What is the ultimate bearing capacity of soil calculated based on?

The ultimate bearing capacity of soil refers to the maximum pressure that the soil can withstand without failure. It is determined by considering various factors related to the soil's properties and conditions.

Effective unit weight, which considers the weight of the soil minus the pore water pressure influence, is crucial as it reflects the stress the soil can support under loading conditions. This effective weight is essential when calculating how the soil behaves under different moisture conditions.

Buoyant weight plays a significant role in scenarios where the soil is saturated. It accounts for the reduction in stress on the soil due to the presence of water, which effectively reduces the soil's weight in submerged conditions. This is particularly relevant when the foundation is below the water table.

The saturated weight minus water gives insight into the condition of the soil when it is fully saturated. This measurement helps in understanding how the soil behaves when fully saturated, and is important in the ultimate bearing capacity calculations, particularly in determining how much load the soil can reliably carry.

In summary, the ultimate bearing capacity of soil is indeed a function of all these aspects, synthesizing them provides a comprehensive understanding of how the soil will behave under various loading and moisture conditions. Hence, the correct approach to calculate it must include effective unit weight, buoyant weight,