Which term is most significant in the bearing capacity of cohesive soil?

The bearing capacity of cohesive soil is primarily influenced by the cohesion term. In cohesive soils, the ability to carry loads depends significantly on the soil's cohesive strength, which is a measure of how well the soil particles stick together. This cohesive strength contributes directly to the effective stress in the soil, which increases the soil's resistance to shear failure.

While other factors such as depth, weight, and surcharge do play a role in the overall bearing capacity, they are not as crucial in cohesive soils as cohesion itself. For example, the depth term relates to the fact that deeper soil layers may provide additional support due to the weight of overburden soil, but this is more relevant in granular soils than in cohesive ones. The weight term pertains to the vertical stress imposed by the overlying soil, and while it impacts the effective stress, it is the soil's inherent strength from cohesion that is the determining factor for ultimate bearing capacity.

Similarly, the surcharge term can create additional stress on the soil surface, but again, it is the cohesive strength that primarily governs how well the soil can support additional loads. Therefore, in cohesive soils, the cohesion term stands out as the most significant in determining the bearing capacity.