MEYERHOF’ THEORY

A square foundation (B x B) has to be constructed as shown above. The gross allowable load,
Q with FS = 3 calculated below using Meyerhof’ Theory.

1
𝑞𝑢 = 𝑐 ′ 𝑁𝑐 𝐹𝑐𝑠 𝐹𝑐𝑑 𝐹𝑐𝑖 + 𝑞𝑁𝑞 𝐹𝑞𝑠 𝐹𝑞𝑑 𝐹𝑞𝑡 + 𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾 𝐹𝛾𝑠 𝐹𝛾𝑑 𝐹𝛾𝑡
2

Since the load is vertical, 𝐹𝑐𝑖 = 𝐹𝑞𝑖 = 𝐹𝛾𝑖 = 1. From Table 4.2 for 𝜙 ′ = 1𝑜 , 𝑁𝑐 = 5.38, 𝑁𝑞 =
1.09, 𝑁𝛾 = 0.07 𝑎𝑛𝑑 FS = 3.

𝑞 = 𝐷𝑓 𝛾 = (0.4 𝑥 14.4) + 1.1(18.0 − 9.81) = 14.769 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2

Using Table 4.3,

𝐵 𝑁𝑞 4.2 1.09
𝐹𝑐𝑠 = 1 + ( ) ( ) = 1 + ( ) ( ) = 1.203
𝐿 𝑁 𝑐4.2 5.38

𝐵 4.2
𝐹𝑞𝑠 = 1 + ( ) (𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜙 ′ ) = 1 + ( ) (𝑡𝑎𝑛 1𝑜 ) = 1.017
𝐿 4.2

𝐵 4.2
𝐹𝛾𝑠 = 1 − 0.4 ( ) = 1 − 0.4 ( ) = 0.6
𝐿 4.2
 𝐷𝑓 1.5
𝐹𝑞𝑑 = 1 + 2(𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜙 ′ )(1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜙)2 ( 𝐵 ) = 1 + 2(𝑡𝑎𝑛 1𝑜 )(1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛 1)2 (4.2) = 1.012

1−𝐹𝑞𝑑 1−1.012
𝐹𝛾𝑠 = 1 − 𝑁 = 1.012 − 5.38 𝑡𝑎𝑛 1𝑜 = 1.140
𝑐 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜙′

𝐹𝛾𝑑 = 1

Hence,

𝑞𝑢 = (18.0 𝑥 5.38 𝑥 1.203 𝑥 1.140 𝑥 1.0) + (14.769 𝑥 1.09 𝑥 1.017 𝑥 1.012 𝑥 1.0)
1
+ 2 (18.0 − 9.81)(4.2 𝑥 0.07 𝑥 0.6 𝑥 1.0 𝑥 1.0)

= 150.1 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2
𝑞𝑢 150.1
𝑞𝑎𝑙𝑙 = = = 50.03 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2
𝐹𝑆 3

𝑄 = [50.03 𝑥 (4.2 𝑥 4.2)]

= 882.5 𝑘𝑁