LRFD for Shallow Foundations Using Plate Load Test Data

In this study, a database was developed to house reliable results from 43-plate load tests conducted on different types of compacted soil, including load-displacement responses and other information about soil and testing conditions. Using information from that database, resistance factors were developed for shallow foundations based on the prevalent first order second moment reliability approach. The resistance factors were calculated for common equations used to calculating the soil bearing capacity such as Terzaghi, Meyerhof, and Hansen. The calibration was based on comparing the calculated capacity with actual field measurements acquired from the plate load tests. After calibration, it was found that the resistance factors for footings placed on medium dense sand vary from 0.54 to 0.69. Resistance factors for other types of soil were also provided to cover a wide range of reliability indices. © 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.