Bearing Capacity

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 divided 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.
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 a connecting
link between the structure proper and the ground which supports it. The bearing strength
characteristics of foundation soil are major design criterion for civil engineering structures. In
nontechnical 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 divided 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.
A general bearing failure occurs when the load on the footing causes large movement of the soil
on a shear failure surface which extends away from the footing and up to the soil surface.
Calculation of the capacity of the footing in general bearing is based on the size of the footing
and the soil properties. The basic method was developed by Terzaghi, with modifications and
additional factors by Meyerhof and Vesić. The general shear failure case is the one normally
analyzed. Prevention against other failure modes is accounted for implicitly in settlement
calculations.[1] There are many different methods for computing when this failure will occur.
In 1951, Meyerhof published a bearing capacity theory which could be applied to rough shallow
and deep foundations.[3] Meyerhof (1951, 1963) proposed a bearing-capacity equation similar to
that of Terzaghi's but included a shape factor s-q with the depth term Nq. He also included depth
factors and inclination factors.
Soil mechanics is a branch of soil physics and applied mechanics that describes the behavior
of soils. It differs from fluid mechanics and solid mechanics in the sense that soils consist of a
heterogeneous mixture of fluids (usually air and water) and particles (usually clay, silt, sand,
and gravel) but soil may also contain organic solids and other matter. Along with rock
mechanics, soil mechanics provides the theoretical basis for analysis in geotechnical
engineering, a subdiscipline of civil engineering, and engineering geology, a subdiscipline
of geology. Soil mechanics is used to analyze the deformations of and flow of fluids within
natural and man-made structures that are supported on or made of soil, or structures that are
buried in soils. Example applications are building and bridge foundations, retaining walls, dams,
and buried pipeline systems. Principles of soil mechanics are also used in related disciplines such
as engineering geology, geophysical engineering, coastal engineering, agricultural
engineering, hydrology and soil physics.
This article describes the genesis and composition of soil, the distinction between pore water
pressure and inter-granular effective stress, capillary action of fluids in the soil pore spaces, soil
classification, seepage and permeability, time dependent change of volume due to squeezing
water out of tiny pore spaces, also known as consolidation, shear strength and stiffness of soils.
The shear strength of soils is primarily derived from friction between the particles and
interlocking, which are very sensitive to the effective stress. The article concludes with some
examples of applications of the principles of soil mechanics such as slope stability, lateral earth
pressure on retaining walls, and bearing capacity of foundations.

Soil mechanics is a discipline of civil engineering that predicts the soil performance
characteristics utilizing the engineering techniques of dynamics, fluid mechanics, and other
technologies. Soil mechanics includes the study of soil composition, strength, consolidation, and
the use of hydraulic principles to deal with issues concerning sediments and other deposits. Soil
mechanics is one of the major sciences for resolving problems related to geology and
geophysical engineering. Soil mechanics studies are very important for civil engineers because
based on the findings of soil mechanics studies, engineering structures are constructed. The type
of construction, type of equipment to be used, type of foundation, support material, and many
other aspects of construction works are largely affected by the soil mechanics studies. Basically
we study about soil formation modes, physical and chemical properties of soil, dynamic loading
of soils, permeability, consolidation, etc. In the subsequent sections of this article, we will
discuss in detail about major aspects of soil mechanics studies.