Equation Pad › Library › IS 456 › Foundations
Bearing stress under a column base
Permissible bearing stress on the footing concrete under a column, with the area enhancement. Reference: IS 456:2000 Cl. 34.4.
Open this sheet in Equation Pad Browse the Library

Example only. This sheet shows one way to set out the check. It is not endorsed by the bodies that publish the design codes and does not reproduce them. Check every clause, value and assumption against your own copy of the current edition of IS 456 before you use it, and have the result checked by a competent person. See the disclaimer.
The calculation, line by line
Every line below is typed into Equation Pad exactly as shown; the app typesets it, works out the value with its units and shows checks as TRUE or FALSE. Change any input and everything below it updates.
# Data
P_u := 2200 kN
a := 450 mm
b := 450 mm
f_ck := 25 MPa
A_2 := a*b = mm^2
A_1 := (a + 2*900 mm)*(b + 2*900 mm) = mm^2
# A_1 is the largest area of the supporting surface that is similar to A_2 (1:2 spread through the footing depth).
# Bearing
f_br := 0.45*f_ck*min(sqrt(A_1/A_2), 2) =
sigma := P_u/A_2 = MPa
sigma <= f_br =
How to use this example
- Click Open this sheet in Equation Pad. It opens as a new worksheet in your browser; nothing is installed.
- Change the inputs at the top to those of your project.
- Check the clauses and coefficients against the code, add your own checks, and save the sheet or export a PDF with your title block.
More IS 456 sheets on foundations
- Size of an isolated square footing
- Isolated footing: bending moment and steel
- Isolated footing: one-way shear
- Isolated footing: punching shear
- Combined footing for two columns
- Rectangular footing for a rectangular column