The 'safe bearing capacity' of soil differs from 'net ultimate bearing capacity' in that:
Choose the correct answer
They are identical values
Safe BC = net ultimate BC / FOS + overburden (safe BC includes FOS for foundation safety, ultimate does not)
Safe BC is always higher than ultimate BC
Safe BC does not consider soil properties
Correct Answer
B. Safe BC = net ultimate BC / FOS + overburden (safe BC includes FOS for foundation safety, ultimate does not)
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Net ultimate BC (qnu) = gross qult − γDf (subtracts overburden). Safe BC qsafe = qnu/FOS + γDf where FOS = 2.5–3.0 for buildings. Alternatively: net safe BC = qnu/FOS. FOS applied only to net failure load (not to the overburden which always exists). qallowable also checked against settlement.
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