A 1.25 X 10^6 pound rocket system and launch structure is supported on a reinforced concrete slab at the Florida launch pad. The soil is poor clay and has a bearing capacity of only 1500 pounds per square foot. Including a safety factor of 1.5, how big (surface area) of a concrete launch pad is needed. Make it a square. What is its length and width

Surface area needed = 1666.67 ft^2

Length and width of square = 40.825 ft

Explanation:

A safety factor of 1.5 means that the concrete should be designed to hold 1.5 times the weight of structure. This means it has to hold a total of :

Weight of structure to be held (including factor of safety) = 2 * 1.25 * 10^6

Weight of structure to be held (including factor of safety) = 2.5 * 10^6 lb

Square foot of soil needed to bear this weight = 2.5 * 10^6 / 1500

Square foot of soil needed to bear this weight = 1666.67 ft^2

Since this is the area of the square, we can find out the length of the sides as follows:

Area = Length of side * Length of side

Length of side =

Length of side = 40.825 ft