PLATE LOAD: Safe bearing pressure on permissible settlement - FOUNDATION SITE EXPLORATION.

The safe bearing capacity determined above is on the basis of shear failure. The settlement of the footing also governs the bearing capacity of soil. Such a bearing pressure can be obtained from the load settlement curve, corresponding to the desired settlement of the test plate. Generally, the permissible settlements of footings are specified in the Codes. The corresponding settlement of the test plate can be found from the following relationship applicable for granular soil:

The net loading intensity corresponding to settlement ρp, is then determined from Fig. 2.24. The safe bearing pressure is then lesser of the following two values: (i) safe bearing capacity found on the basis of shear failure, and (ii) net loading intensity corresponding to settlement ρp, of the plate.

 FIG. 2.24  LOAD SETTLEMENT CURVES.