Bearing Capacity – Factors That Influence a Soil’s Load-Carrying Ability The ultimate bearing capacity of a soil deposit depends primarily on which characteristics of the constituent particles and their interaction?

Introduction / Context:
Bearing capacity refers to the ability of soil to support loads from foundations without undergoing shear failure or excessive settlement. It is governed by both the intrinsic characteristics of the particles and the structure (fabric) of the soil mass, as well as drainage and loading conditions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• General shallow foundation context, drained behavior emphasized for sands; undrained behavior for clays considered separately.
• Homogeneous near-surface layer for simplicity.
• Other influences (water table, shape/depth factors) are secondary to intrinsic strength parameters.

Concept / Approach:

Particle size and gradation influence packing density and stiffness. Particle shape affects interlocking and friction. Cohesion (true cementation or apparent cohesion in clays) contributes to shear strength at low normal stresses. Internal friction is represented by φ in Mohr–Coulomb and is central to resistance against shear. Together these properties determine c and φ, which appear in classical bearing capacity equations (e.g., Terzaghi, Meyerhof) through N_c, N_q, N_γ factors.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Laboratory shear tests and in-situ tests (SPT, CPT) correlate with bearing capacity charts where φ and density dominate for sands and undrained su dominates for clays.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Each factor contributes; choosing only one would be incomplete. Hence 'All the above' is correct.

Common Pitfalls:

Ignoring groundwater and foundation geometry effects; over-reliance on a single parameter without considering fabric and density.

Final Answer:

All the above