ASBOG Practice Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Load-bearing capacity in geotechnical engineering refers specifically to the maximum load that a soil can support without experiencing failure, such as shear failure or excessive settlement. This concept is crucial in the design and construction of foundations, as it helps engineers determine how much weight can be safely placed on the ground without compromising stability.

Understanding this capacity allows engineers to ensure that structures are supported adequately, preventing risks associated with overloading the soil. Factors influencing load-bearing capacity include soil type, moisture content, depth of the soil layer, and any existing geological conditions.

The other options, while related to geotechnical considerations, do not define load-bearing capacity. The weight of the structure is indeed important in determining loads, but it does not encompass the soil's ability to support those loads. The thickness of soil layers and the amount of water the soil can retain are relevant characteristics of the soil but do not directly pertain to its load-bearing capacity. Therefore, the correct choice that accurately defines load-bearing capacity is the maximum load a soil can support without failure.