Bearing Capacity Terminology – Maximum Pressure Before Shear Failure The maximum pressure that a soil can sustain under a foundation without undergoing shear failure is termed:

Introduction / Context:
Shallow foundation design relies on clear definitions that distinguish ultimate shear resistance from serviceability-based limits. Students must separate ultimate bearing capacity (a failure limit) from various net and safe capacities used for design after applying reductions and accounting for overburden and settlements.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Homogeneous soil under a shallow foundation.
• Classical bearing capacity framework (e.g., Terzaghi type).
• Failure defined by a shear mechanism in soil beneath the footing.

Concept / Approach:

Ultimate bearing capacity (q_u): the maximum pressure the soil can carry before shear failure. Net ultimate (q_net,u): q_u minus overburden pressure at foundation level. Safe bearing capacity: ultimate divided by a factor of safety. Allowable bearing pressure: may be governed by settlements or by shear with safety factors applied.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Standard texts define q_u as the load intensity at failure; design values are obtained after applying safety factors and settlement checks.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

(a) and (b) include safety factors or netting; (c) is a net variant; (e) is a serviceability term not tied strictly to shear failure limit.

Common Pitfalls:

Confusing 'ultimate' with 'safe' or mixing net and gross definitions; forgetting to subtract overburden for net quantities.

Final Answer:

Ultimate bearing capacity