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Bearing Capacity Calculator

Calculate safe bearing capacity of soil using Terzaghi's theory.

Nc
14.835
Nq
6.399
Nγ
1.435
qu (ultimate)
563.03 kN/m²
q_net
536.03 kN/m²
q_allow (safe)
205.68 kN/m²
q_allow (t/m²)
20.97 t/m²
FOS applied
3
qu = c·Nc + γ·Df·Nq + 0.5·γ·B·Nγ
q_allow = (qu - γ·Df) / FOS + γ·Df

Soil bearing capacity from Terzaghi's theory

Calculate ultimate and allowable bearing capacity for any soil using Terzaghi's bearing capacity factors. Supports strip and rectangular footings per IS 6403.

Frequently asked questions

What is bearing capacity of soil?
The bearing capacity of soil is its ability to support loads applied to it. The ultimate bearing capacity (qu) is the maximum pressure before shear failure; the allowable bearing capacity = qu / factor of safety.
What factor of safety should I use?
IS 6403 recommends FOS = 3.0 for general shear failure in permanent structures. FOS = 2.5 is used when shear parameters are well-established. FOS = 2.0 may be used for temporary structures.
What is the difference between general and local shear failure?
General shear failure occurs in dense/stiff soils with a well-defined failure surface. Local shear failure occurs in loose/soft soils with gradual compression without a clear failure plane. Terzaghi's formula covers general shear.

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