The Ultimate Bearing Capacity, `q_"ULT"`, is the maximum pressure that a foundation soil can withstand without undergoing shear failure.

Notes

The theory for determining the ultimate bearing capacity of rough shallow foundations (explored by Karl von Terzaghi) is based on a presumption that a foundation is shallow if its depth is less than or equal to its width.

The bearing capacity factors for cohesion, depth and unit weight are given in the following tables: 

• Terzaghi’s Bearing Capacity Factors
• Meyerhof Bearing Capacity Factors
• Vesic Bearing Capacity Factors
• Hansen Bearing Capacity Factors
• Foundation Engineering Handbook