MEKANIKA TANAH I

Prof. Teuku Faisal Fathani

References :
▪ Das, B. M., 2002, Principles of Geotechnical
Engineering, 5th ed., Brooks/Cole Thomson Learning.
▪ Hardiyatmo, H.C., 2004, Mekanika Tanah 1 dan 2,
Gama Press.
▪ Craig, R.F. (1992), Soil Mechanics, Fifth Edition,
Chapman & Hall.
 Diskripsi Singkat Mekanika Tanah 1
MK Mekanika Tanah 1 membahas tentang:

1. Soil compaction – the concept, laboratory testing

2. Soil compaction in the field
3. Concept of effective stress
4. Total stress, pore water pressure, effective stress and
capillary effect
5. Ground water, soil permeability
6. Laboratory testing: constant head and falling head
7. Permeability coefficient in stratified soil
8. Permeability test in the field
 STRESS IN SOIL
Water in pond :
▪ Hydrostatic pressure :
p = h w
▪ Sifat : ⊥ plane
Equal to all direction

Ground water :
Hydrostatic pressure is calculated
from ground water level (g.w.l)
Hydrostatic press = pore water press
u = h w where w  10 kN/m3

for horizontal g.w.l ➔ g.w.l. horizontal (except flowing water)

Soil below ground water level (g.w.l) :
- submerged and saturated,
- effective unit weight = ’
’ = sat - w
- Soil above g.w.l. ➔ wet ➔
near g.w.l. ➔ possible saturated
(moving upward ➔ dry)

Stress in soil (vertical direction) :

 stress = force / area
▪ Weight of soil prism having height ‘h’
with cross section = 1 unit area
p = h soil
Soil stress under ground water level (g.w.l) :
 Total stress: weight of water and solid (total weight)
 Pore water pressure >> neutral (equal to all directions)
 Effective stress = stress in soil particles (difference in total
stress and pore water pressure)
p (total) =  = h1 1 + h2 sat
= h1 1 + h2 ’ + h2 w

From bottom :
Pore water pressure = u = h2 w
Resultant : p’(effective) = ’ =  - u
= h1 1 + h2 (sat - w) = h1 1 + h2 ’

Effective stress ➔ application ➔ stability analysis

(consolidation, land-slide etc.)
Example :
Layers of soil is shown :
Sand : Gs = 2.6, e = 0.54, above G.W.L. w = 15 %
Clay : Gs = 2.7 , e = 0.67,
Hitung ptotal , u, peffective di -9.00 m ( w = 10 kN/m3)
sand :  = Gs (1+w) w /(1+e) = 19.42 kN/m3
sat = (Gs + e) w /(1+e) = 20.39 kN/m3
’ = sat - w = 10.39 kN/m3
clay : sat =(Gs + e) w /(1+e) = 20.18 kN/m3
’ = sat - w = 10.18 kN/m3
Total stress, p = 2 + 2.5 sat1 + 4.5 sat2 = 180.63 kN/m2
Pore pressure, u = 7 w = 70 kN/m2
Effective stress, p’ = p - u = 110.63 kN/m2
 CAPILLARY RISE IN SOILS

• The height above the water table to which the soil is

saturated is called the capillary rise, and this
depends on the grain size and type (and thus the
size of pores):
· in coarse soils capillary rise is very small
· in silts it may be up to 2m
· in clays it can be over 20m
 CAPILLARY RISE IN SOILS

• Below the water table, pore

pressures are positive. In
dry soil, the pore pressure
is zero.
• Above the water table, when
the soil is saturated, pore
pressure will be negative.
 CAPILLARY RISE IN SOILS

• Summing Forces in
Vertical Direction

 2 
 d hc w = dT cos 
4 
4T cos 
hc =
d w
Where:
• T = Surface Tension
• α = Angle of Contact
• d = Capillary Tube Diameter

T,α, γw remain constant

1
hc 
Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, Das (2006). d
 CAPILLARY RISE IN SOILS

1
hc 
d

Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, Das (2006).

 CAPILLARY RISE IN SOILS

C
h1 =
eD10
where:
• D10 = Effective size (mm)
• e = Void Ratio
• C = Constant (ranging from
10 to 50 mm2)

Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, Das (2006).

 CAPILLARY RISE IN SOILS

Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, Das (2006).

EFFECTIVE STRESS IN CAPILLARY ZONE

 = −u
Saturated : u = − h w
 S 
Partially saturated u = − h
:  w
 100 
Example :
Layers of soil is shown :
Loam : Gs = 2.6, e = 0.54
Calculate ptotal , u, peffective at point A,B,C and D( w = 10 kN/m3)
 Layers of soil is shown :
Loam : Gs = 2.6, e = 0.54

(Gs + S r .e) w
=
1+ e

(Gs + S r .e) w (2.65 + 0) w

S = 0% A= = = 17,21kN/m 3
1+ e 1 + 0.54
(Gs + S r .e) w (2.65 + 0.75  0,54) w
S = 75% B = = = 19,83kN/m 3
1+ e 1 + 0.54
(Gs + S r .e) w (2.65 + 1.00  0,54) w
S = 100% C = D = =
1+ e 1 + 0.54
= 20,71kN/m 3
Point A:

Total Stress (pA) : 2 x γA = 34,42 kN/m2

P.W.P (uA) : -2 x γw -2 x (50/100) x γw = -30 kN/m2

Effective Stress (pA’) : p - u = 64,42 kN/m2

Point B:

Total Stress (pB) : pA + 2 x γB = 74,08 kN/m2

P.W.P (uB) : -2 x γw = -20 kN/m2

Effective Stress (pB’) : p - u = 94,08 kN/m2

Point C:

Total Stress (pC) : pB + 2 x γC = 115,5 kN/m2

P.W.P (uC) : 0 x γw = 0 kN/m2

Effective Stress (pC’) : p - u = 115,5 kN/m2

Point D:

Total Stress (pD) : pC + 6 x γD = 239,76 kN/m2

P.W.P (uD) : 6 x γw = 60 kN/m2

Effective Stress (pD’) : p - u = 179,76 kN/m2

 Ptotal U Peffective
0 0 0

34,62 -30 34,62

64,42
74,68 -20 94,08
115,5 115,5
0

239,76 60 179,76