Question

An analysis of the condition of complete bearing capacity failure is usually termed as ___________

(a) General shear failure

(b) Terzaghi’s analysis

(c) Bearing failure

(d) All of the mentioned

The question was asked during an online interview.

This is a very interesting question from Terzaghi’s Analysis in chapter Bearing Capacity of Geotechnical Engineering II

Answer 1

Right answer is (a) General shear failure

To elaborate: An analysis of the condition of complete bearing capacity failure is termed as a general shear failure, can be made by assuming that the soil behaves like an ideally plastic failure.