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ACI 318-14United States

Wall Footing (ACI 318-14)

Footing loads link to the wall above, so load changes propagate downstream automatically. Design continuous wall footings to ACI 318-14 (IBC 2018) - results cover ultimate load checks, bearing capacity verification, flexural reinforcement design, and serviceability.

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What it calculates

Footing loads link to the wall above, so load changes propagate downstream automatically. Design continuous wall footings to ACI 318-14. Results cover ultimate load, bearing capacity, and serviceability.

Code standards

  • ACI 318-14

How it calculates

The Wall Footing (ACI 318-14) calculator designs continuous strip footings per ACI 318-14 (IBC 2018), using ASCE 7-16 load combinations. It checks bearing pressure under service loads, flexural reinforcement demand, one-way shear, and development length adequacy.

Bearing pressure check (ASD, ASCE 7-16, Ch. 2)

Service loads are combined using ASD load combinations to compute the gross soil bearing stress q_s across the footing width:

utilization = q_s / q_a ≤ 1.0

Stability checks for sliding (FS_s) and overturning (FS_ovt) are also reported. The calculator confirms the footing remains in total compression (resultant within the kern) under service loads.

Flexural design (ACI 318-14, Cl. 22.2)

Factored moment demand M_u is taken at the critical section (face of the wall) from the net upward bearing pressure under LRFD load combinations. Required reinforcement area is determined and compared to the provided area and minimum steel:

A_s,min = 0.002 × H × b (temperature and shrinkage reinforcement governs for most plain wall footings)

utilization = M_u / (phi × M_n) ≤ 1.0

One-way shear (ACI 318-14, Cl. 22.5)

The critical shear section is at distance d from the wall face. Plain concrete shear strength:

phi × V_n = phi × 2 × lambda × sqrt(f'c) × b × d

utilization = V_u / (phi × V_n) ≤ 1.0

No shear reinforcement is included. If shear demand exceeds capacity, the calculator checks whether a plain concrete design will satisfy the requirements.

Development length (ACI 318-14, Cl. 25.4)

Available development distance l_a = B/2 - b/2 - cover. Required development length l_d is calculated per ACI 318-14 and reduced for excess reinforcement area. If insufficient, the calculator automatically checks whether a plain concrete design passes.

Top reinforcement for negative bending

Where overturning moments generate tension at the top of the footing, top bar reinforcement is checked for negative bending capacity and development length per ACI 318-14 Cl. 22.2 and 25.4.

Assumptions

Wall is centred on the footing. Lateral loads are only used for sliding checks. No shear reinforcement is considered. Compression reinforcement is not included in bending calculations. Wall reinforcement is assumed to continue into the footing without splice checks at the interface.

Related calculators

Wall Footing (ACI 318-19)→Pier Footing (ACI 318-14)→Cantilever Retaining Wall (IBC 2021)→Restrained (Basement) Retaining Wall (IBC 2021)→

What engineers say

Sam Hensler company logo
Just the simple feature of being able to link loads is a really big time-saver.

Sam Hensler

Principal, Dynamic Analysis Engineering Consulting

Read their story →
The load linking feature is huge for us. Before, we had to use separate calculators and manually input everything.

John Cagle

Project Engineer, CHM Engineering

Frequently asked questions

What design standard does this calculator use?
The calculator applies ACI 318-14 for reinforced concrete section design per IBC 2018 load combinations (ASCE 7-16). Strength design (LRFD) is used - factored loads are checked against reduced design capacities (phi*Mn, phi*Vn). Bearing pressure is checked against allowable capacity under service loads.
What are the key inputs?
Key inputs are wall thickness, footing width and depth, concrete compressive strength (f'c), reinforcement bar size and spacing, concrete cover, allowable soil bearing pressure (qa), and applied loads per unit length of wall (axial force, overturning moment, shear). Loads can be entered directly or linked from a wall calculation above.
What does the calculator check and output?
Checks include: bearing pressure under service loads versus allowable bearing capacity, ultimate flexural demand at the face of the wall versus design moment capacity (phi*Mn), one-way shear at d from the wall face versus shear capacity (phi*Vc), and minimum reinforcement per ACI 318-14. Required and provided reinforcement areas and utilization ratios are reported.
When should I use the ACI 318-14 version versus the ACI 318-19 version?
Use this ACI 318-14 calculator for projects governed by IBC 2018 or when the authority having jurisdiction requires the 2014 edition. For projects under IBC 2021 or newer, use the Wall Footing (ACI 318-19) calculator instead, which incorporates the updated shear design provisions including the size effect factor introduced in ACI 318-19.
Can I link wall loads directly from a wall or column calculation?
Yes. Axial force, moment, and shear at the base of the wall link automatically from a connected wall or column calculator in the same project. When loads change upstream, the footing recalculates bearing pressure, flexure, and shear automatically - no manual transfer of reaction values between templates.
Does this calculator support load linking from walls above?
Yes. All footing checks update automatically when the wall above changes. For foundation design where wall loads drive footing sizing, linking the reactions from the wall calculation keeps the footing design current through the full load path without manual re-entry.

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