Bearing theories related to model tests on remoulded clay.

The results of model footing tests on a remoulded clay are described. For the clay used in these tests, the observed deformations and bearing capacities were not in agreement with those expected from the conventional bearing theories. The observed bearing capacity was about 25 percent less than that given by the latter theories, due to a punching or local shear failure. An approximate theory developed by Bishop et al (1945), to determine the load required to force a punch into a semi-infinite cohesive mass, was examined. The bearing capacity determined from this theory was in reasonable agreement with the results of the model tests, and also a limited amount of other data which could be examined. On the basis of these limited results, a relation is suggested for the bearing capacity of surface footings on saturated clay which includes, and predicts from the stress-strain properties of the clay, the case where a local shear failure occurs