Bearing Capacity Test
Bearing Capacity Test
(OP)
It is very common for a testing program to be implemented into a deep foundation design to gain economy. However, is something similar ever done for shallow foundations with regard to bearing capacity of soils?
Is there a common bearing capacity test that can be performed for footings?
Is there a common bearing capacity test that can be performed for footings?





RE: Bearing Capacity Test
RE: Bearing Capacity Test
for example, a 'typical' exploration where the client wants lowest bid will get a knee jerk reaction exploration. bearing pressures will be 'typical' for the geology (say 3ksf) as long as nothing funky shows up in the borings and loads are not very large. in reality, with a little extra money that 3ksf could easily be 4ksf...again with money to perform additional field work, lab work or engineering to justify the recommendations. if you want to go far to the high end and throw lots of money at it, you can buy yourself a high end foundation design. as you get 'higher end' there are many other aspects/variables that must be considered and documentation to justify the recommendations. just like with designing structures, there are always other ways to design say a CIP wall. change the dimensions and orientations, use better materials, use select backfill, increase this and decrease that, etc etc...or you can default to the tried and true 'quick' design. for most applications 'tried and true' is sufficient...other times, you want to go with an in-depth design to push the envelope a bit but it takes design time and additional testing to make it happen.
RE: Bearing Capacity Test
RE: Bearing Capacity Test