Flexural Limit Design of Column Footings

Abstract

Flexural collapse loads of eccentrically loaded, individual column footings were investigated using Yield Line Theory. It was found that the cantilever failure mechanism recommended by the AC! Building Code does not give the lowest upper bound on the loads. Governing equations were derived for mechanisms that led to flexural collapse loads as low as one‐half those predicted by the cantilever mechanism for some column/footing combinations. Suggestions are given for a reasonably simple design procedure that should ameliorate the problem.