Which statement best defines bearing capacity?

Which statement best defines bearing capacity?

• A. The maximum soil pressure that can safely support a load.
• B. The total soil weight above the footing.
• C. The soil's shear strength under shear failure.
• D. The modulus of elasticity of soil.

Answer: (A)

Bearing capacity is the maximum soil pressure that can safely support a load without experiencing shear failure or excessive settlement. It reflects how much load the soil can carry through its strength properties (cohesion, friction, and weight) and the footing geometry, before failure or unacceptable movement occurs. The safe bearing capacity used in design is this ultimate capacity divided by a factor of safety to account for uncertainties and settlement limits. This concept is different from the total weight of soil above the foundation (overburden pressure), the soil’s shear strength in isolation (which is a component used in calculations but not the definition), and the modulus of elasticity (which describes stiffness, not load-bearing capacity).

Bearing capacity is the maximum soil pressure that can safely support a load without experiencing shear failure or excessive settlement. It reflects how much load the soil can carry through its strength properties (cohesion, friction, and weight) and the footing geometry, before failure or unacceptable movement occurs. The safe bearing capacity used in design is this ultimate capacity divided by a factor of safety to account for uncertainties and settlement limits. This concept is different from the total weight of soil above the foundation (overburden pressure), the soil’s shear strength in isolation (which is a component used in calculations but not the definition), and the modulus of elasticity (which describes stiffness, not load-bearing capacity).