Question: What is the ultimate bearing capacity of a shallow foundation on saturated clay with a cohesion of 50 kPa and a depth of 1.5 m?
Options:
Correct Answer: 150 kPa
Solution:
The ultimate bearing capacity (q_u) can be calculated using the formula q_u = c*N_c, where c is the cohesion and N_c is the bearing capacity factor. For saturated clay, N_c is typically around 5. Therefore, q_u = 50 kPa * 5 = 250 kPa.