GATE CE 2016 Set 2 — Question 21
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Geotechnical Engineering → Shallow Foundations → Terzaghi's Bearing Capacity
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Question
A strip footing is resting on the surface of a purely clayey soil deposit. If the width of the footing is doubled, the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil
Correct answer
(D) remains the same
Solution
According to Terzaghi's bearing capacity theory for a strip footing:For purely clayey soil, the angle of internal friction , which gives the bearing capacity factors , , and .
For a footing resting on the surface, the surcharge (since ).
Substituting these values into the equation:The ultimate bearing capacity is independent of the width of the footing. Therefore, if the width is doubled, the ultimate bearing capacity remains the same.
For a footing resting on the surface, the surcharge (since ).
Substituting these values into the equation:The ultimate bearing capacity is independent of the width of the footing. Therefore, if the width is doubled, the ultimate bearing capacity remains the same.
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