What is the effect of increasing the width of a foundation on its bearing capaci

Practice Questions

Q1
What is the effect of increasing the width of a foundation on its bearing capacity?
  1. Decreases bearing capacity
  2. Increases bearing capacity
  3. No effect
  4. Depends on soil type

Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions

What is the effect of increasing the width of a foundation on its bearing capacity?
  • Step 1: Understand what a foundation is. A foundation is the part of a building that supports it and transfers its weight to the ground.
  • Step 2: Know what bearing capacity means. Bearing capacity is the ability of the soil to support the weight of the building without collapsing.
  • Step 3: Recognize that the width of a foundation is how wide it is at the base. A wider foundation has a larger area.
  • Step 4: Realize that when you increase the width of the foundation, you are increasing the area that is in contact with the soil.
  • Step 5: Understand that a larger area means the weight of the building is spread out over more soil.
  • Step 6: Conclude that spreading the weight over a larger area reduces the pressure on the soil, which helps prevent failure.
  • Step 7: Therefore, increasing the width of a foundation generally increases its bearing capacity.
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