FAILURE:This TYPE of failure is seen in dense and stiff soil.Continuous, well defined and distinct failure surface DEVELOPS between the edge of footing and ground surface.Dense or stiff soil that undergoes low compressibility EXPERIENCES this failure.General shear failure is accompanied by low strain (<5%) in a soil with considerable low ϕ (ϕ >36o) and large N (N > 30) having high relative density (ID> 70%).Local Shear Failure:This type of failure is seen in relatively loose and soft soil.A SIGNIFICANT compression of soil below the footing and partial development of plastic equilibrium is observed.Failure is not sudden and there is no tilting of footing.Local shear failure is accompanied by large strain (> 10 to 20%) in a soil with considerably low (<28°) and low N (N < 5) having low relative density (ID> 20%).Punching Shear Failure:This type of failure is seen in loose and soft soil and at deeper elevations.This type of failure occurs in a soil of very high compressibility.Failure pattern is not observed.