Bearing Capacity Calculator — shallow foundations

Ultimate and allowable bearing capacity of shallow foundations. Choose a method — Terzaghi, Meyerhof, Hansen, or Vesic — and a footing shape (strip, square, rectangular, or circular). The app returns the bearing-capacity factors N_c, N_q, N_γ, all applied shape / depth / inclination factors, the three term contributions, q_ult, q_all and the allowable column load Q_all, with full worked steps and a labelled footing sketch.

⭐ Free to use · Balance … EP

① Method

② Footing shape

③ Shear condition (Terzaghi)

Local shear reduces c* = ⅔c and tanφ* = ⅔tanφ (loose / soft soils).

④ Footing geometry (m)

Width B (m)

Footing width.

Depth D_f (m)

Depth of the footing base below the ground surface.

⑤ Soil properties

Unit weight γ (kN/m³)

Cohesion c (kPa)

Friction angle φ (deg)

Water table depth D_w (m)

Depth of the water table below the ground surface. Leave blank if none / very deep.

⑥ Safety & load

Factor of safety FS

Load inclination α (deg)

From vertical (Meyerhof / Hansen / Vesic). Leave 0 for a vertical load.

🏛️ Result

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Ultimate · allowable · load

Summary

Worked solution

⚠️ Study aid only. This computes ultimate and allowable bearing capacity of a shallow foundation by classical bearing-capacity theory. It does not check settlement, eccentric / moment loading, layered soils, sloping ground, or global stability. The Terzaghi N_γ table is curated and pending verification. Confirm every foundation by full geotechnical design and the governing code before use.