Question

Which of the following pose a limitation to plate load test?

(a) Effect of size of foundation and Test on cohesive soil

(b) Load increment

(c) None of the mentioned

(d) All of the mentioned

The question was posed to me in an interview for job.

This is a very interesting question from Bearing Capacity topic in section Bearing Capacity of Geotechnical Engineering II

Answer 1

The correct option is (a) Effect of size of foundation and Test on cohesive soil

Best explanation: A limitation of plate load test is

i) Effect of the size of foundation. For clayey soils the ultimate pressure for a large foundation is the same as that of the test plate. But in dense sandy soils, the bearing capacity increases, with the size of the foundation

ii) Plate load test is essentially a short duration test, and hence the test does not give the ultimate settlement, particularly in the case of cohesive soil.