GATE CE 2017 Set 2 — Question 17
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Geotechnical Engineering → Shallow Foundations → Plate Load Test
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Question
The plate load test was conducted on a clayey strata by using a plate of dimensions, and the ultimate load per unit area for the plate was found to be . The ultimate bearing capacity (in kPa) of a wide square footing would be
Correct answer
(B) 180
Solution
For purely cohesive soils (clays), the ultimate bearing capacity is given by Terzaghi's equation as:For (pure clay), the bearing capacity factor . Therefore, the term involving the width of the footing () becomes zero, making the ultimate bearing capacity independent of the width of the footing.Consequently, the ultimate bearing capacity of the wide footing is identical to that of the plate:
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