Architectural Engineering Test 1 Practice

The term that describes the ability of soil to support vertical loads is?

Permeability Consolidation Bearing capacity Shear strength

Correct Answer:

Bearing capacity

Explanation:

The concept being tested is bearing capacity. It describes the soil’s ability to support vertical loads from a foundation without experiencing shear failure or unacceptable settlement. In design, engineers compare the structure’s load to the soil’s allowable bearing capacity (ultimate capacity reduced by a factor of safety) to ensure safe support. Permeability refers to how easily water moves through soil, not how much load it can carry. Consolidation is about time-dependent settlement as pore water dissipates under load. Shear strength is the soil’s resistance to sliding along a plane, which is a key part of what governs bearing capacity, but the overall term for the soil’s ability to carry vertical loads is bearing capacity.

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