Vesic observed three types of bearing capacity failures in soil:
General Shear Failure: This type of failure occurs when the soil underneath a foundation shears and fails in a cohesive or non-cohesive soil. The failure surface is usually inclined at an angle of 30 to 45 degrees from the horizontal, and the bearing capacity is governed by the shear strength of the soil.
Local Shear Failure: Local shear failure occurs in a cohesive soil when the stresses at the foundation's edge exceed the shear strength of the soil, causing it to fail. This type of failure typically occurs in relatively stiff soils, and the failure surface is usually inclined at an angle of 60 degrees or more from the horizontal.
Punching Shear Failure: Punching shear failure occurs when a foundation, such as a footing or slab, presses down on a soil layer, causing it to fail in a cone-shaped surface. This type of failure typically occurs in non-cohesive soils and is governed by the soil's compressive strength.