PLATE BEARING TEST

GEO Laboratory Testing Services Limited

Introduction
In the design of shallow foundation or traffic
surface, design engineers need to know the bearing
capacity of soil underneath. Plate bearing test is
carried out in the field to serve this purpose. Results
from the test can be used as design parameter or
used to confirm the design assumption..
Standard of Test Method
Plate bearing test is carried out in accordance with
BS 1377 Part 9 : 1990 Standards.
Fig. 2 Illustration of Plate Bearing Test setup

Testing Procedure
Select test location and depth at the point where
the real foundation will be constructed, if
possible. If the test is performed in a test pit,
width of the pit should be at least 4 to 5 times of
plate diameter.
Apply the load to the plate in steps by means of
hydraulic jack pushing against the counter
weight until reaching the maximum test load.
Unloading should also be done in the backward
steps. Read and record the load of every step
from proving ring.
Read settlement from the dial gauges. 3 to 4 dial
gauges should be placed separately at 120 or
90 respectively.

fig 1 plate bearing test equipment

Equipment and Apparatus

1. Counter weight such as box or platform with
heavy material suck as concrete, steel, etc. Total
counter weight should be at least 10% greater
than the anticipated maximum test load.
2. Hydraulic jack for applying the load.
3. Proving ring, 1 kg accuracy, for measuring the
load.
4. Bearing Plate, 350mm 450mm and 600mm
Diameter.
5. 4 Dial gauges, reference beams.
Fig. 3 Plate Bearing Test

GEO Laboratory Testing Services Limited

PLATE BEARING TEST

Interpretation of the Test Result

Results from the test shall consist of raw data, loadsettlement curve, yield pressure, recommended
allowable pressure for foundation design, and modulus
of subgrade reaction (K) for road design.

Fig. 6 Illustration of Scale Effect in Foundation Design

Das, B.M. (1995) suggested following formula

for calculating bearing capacity of the actual
footing to correct the scale effect.
Fig. 4 Load-settlement curve from Plate Bearing Test

For cohesive soil, qu (F| =

For cohesionless soil,

where qu ~.
footing

Fig. 5. Determination of time over settlement

qu (P)

bearing

capacity

qu (p,

= bearing capacity of test plate

BF.

= breadth of footing

Bp.

= breadth of test plate

of

If the above method give too high bearing

capacity, Engineer should use judgment to limit
allowable pressure to be more reasonable for
each type of soil condition.

Advantages of the Test

1) Gain understanding of foundation behavior which will

enable the evaluation of foundation bearing capacity
and settlement under loading condition.
2) Quick and easy to perform.
Limitation
1) Plate bearing test can give bearing capacity of subsoil up
to the depth about twice of plate diameter only.

2) There is a scale effect due to size of testing plate is

smaller than the actual footing.

The prediction of settlement can also be done

from the load-settlement curve from the test.