Abstract: In order to determine the bearing capacity of the foundation soils, different test methods were applied to different layers of soil strata in a train station of No. 3 Line of Suzhou Transit Project. The following testing methods were applied: laboratory testing of index and mechanical properties; pressuremeter tests; screw plate loading tests and cone penetration tests. The differences of the bearing capacity value obtained from different testing methods are compared. The results indicates that the bearing capacity values from these testing methods vary significantly. Usually, higher bearing capacity values can be obtained from laboratory test and cone penetration test; whereas, the bearing capacity values obtained from the pressuremeter test and screw plate loading test are more close the values used in the design.

Key words: Bearing Capacity Values, Foundation Soils, Screw Plate Loading Tests, Pressuremeter Tests