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Allowable Bearing Pressure - Should loads be factored?

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StructureMan44

StructureMan44

Structural
Dec 10, 2014
201
The geotech has provided an allowable bearing pressure of 2000psf. Because the provided pressure is allowable, I'd like to confirm that my loads (live, dead, hydrostatic, etc.) should not be factored?
 
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that's correct as far as I've always interpreted the word allowable.
 
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Yes, bearing pressure for footings is almost always done at allowable levels, so use ASD load combinations. The footing design itself is almost always done at ultimate levels, using LRFD load combinations.
 
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For service limit states (bearing, sliding, overturning) use ASD, unfactored loads. For strength limit states use LRFD, factored loads. Pay attention to whether your allowable bearing pressure is net or gross.
 
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Thank you everyone.

Motorcity: What is the difference between net and gross allowable bearing pressure?
 
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Kidding; allowable and net soil pressure is one of those things that everyone asks about at least once in their engineering career. Kinda like LRFD vs ASD.

Here's a reasonably quick and easy to understand explanation of net vs allowable:
Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries
 
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In order to provide the gross soil pressure wouldn't the geotechnical engineer need to know (or make an assumption) about the applied load?
 
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To provide the gross soil pressure (a load) they would, to provide the allowable gross soil pressure (capacity) they do not.

Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries
 
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