Monday, June 22, 2015

Maximum soil bearing capacity of different types of soil



The load of structure is coming on the soil. So we need to know the bearing capacity of the soil. Bearing capacity of soil is used to indicate the maximum load per unit area which is determined by a) Method of loading or b) Method of dropping weight. Dividing the ultimate soil bearing capacity by a safety factor we get the maximum safe bearing capacity of soil which is used to design foundations.

Below are the maximum soil bearing capacity of different types of soil:

Type of soil                                                      Maximum safe bearing capacity kg/m2

1. Soft, wet clay or muddy clay                                           5,000

2. Soft clay                                                                             10,000

3. Fine, loose and dry sand                                                10,000

4. Black cotton soil                                                              15,000

5. Moist clay and sand clay Mixture                                 15,000

6. Loose gravel                                                                     25,000

7. Medium clay                                                                     25,000

8. Medium, compact and dry sand                                    25,000

9. Compact clay                                                                     45,000

10. Compact sand                                                                  45,000

11. Compact gravel                                                               45,000

12. Soft rocks                                                                        45,000

13. Laminated rock such as sand stone &
      Lime stone                                                                       165,000

14. Hard rocks such as granite, diorite, trap                    330,000