Consider the below statements with respect to types of bearing capacity failures of soil and
identify the correct answer.
Statement A : General shear failure has well defined failure surfaces, reaching up to the ground
surface.
Statement B : Local shear failure is sudden and associated with tilting of footing.
Statement A is correct
In general shear failure (typical of dense sand or stiff clay), continuous and well-defined slip
surfaces develop from the edges of the footing and extend all the way up to the ground
surface.
There is clear heaving of the soil around the foundation and a distinct peak in the load
settlement curve.
Statement B is incorrect
Local shear failure (typical of medium-dense sand or medium clay) is not sudden. The
failure surfaces are only partially developed and do not clearly reach the ground surface.
There is only slight bulging of the soil, progressive settlement, and no tilting of the footing.
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