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The unified strength theory can account for the influence of intermediate principal stress using a specified parameter b , with which the determination of the values and influences of b is significant. In this research, a physical model test was carried out in combination with the numerical simulations to explore the effect of b on a sand foundation loaded by a shallow strip footing. Variation of parameter b would produce significant effect on the deformation characteristics, stress response, failure model, as well as bearing capacity of the sand foundation. In general, a larger b could be adopted to yield smaller magnitudes of stress. The calculated ultimate bearing capacity P ult increases linearly with increase in b , and an increment of 470% can be obtained using b  = 1.0 relative to b  = 0.0. The comparison of the bearing capacities of physical model test and numerical simulation suggests that b  = 0.89–0.99 is the appropriate value for the experimental sand foundation, that ultimately results in a capacity increase in 420%–465% relative to the result of Mohr–Coulomb failure law.