How does the ultimate bearing capacity of a shallow footing on granular soil change if the groundwater table rises to the level of the footing base, compared to a completely dry condition?

The ultimate bearing capacity of a shallow footing on granular soil is the maximum pressure the soil can support without undergoing shear failure. A shallow footing is a foundation whose depth below the ground surface is less than or equal to its width. Granular soil, such as sand or gravel, is cohesionless, meaning its shear strength is primarily derived from inter-particle friction rather than cohesion. In a completely dry condition, the ultimate bearing capacity of granular soil is determined by its dry unit weight, its internal friction angle, and the footing's geometry. The soil particles transmit stress directly to each other, resulting in high effective stresses within the soil mass below the footing. When the groundwater table rises to the level of the footing base, the soil below the footing becomes fully satur....