22/01/2020

Worked Example. Changes in water

table
WT
silty sand
silty sand
silty sand
clay clay

The figure shows soil layers on a site. The unit weight

of the silty sand is 19.0 kN/m³, both above and
below the water table. The water level is presently at
the surface of the silty sand.
Find the effective stress at the top of clay when the
water table:
(a) is at the ground level, (b) rises 2 m, (c) drops 1 m.

WT
silty sand
silty sand
silty sand
clay clay

σv = 19 x 3 σv = 19 x 3 σv = 19 x 1
= 57 kPa + 10 x 2 + 19 x 2
= 77 kPa = 57 kPa

σv’ = 57 – 30 σv’ = 77 – 50 σv’ = 57 – 20

= 27 kPa = 27 kPa = 37 kPa

(a) (b) (c) 2