Shallow Foundations

Technical Report Documentation Page
1. Report No.

2. Government Accession No.

3. Recipient’s Catalog No.

FHWA-SA-02-054
4. Title and Subtitle

5. Report Date

September 2002
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING CIRCULAR NO. 6
Shallow Foundations

6. Performing Organization Code

7. Author(s)

8. Performing Organization Report No.

Robert E. Kimmerling
9. Performing Organization Nameand Address

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

PanGEO, Inc.
3414 N.E. 55th Street
Seattle, Washington 98105

11. Contract or Grant No.

DTFH61-00-C-00031

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

Office of Bridge Technology
Federal Highway Administration
HIBT, Room 3203
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590

Technical Manual
14.Sponsoring Agency Code

15. Supplementary Notes

Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative: Chien-Tan Chang (HIBT)
FHWA Technical Consultant: Jerry DiMaggio (HIBT)
16. Abstract

This document is FHWA’s primary reference of recommended design and procurement
procedures for shallow foundations. The Circular presents state-of-the-practice guidance on the
design of shallow foundationsupport of highway bridges. The information is intended to be
practical in nature, and to especially encourage the cost-effective use of shallow foundations
bearing on structural fills. To the greatest extent possible, the document coalesces the research,
development and application of shallow foundation support for transportation structures over the
last several decades.
Detailed design examplesare provided for shallow foundations in several bridge support
applications according to both Service Load Design (Appendix B) and Load and Resistance Factor
Design (Appendix C) methodologies. Guidance is also provided for shallow foundation
applications for minor structures and buildings associated with transportation projects.
17. Key Words

18. Distribution Statement

Shallow foundation,spread footing,
abutment, mat foundation, bearing capacity,
settlement, eccentricity, overturning, sliding,
global stability, LRFD
19. Security Classification (of this report)

No Restrictions. This document is available to the
public from the National Technical Information
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161

20. Security Classification (of this page)

21. No. of Pages

22. Price310
Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72)

Reproduction of completed page authorized

NOTICE
The information in this document has been funded wholly or in part by the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), under Contract No. DTFH61-00-C00031 to PanGEO, Inc. The document has been subjected to peer and administrative review by
FHWA and has been approved forpublication as a FHWA document.
The contents of this report reflect the views of the author, who is responsible for the facts and
accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the policy of the
Department of Transportation. This report does not constitute a standard, specification or
regulation. The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers.Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or
recommendation for use by either the author or FHWA.

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING CIRCULAR NO. 6
SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS
PREFACE
This document is the sixth in a series of Geotechnical Engineering Circulars (GEC) developed by
the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This Circular focuses on the design, procurementand construction of shallow foundations for highway structures. The intended users are
practicing geotechnical, foundation and structural engineers involved with the design and
construction of transportation facilities.
Other circulars in this series include the following:
-

GEC No. 1 – Dynamic Compaction (FHWA-SA-95-037)

-

GEC No. 2 – Earth Retaining Systems (FHWA-SA-96-038)

-...