Which of the following statements is/are true? A. The proportioning of a footing is more often governed by its bearing capacity. B. Friction piles are also called ‘floating piles’.

Asked in SSC JE 03/03/2017 (Evening)

Detailed Explanation

The question checks two separate facts — one about sizing footings and one about pile names.

Why “Both A and B” Is Correct

A is true: the plan area of a footing is found by dividing the load by the allowable bearing pressure, so its proportions are governed mainly by bearing capacity (with settlement checked).

B is true: a friction pile does not reach a hard stratum; it ‘floats’ in the soil and carries load by skin friction. That is why it is also called a floating pile.

Pile type	How it works / where it is used
End-bearing (point-bearing) pile	Passes through soft soil and rests on a hard stratum; carries load at its tip like a column
Friction (floating) pile	No hard stratum within reach; carries load by skin friction along its length
Compaction pile	Driven into loose sand to densify it and raise its bearing capacity; not meant to carry load itself
Tension (uplift) pile	Resists uplift, e.g. under towers, basements below the water table
Batter pile	Driven at an angle to resist inclined or horizontal loads
Sheet pile	Forms a wall to retain soil or water; not for vertical load

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

A. Only A: B is also true.
B. Only B: A is also true.
D. Neither A nor B: Both statements are true.

Key Point

Footing area = load ÷ allowable bearing pressure. Friction pile = floating pile.

Key Concepts for Students

Friction pile groups in clay have efficiency less than 1.
Footing depth is fixed by shear and bending in the concrete, not by bearing.
Floating piles can settle more than end-bearing piles.

Practice more: this is question 41 in Shallow and Deep Foundation MCQs – Part 3. Try the whole set and check every answer instantly.