Bearing Capacity

[Pierine]

Hi,
I am currently designing a retaining wall and I am wondering if I can calculate the bearing capacity with the length and depth of my foundation.
I have a study that says the geotechnical bearing capacity of my area is 300 Kpa for a foundation of 0.3 m length and 1.5 m depth, but when I use the Meyerhof Method with the CPT calculated in the study using the size of my foundation (Base 3.4 m, Depth 1.5 m) I obtain a bigger bearing capacity (800 kpa). So, my question is if I can use the calculated bearing capacity (800 Kpa) to analyze if my structure will be fail or not.

 

[BridgeSmith]

The first question is whether the 300kPa is for that site (actual soil at that particular location), or the bearing capacity of the soils common in the area. If the former, then use the 300kPa, unless you're qualified and willing to take on the responsibility for using a different value. If the latter, then it again comes back to, are you qualified and willing to take on the responsibility for using the value you calculated. If not, hire a geotech to provide a bearing capacity for the site.

Rod Smith, P.E., The artist formerly known as HotRod10

 

[oldestguy]

If designing footings and determining bearing capacity is not something you do every day, forget the gimmicks you mention. Pass this on to someone who does this for a living.

 

[PEinc]

In addition to what BridgeSmith said, what would be the bearing recommendation be for 3.4m wide retaining wall footing versus the recommendation for a footing of 0.3m length? It sounds like you need a geotech study and recommendation for your particular site and particular structure.

http://www.PeirceEngineering.com

 

[r13]

I believe 300 Kpa is the presumptive soil bearing pressure allowed for a strip footing, that is limited to 30 cm wide, at 1.5 m depth.