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What Is Bearing Capacity Of Soil?
Soil bearing capacity refers to its ability to withstand loads applied to it. The soil’s density and shear strength are the most critical considerations. The depth to which a load is applied also influences its bearing capacity: the deeper the embedding, the stronger the load. The soil’s bearing capacity is the maximum load per unit area that the soil can safely withstand without displacement. We can calculate the soil’s safe bearing capacity by dividing its bearing capacity by its factor of safety.Ultimate Bearing Capacity (Qu)
The ultimate bearing capacity of soil is defined as the maximum gross pressure intensity at the base of the foundation, at which shear failure of the soil does not fail in shear. It is the least amount of pressure that would produce shear failure if the supporting soil was immediately beneath and adjacent to a foundation.
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Types Of Bearing Capacity Failures
A base failure happens when the shear strength of the soil exceeds its bearing capability. This is referred to as a failure of bearing capacity. There are three types of bearing capacity failures of soil:- General shear failure,
- Local shear failure, and
- Punching shear failure.
1. General Shear Failure
The general shear failure is characterized by rupture of the underlying soil, followed by bulging of the soil surface around the footing. The soil is heaved up on only one side of the footing, resulting in the tilting of the structure. In general shear failure, failure occurs at a very low strain. A well-defined failure surface is observed as the entire soil mass within the failure wedge participates. The failure is accompanied by a significant bulging of sheared soil bulk.2. Local Shear Failure
Local shear failure is a type of bearing capacity failure in which the ultimate shear strength of the soil is mobilized only locally along the potential sliding surface when the structure supported by the soil is compromised by excessive movement.3. Punching Shear Failure
Punching shear failure occurs when there is relatively strong compression of the soil beneath the footing, as well as vertical shearing along the footing’s edges. Punching shear failure is a type of bearing capacity failure caused by strong localized stress. This sort of failure is catastrophic since there are no obvious warning indications before the collapse. This form of failure is common in loose and soft soil, as well as at higher elevations. Punching shear failure occurs in extremely compressible soil. In this sort of failure, the footing penetrates the soil without any surface bulging.Conclusion
It is critical to determine the underlying soil’s carrying capability during the design stage of any construction project. Whenever a load is placed on the ground, such as from a building foundation, a crane, or a retaining wall, the ground must be able to support it without experiencing severe settlement or collapse. Before designing the structure, the knowledge of types of bearing capacity failure is crucial to avoid failure in the future. Hope this article has given deeper insights on types of bearing capacity failure. This is why ground-bearing pressure, also known as soil-bearing capacity, is crucial.Also Read
Types Of Failures In Beams
Types Of Column Failures
Types Of Failures In Pavements
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