Economical considerations in the design of isolated footings

Isolated footings are normally used for most of the structures with reinforced concrete or steel columns. The design of a footing is governed by the bearing capacity/allowable pressure of soil and axial loads/moments acting on it. The isolated footings subjected to axial loads alone are analysed in the present study. While in the case of highly compressible soils, settlement is the criterion for design, in the case of coarse grained soils, bearing capacity is mostly the criterion for design. The variation of bearing capacity/allowable pressure with breadth, and the ratio of length to breadth is also taken into consideration in this paper. Recommendations have been given for both the conditions