Conduct a bearing capacity analysis on the Fargo Grain Elevator (see sidebar) and back-
calculate the average undrained shear strength of the soil. The groundwater table is at a depth
of 6 ft below the ground surface. Soil strata A and B have unit weights of 110 lb/ft3
; stratum D
has 95 lb/ft3
. The unit weight of stratum C is unknown. Assume that the load on the foundation
acted through the centroid of the mat.