A plate load test was conducted on a uniform deposit of sand and the following data

were obtained:

Pressure kN/m2 50 100 200 300 400 500 600

Settlement (mm) 1.5 2.0 4.0 7.5 12.5 20.0 40.0

size of the plate was 750 mm X 750 mm and that of pit was 3.75 m X 1.5m.
i) Plot the pressure settlement curve and determine the failure stress
ii) A square footing 2 m X 2 m is to be founded at 1.5 m depth in this soil. Assuming
the factor safety against shear failure as 3,determine the allowable bearing pressure
 i) The pressure-settlement curve and failure point

Step I: Draw Load vs Settlement curve

Pressure 50 100 200 300 400 500 600

kN/m2
Settlement 1.5 2.0 4.0 7.5 12.5 20.0 40.0
(mm)
 i) The pressure-settlement curve and failure point

Step II: Apply zero correction

 i) The pressure-settlement curve and failure point

Step III: Draw tangents to the curve

Failure stres =500 kN/m2

qult  500 kN/m 2

  11 mm
Abbet’s Improved Method of Plotting
(IS: 1888–1971)
ii) A square footing 2 m X 2 m is to be founded at 1.5 m depth in this soil. Assuming
the factor safety against shear failure as 3, determine the allowable bearing pressure

Solution strategy

Step I: Apply Terzaghi's equation to plate and determine Bearing Capacity factors
1
qult  C.Nc   .D f .N q   .b.N For plate
2

Step II: Apply Terzaghi's equation to footing

Step I: Apply Terzaghi's equation to plate and determine Bearing Capacity factors

1
qult  C.Nc   .D f .N q   .b.N
2
For sand C = 0

As plate is on the surface Df =0

1
qult   .b.N
2

Here b = bp
1
qult   .bp N
2
 1
qult   .bp N
2
b p  0 . 75 m

  20 kN/ m 3 Assumed

q ult  500 kN/m 2 From Curve

1
500   .b p N  Interpolation between 35 and 40° of Φ
2
 40  35 
N   66 .67   35  (66.67  42.4) 
 100.4  42.4 
 y2  y1 
y  y1  ( x  x1 )    37 0 N q  50 .96
 x2  x1 
Step II: Apply Terzaghi's equation to footing
q ult  20  1 . 5  50 . 96  0 . 4  20  2  66 . 67
qult  C.N c   .D f .N q  0.4 .b.N 
qult  2595.52 kN/m2
For sand C = 0
Calculate net ultimate bearing
qult   .D f .N q  0.4 .b.N  capacity

b 2m D f  1 .5 m qnet ult  qult  q

  20 kN/ m 3
q net ult  2595 .52  20  1.5
N   66 .67 N q  50 .96
2
q net ult  2565 . 52 kN/m
Calculate net safe bearing capacity

qnet ult
qnet safe  FOS =3
FoS

2565 .52
q net safe 
3
2
qnet safe  855 kN / m

Calculate safe bearing capacity

q safe  qnet safe  D f

2
q safe  855  20 1.5 q safe  885 kN / m