• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.84 no.4
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• pp.561-573
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• 2022

This paper presents a new model to obtain the minimum area of the contact surface for rectangular isolated footings, considering that the contact surface works partially to compression (a part of the contact surface of the footing is subjected to compression and the other is not in compression or tension). The methodology is developed by integration to obtain the axial load "P", moment around the X axis "M_x" and moment around the Y axis "M_y". This document presents the simplified and precise equations of the four possible cases of footing subjected to uniaxial bending and five possible cases of footing subjected to biaxial bending. The current model considers the contact area of the footing that works totally in compression, and other models consider the contact area that works partially under compression and these are developed by very complex iterative processes. Numerical examples are presented to obtain the minimum area of rectangular footings under an axial load and moments in two directions, and the results are compared with those of other authors. The results show that the new model presents smaller areas than the other authors presented.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.201-217
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• 2024

This study aims to develop a new model to obtain the minimum area in circular isolated footings with eccentric column taking into account that the surface in contact with the ground works partially in compression, i.e., a part of the contact area of the footing is subject to compression and the other there is no pressure (pressure zero). The new model is formulated from a mathematical approach based on a minimum area, and it is developed by integration to obtain the axial load "P", moment around the X axis "M_x" and moment around the Y axis "M_y" in function of σ_max (available allowable soil pressure) R (radius of the circular footing), α (angle of inclination where the resultant moment appears), y₀ (distance from the center of the footing to the neutral axis measured on the axis where the resultant moment appears). The normal practice in structural engineering is to use the trial and error procedure to obtain the radius and area of the circular footing, and other engineers determine the radius and area of circular footing under biaxial bending supported on elastic soils, but considering a concentric column and the contact area with the ground works completely in compression. Three numerical problems are given to determine the lowest area for circular footings under biaxial bending. Example 1: Column concentric. Example 2: Column eccentric in the direction of the X axis to 1.50 m. Example 3: Column eccentric in the direction of the X axis to 1.50 m and in the direction of the Y axis to 1.50 m. The new model shows a great saving compared to the current model of 44.27% in Example 1, 50.90% in Example 2, 65.04% in Example 3. In this way, the new minimum area model for circular footings will be of great help to engineers when the column is located on the center or edge of the footing.