What happens to the bearing capacity of soil when it is subjected to an increase in loading?

When soil is subjected to an increase in loading, the bearing capacity typically decreases. This is because as the load on the soil increases, the soil particles rearrange to accommodate the new weight, which can lead to an increase in pore pressure, especially in saturated soils. This increase in pore pressure can reduce the effective stress, which is crucial for soil strength and stability. Consequently, if the soil is unable to withstand the additional stress without experiencing failure or significant deformation, the bearing capacity diminishes.

In certain situations, factors like soil type, moisture content, and loading rate can influence how drastic this decrease may be. While some types of soil may experience minimal short-term changes under additional load, generally, an increase in loading surpasses the soil's ability to effectively resist, making the expected outcome a decrease in bearing capacity.