A minimum seating pressure of 70 g/cm2 (0.7 t/m2), shall be applied and removed before starting the load test.

The analytical methods for the determination of bearing capacity of footings are based essentially on shear failure.

The bearing plate used varies in size from 300 to 750 mm with a chequered or grooved bottom.

According to National Building Code of India (SP: 7-1970) the differential settlement shall be kept within limits to which the super-structure can accommodate itself without the distortion, by suitably designing the foundation.

The rate of settlement is defined as the slope or the relative settlement between two points divided by the horizontal distance.

The bearing plate is either circular or square, made of mild steel of not less than 25 mm in thickness.

The recommendation of American code are based upon that if the maximum total settlement is kept within a reasonable limit, the differential settlement will only be a fraction depending upon the type of structure and pattern of loading.

The use of reaction truss is more popular now-a-days since this is simple, quick and less clumsy.

For clayey and silty soils and for loose medium dense sandy soils with N < 15, a 450 mm square plate or concrete block shall be used.

The plate load test essentially consists in loading a rigid plate at the foundation level, and determining the corresponding to each load increment.