The seismic design of foundations for structures depends on dynamic bearing capacity, dynamic settlements and liquefaction susceptibility of soil. The dynamic bearing capacity problem has been attracting the attention of researchers during the last about fifty years. Till today (2013), there is no accepted dynamic bearing capacity theory. Most analysis for design of shallow foundations under seismic loads are based on the assumption that the failure zones in soil occur along a static failure surface. This is the pseudo-static approach. An attempt has been made in this paper to summarize the currently available information on design of shallow foundations under seismic loading. The case of a foundation resting on an upper non-liquefying layer overlying a layer susceptible to liquefaction is also included. The methods for determining the foundation settlements are also discussed
