A strip footing is resting on the surface of a purely clayey soil deposit. If the width of the footing is doubled, the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil

becomes double
becomes half
becomes four-times
remains the same

Correct answer: remains the same

Solution

For a purely clayey (phi=0) soil the bearing capacity factor N_gamma = 0, so the width-dependent term (0.5*gamma*B*N_gamma) drops out of the ultimate bearing capacity. Therefore doubling the footing width leaves the ultimate bearing capacity unchanged.

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