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This module determines actual soil pressures and required depths for pole footings primarily supporting lateral loads. Such footings are commonly called "flagpole footings".

 

Since applied top moment generates lateral soil pressures that usually govern the design, these footings typically have a depth/width ratio of 2:1 and greater.

 

Cases with and without lateral restraint at the ground surface are allowed. Evaluation of actual and allowable pressures is in accordance with 2006 IBC Section 1805.7.2.

 

 

 

General Data Tab

 

Pole Footing Shape

Use this section to specify whether the pole is round or rectangular (assumed square).

 

Footing Width/Diameter

Enter the width or diameter of the pole footing. Width is measured perpendicular to force direction. If the pole is specified as rectangular, the module will multiply the value entered for footing width 1.41 to determine an equivalent width dimension for calculations.

 

Restraint at Ground Surface

Specify whether the footing is free at the ground surface or restrained and cannot translate. A restrained footing indicates that a concrete slab or other rigid element prevents translation of the pole footing at the ground surface, but does not prevent rotation. When specifying a restrained footing, you must assure yourself that the final force required to provide the restraint can actually be developed by the restraining construction.

 

When ground surface restraint is present, the lateral pressure value at the bottom of the pole will govern the design.

 

Operation Mode

This setting provides an option to select from two different modes of operation as follows:

 

Calculate Minimum Depth: In this mode, the module will iterate to determine the minimum embedment depth required to make the actual lateral soil pressure lower than the allowable soil pressure.

 

Find Lateral Pressure for Given Depth: In this mode, the module will calculate the lateral earth pressures caused by the specified pole size, embedment depth and applied loads. When this option is selected, a Pole Footing Embedment Depth input field will appear as shown below:

 

 

Allowable Pressure Limit

Two options are provided as indicated below:

 

 

Limit only by "Max. Passive": Solves for a design that allows the passive pressure at 1/3 embedment depth to approach the value specified in the Allowable Lateral Passive Pressure field below (limited to the value specified in the Maximum Lateral Pressure Limit field).

 

Example:  Assume the following parameters:

 

When the Limit only by "Max. Passive" option is selected, the solution will progress as follows:

 

Use limit of 12 ft (per IBC): Solves for a design that achieves a passive pressure at 1/3 embedment depth that does not exceed the Allowable Lateral Passive Pressure, where the Allowable Lateral Passive Pressure is calculated based on 1/3 of the embedment depth but not to exceed 12 feet.

 

Example:  Assume the following parameters:

 

When the Use limit of 12 ft (per IBC) option is selected, the solution will progress as follows:

 

Allowable Lateral Passive Pressure

The allowable lateral passive pressure that the soil can withstand. This value is entered as pounds per square foot per foot of embedment depth.

 

Maximum Lateral Pressure Limit

This value is used to specify an upper limit on the Allowable Lateral Passive Pressure, so that it does not increase in an uncontrolled manner as the embedment depth increases. This value is entered as pounds per square foot.

 

Applied Loads Tab

 This module allows many types of loads to be applied to a pole footing embedded in soil.

 

Lateral Concentrated Loads

Module allows one concentrated load with various load types to be applied at a specified distance above the surface of the soil.

 

Lateral Distributed Loads

You can apply a uniform lateral load to the pole by specifying the magnitude of the load and the starting and ending locations.

 

Applied Moments

You can apply a concentrated moment. No "height" entry is required, because it is purely a rotational force.

 

Vertical Load

You can also apply a vertical load so that the module can calculate the vertical bearing load on the footing for each load combination.

 

 

Load Combinations Tab

Use this tab to specify the load combinations you want the module to analyze.

 

 

 

Results Tab

The results tab provides a summary of the calculations.

 

The table reports the resulting forces, moments and required depth for each load combination.

 

The Controlling Values area provides information for the most severe load combination.

 

 

 

Sketch Tab