EFFECTIVE STRESS CONCEPT

Soils, as previously described, are multiphase systems. In given volume of soil, the solid
particles are distributed randomly with void spaces between. The void spaces are continuous
and are occupied by water and/or air. In the analysis of problems such as compressibility of
soils, bearing capacity of foundations, stability of embankments, and lateral pressure on earth
retaining structures, one needs to know the distribution of stress on the various components
along a given cross section of the soil particle.

 Stresses in saturated soil without seepage

H A

Ha

Total stress, , at elevation of point A,

 = H w + ( Ha – H ) sat
where:
w = unit weight of water
sat = saturated unit weight
H = height of water table from top of soil column
Ha = distance between A and water table

The total stress can be divided into two parts:

(a) a portion is carried by the water in the void spaces, which are continuous, and acts
with equal intensity in all directions
(b) the remaining stress is carried by the soil solids at their points of contacts

The sum of all the vertical components of the forces developed at the points of contacts of the
solid particles is called the effective stress.
 ‘ = P1(v) + P2(v) + P3(v) + P4(v) + . . . . .

If As is the fraction of the unit cross sectional area occupied by the solid to solid contacts ( As
= a1 + a2 + a3 + a4 …. ), the space occupied by water is 1-As, thus
 =  ‘ + (1 – As)
where:
 = Ha w ( pore water pressure at A , neutral stress )

note :
the value of As is very small and can be neglected, thus
 =  ‘ +  or

‘=-
substituting,

 ‘ = [ Hw + (Ha – H)sat ] - Haw

= Hw + Hasat - Hsat - Haw
= Ha (sat - w ) – H (sat - w )
= (Ha-H) (sat - w )
= (height of the soil column) (submerged unit weight)

note : the effective stress at any point is independent of the depth of water H above the
submerged soil.

Illustrative Example :
A soil profile is shown in the figure. Calculate and plot the variations of stresses.

3m dry sand (d = 16.5 Kn/m3 )

G.W.T

6m saturated clay (sat = 19.25 Kn/m3)

 Effective stress in partially saturated soil

In partially saturated soil, the water in the void spaces is not continuous, namely, the material
comprises a three – phase system of solids, pore water and air.

Bishop, gave the following equation for the effective stress

’ =  - a +  (a - w)
where :
 = total stress
a = pore air pressure
w = pore water pressure
 = fraction of a unit cross-sectional area of the soil occupied by water
 = 0 (dry soil ),  = 1 (fully saturated soil )

 Effective stress in the zone of capillary rise

The continuous void spaces that exist in soil can behave as bundles of capillary tubes of
variable cross section
 the pore water pressure,  at a point in a layer of soil fully saturated by capillary
rise is - wh; where h is the height of the point measured from the ground water
table.
 if partial saturation due to capillary rise occurs, it can be approximated as  =
- Swh; where S refers to the degree of saturation
Illustrative Example:
A granular soil deposit is shown in the figure. Plot the variations of total stress, pore
water pressure and effective stress with depth. Given : e = 0.65 & Gs = 2.70

3m note:
zone of capillary rise is 1m
G.W.T above G.W.T.

2m

impermeable layer