Plate Bearing Test Apparatus

The Plate Bearing Test is essentially a model test of foundations. It gives the load deformation characteristics for determining the ultimate bearing capacity of foundations. This test is a standard technique for determining bearing capacity of soils and the results of other methods are compared and calibrated with the values obtained with plate bearing test. In this method, a steel plate is subjected to a gradual increment of load and the corresponding settlement is noted. The Ultimate Bearing Capacity is taken as the load at which the settlement increases at a rapid rate.