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Bearing capacity
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In geotechnical engineering, bearing capacity is the capacity of soil to support the loads applied to
the ground. The bearing capacity of soil is the maximum average contact pressure between the
foundation and the soil which should not produce shear failure in the soil. Ultimate bearing capacity
is the theoretical maximum pressure which can be supported without failure; allowable bearing
capacity is the ultimate bearing capacity multiplied by a factor of safety. Sometimes, on soft soil
sites, large settlements may occur under loaded foundations without actual shear failure occurring; in
such cases, the allowable bearing capacity is based on the maximum allowable settlement.
There are three modes of failure that limit bearing capacity: general shear failure, local shear failure,
and punching shear failure.
Contents
1 Introduction
2 General shear failure
3 Terzaghi's Bearing Capacity Theory
4 Factor of Safety
5 Meyerhofs's Bearing Capacity theory
6 See also
7 References
8 External links
Introduction
A foundation is the part of a structure which transmits the weight of the structure to the ground. All
structures constructed on land are supported on foundations. A foundation is, therefore, a connecting
link between the structure proper and the ground which supports it.
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where
for ' = 0
for ' > 0
For foundations that exhibit the local shear failure mode in soils, Terzaghi suggested the following
modifications to the previous equations. The equations are given below.
For square foundations:
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, the modified bearing capacity factors, can be calculated by using the bearing
capacity factors equations(for
, respectively) by replacing the effective internal
angle of friction
by a value equal to
[2]
Factor of Safety
Calculating the gross allowable-load bearing capacity of shallow foundations requires the application
of a factor of safety(FS) to the gross ultimate bearing capacity, or:
[2]
Where:
See also
Geotechnical engineering
Foundation (architecture)
Soil mechanics
References
1. ^ a b Coduto, Donald (2001), Foundation Design, Prentice-Hall, ISBN 0-13-589706-8
2. ^ a b c Das, Braja (2007), Principles of Foundation Engineering (6th ed.), Cengage Publisher Unknown
parameter |Place= ignored (|place= suggested) (help)
3. ^ Das, Braja (1999), Bearing Capacity and Settlement, CRC Press LLC Unknown parameter |Place=
ignored (|place= suggested) (help)
External links
Bearing Capacity of Soils (http://www.theconstructioncivil.org/bearing-capacity-of-soils)
Bearing Capacity Factors related to the angle of internal friction
(http://www.geotechnicalinfo.com/bearing_capacity_factors.html)
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Categories: Soil mechanics
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearing_capacity
7/5/2013