Working through a calculation
The six-step wizard, live results and what governs.
This page walks through Bearing Capacity, which shows the pattern all the calculators follow.
The six steps
| Step | Covers |
|---|---|
| 1 · Design basis | Method, design approach, drainage condition |
| 2 · Geometry | Footing dimensions and depth |
| 3 · Loads | Applied loading |
| 4 · Ground model | Soil layers and properties |
| 5 · Design settings | Factors and design parameters |
| 6 · Review | Check inputs and results |
Move between steps using the numbered tabs.
Design basis
Three choices that set everything downstream:
- Calculation method — for example Terzaghi (default)
- Design approach — for example Allowable stress
- Drainage condition — for example Drained / effective stress
Drainage condition is the one to get right. Drained and undrained analyses of the same footing give different answers, and which applies depends on the soil and the loading rate.
Each field has a ? with guidance.
Reading the results
The results panel updates live:
- Governing design pressure — the headline value in kPa
- Utilisation — how much of the capacity the applied load uses
- A line stating what governs, for example Terzaghi (1943) · bearing shear governs · Stiff clay
Two diagrams show the section — ground, footing, groundwater and layers — and the footing in plan with its effective contact area.
What governs
Always read the governing line. It tells you which failure mode and which layer control the result. A capacity governed by a soft layer well below the footing is a different design problem from one governed by shear at founding level, and the number alone does not tell you which you have.
Engine version
The header records the engine version, for example engine v1.0-beta. Note it for any calculation you issue.