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