Bearing Capacity Of Different Types Of Soil

Bearing capacity is the capacity of soil to support the loads applied to the ground. The bearing capacity of the 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 that 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.

The following table shows the maximum bearing capacity values of different types of soils

Types of Soil	Bearing Capacity (Kg/m2)	Bearing Capacity (kN/m2)
Soft, wet clay or muddy clay	5000	50
Soft clay	10000	100
Fine, loose, and dry sand	10000	100
Black cotton soil	15000	150
Moist clay and sand-clay Mixture	15000	150
Loose gravel	25000	250
Medium clay	25000	250
Medium, compact and dry sand	25000	250
Compact clay	45000	450
Compact sand	45000	450
Compact gravel	45000	450
Soft rocks	45000	450
Laminated rock such as sandstone & Limestone	165000	1650
Hard rocks such as granite, diorite, trap	330000	3300

Bearing capacity soil depends on the different soil when the soil condition is changed so the bearing capacity must be change from the other types of soil. when we design any structure so, first of all, we have to check the bearing capacity of the soil by which we are designing our project.