The determination of ultimate bearing capacity on an eccentrically-loaded square footing depends upon the concept of useful
- ASquare
- BWidthCorrect
- CTriangle
- DCircle
Solution
Concept
Effective width (Meyerhof)
Formula
B' = B − 2e, L' = L − 2e
Step-by-step solution
1. For an eccentric load, only a reduced part of the footing is effective. 2. The ultimate bearing capacity is computed using the effective (useful) width B′ = B − 2e.
Explanation
Meyerhof's effective area method reduces the dimensions of the footing by twice the eccentricity, so the bearing capacity is based on the useful (effective) width.
Shortcut
Eccentric load → effective width B′ = B − 2e.
Correct answer: B) Width