Meyerhof's General Bearing Capacity Equations | Shallow Foundations
Meyerhof's bearing capacity equation computes the ultimate pressure a shallow footing can apply to soil before undergoing shear failure. It expands Terzaghi's classical formula by introducing empirical factors for footing shape, foundation embedment depth, and inclined load angles.
Governing Formula
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Notation & Variables
Worked Example
Evaluate soil parameters
Given sand stratum with friction angle phi = 32 deg, unit weight gamma = 120 pcf, and footing depth Df = 4 ft.
Compute bearing capacity factors
For phi = 32 deg: Nq = 23.2, Nc = 35.5, Ngamma = 22.0.
Calculate allowable bearing pressure
Evaluate surcharge q = 120 * 4 = 480 psf, and apply safety factor FS = 3.0 to determine qallow.
When does this govern?
Used by geotechnical engineers to derive the allowable bearing pressure values published in foundation engineering soil reports.
Common Mistake
Neglecting groundwater table elevation. A high water table reduces soil effective unit weight by roughly 50%, cutting bearing capacity in half!