8.

1 If the axial stress on a cylindrical sample of soil is decreased and the radial stress
is increased by twice the decrease in axial stress, show that the stress path has a
slope q/p = − 3. Plot the stress path.

Solution 8.1

 1    1 , 3  21

1  23 1  41

p    1
3 3

q  1   3   1  21   3 1

q  3 1
  3
p 1
8.2 The initial mean effective stress on a soil is p0' and the deviatoric stress q = 0. If
the soil is a linear, isotropic, elastic material, plot the total and effective stress
paths for the following axisymmetric undrained loading condition: (a)
1 1
 3 =  1 , and (b)  3 =   1 .
2 2

Solution 8.2

1 
1  2  1 
2  21
p  
3 3

1 1
(a) q   1   1   1
2 2

q 3

p 4
 1 
 1  2    1 
 2 
(b) , p  0
3

 1  3
q  1    1   1
 2  2

4
(b) TSA, ESP
3
q (a) ESP
2
q

(a) TSP
1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5
p,
p, p
p'
8.3 A cylindrical sample of soil is isotropically compressed under drained
condition with a vertical stress of 100 kPa and a radial stress of 100 kPa.
Subsequently, the axial stress was held constant and the radial stress was
increased to 300 kPa under an undrained condition.
(a) Calculate the initial mean effective stress and deviatoric stress. Create a
graph with the x-axis as p, p and the y-axis as q (p, q space). Plot these
values in (p, q) space.
(b) Calculate the increase in mean total stress and deviatoric stress.
(c) Plot the total and effective stress paths (assume the soil is a linear,
isotropic, elastic material).
(d) Determine the slopes of the total and effective stress paths and the
maximum excess porewater pressure for each space.

Solution 8.3

(a) Initial Condition (following drained isotropic consolidation)

 a  2 r 100  2 (100)
p  p    100 kPa
3 3
q  q    a   r  100  100  0

(b) Loaded Condition

(Undrained, triaxial extension with constant  a )
 a  2 r 0  2 200
p    133.3 kPa
3 3
p   0  Slope of effective stress path (ESP) for elastic soil
q   a   r  0  200 kPa   200 kPa
(c)

Plot the Stress Paths (p - q Space)

Summary
Initial Loaded
p 100 233.3
p 100 100
q 0 -200
u 0 133.3

0
-50 0 50 100 150 200 250
q (kPa)

-100 TSA
ESA
-150
-200
Excess pore water pressure
-250
p, p' (kPa)
(d)
slope of total stress path (TSP) is:
q 200 3
 
p 133.3 2
u  p = 133.3 kPa
8.4 A cylindrical sample of soil is isotropically compressed under drained
condition with a vertical stress of 100 kPa and a radial stress of 100 kPa.
Subsequently, the axial stress was held constant and the radial stress was
increased to 300 kPa under an undrained condition.
(a) Calculate the initial effective stress, s, and deviatoric stress, t. Create a
graph with the x-axis as s, s and the y-axis as t (s, t space). Plot these
values in (s, t) space.
(b) Calculate the increase in s and t.
(c) Plot the total and effective stress paths (assume the soil is a linear,
isotropic, elastic material).
(d) Determine the slopes of the total and effective stress paths and the
maximum excess porewater pressure.

Solution 8.4

(a) Initial Condition (following drained isotropic consolidation)

a  r
100  100
s  s    100 kPa
2 2
   r 100  100
t  a   0
2 2
(b) Loaded Condition
(Undrained, triaxial extension with constant axial stress)
 a   r 0  200
s    100 kPa
2 2
s   0  Slope of effective stress path (ESP) for elastic soil
 a   r 0  200
t   kPa   100 kPa
2 2
(c)

Plot the Stress Paths (p - q Space)

Summary
Initial Loaded
s 100 200
s 100 100
t 0 -100
u 0 100
 ESA
TSA
Slope
1:1

Excess porewater pressure

(d)
slope of total stress path (TSP) is:
t  100
  1
s 100
u  s = 100 kPa
8.5 The initial effective stresses on a saturated soil element at a certain depth in
a soil mass are σ1 = 80 kPa, σ2 = 40 kPa, and σ3 = 40 kPa. The
groundwater level is well below the soil element. A sudden outward
movement of a retaining wall resulted in the following changes in stresses,
Δσ1 = 0 kPa, Δσ2 (parallel to wall) = − 10 kPa, and Δσ3 (normal to wall) = −
40 kPa.
(a) Plot the total stress path in (p, q) space.
(b) Plot the effective stress path assuming that the soil is a linearly elastic
material.
(c) Determine the maximum excess porewater pressure.

Solution 8.5
(a), (b)
80  240
Initial stress: p o = = 53.3, q o = 80 – 40 = 40kPa
3
0  10  40  50
Change in stresses: p  
3 3

(0  10) 
1
1
q 2
 (10  40) 2  (40  0) 2 2 = 36 kPa
2

Excess pore water pressure

80
70
ESA
q (kPa)

60
50
40
TSA
30
20
20 30 40 50 60
p, p' (kPa)

(c)
50
u  p  kPa
3
8.6 The initial effective stresses on a saturated soil element at a certain depth in
a soil mass are σ1 = 40 kPa, σ2 = 20 kPa, and σ3 = 20 kPa. The
groundwater level is well below the soil element. The changes in stresses
on the soil element are shown in Fig. P8.6.
(a) Calculate the change in principal stresses.
(b) Plot the total stress path in (p, q) space.
(c) Plot the effective stress path assuming that the soil is a linearly elastic
material, and determine the maximum excess porewater pressure.

Solution 8.6
40  220
Initial stress: p o = = 26.7, q o = 40 – 20 = 20kPa
3
From Eq. (7.27), 1 = 107 kPa, 3 = 43 kPa, 2 = 0kPa or from Mohr’s circle

100  50  0
Change in stresses: p   50kPa
3
  
1/2
1 
  xx   yy     yy   zz     zz   xx    6 xy2  6 yz2  6 zx2
2 2
q 
2

2  

 
1/2
1 
q   50  0    0  100   100  50    0  0  6  202  93.3kPa
2 2 2

2  
u  p  50 kPa
Excess porewater pressure

ESA TSA
8.7 A an oil tank (10 m in diameter) is to be constructed on a 10 m thick layer
of soft normally consolidated clay classified as CH. Its saturated unit
weight is 18.8 kN/m3 and lateral earth pressure coefficient at rest, Ko = 0.5.
Groundwater is at the surface. The clay is underlain by a sand classified as
SP. The estimated settlement of the tank is intolerable. The geotechnical
engineer proposes to preload the soft clay by constructing the tank and then
filling it with water in stages. The dead load of the tank and its foundation
impose a uniform vertical stress of 15 kPa at the ground surface. The water
level in the tank for the first stage of loading is 2 m. For a soil element at a
depth of 5 m under the center of the tank:
(a) Calculate the initial mean total and effective stresses and the initial
deviatoric stresses. Create a graph with the x-axis as p, p and the y-axis as
q (p, q space). Plot these values in (p, q) space.
(b) Calculate the total vertical stress applied at the ground surface when the
tank is filled with 2 m of water.
(c) Calculate the increase in vertical and lateral stresses due to the total applied
surface stress when the tank is filled with 2 m of water.
(d) Calculate the increase in mean and deviatoric stress increase due to the total
applied surface stress when the tank is filled with 2 m of water.
(e) Plot the total stress path when the tank is filled with 2 m of water. Clearly
label this stress path.
(f) If the soft clay were to behave as an isotropic, elastic material, plot the
effective stress path and calculate the increase in porewater.

Solution 8.7

Tank
Radius = 5m

10 m soft clay (CH)

sand
(a)

( )

uo = 9.8 x 5 = 49 kPa

45  222.5
Initial stress: p o =  30kPa , q o = 45 – 22.5 = 22.5kPa
3
po = 30 + 49 = 79 kPa
(b)
Total surface stress = 15 + 2 x 9.8 = 34.6 kPa
(c)
Axisymmetric loading condition
From the program STRESS
1 = 22.4 kPa, r =3 = 4 kPa
22.4  2(4)
Change in stresses: p 
 10kPa
3
q  1   3  22.4  4  18.4kPa
(d), (e) and (f)

45
Excess porewater pressure
40
35 ESA
30 when TSA when tank
tank loaded with 2 m
25 loaded of water
q (kPa)
20 with 2 m
of water
15
10
5
0
0 10 20 30 40 50
p', p (kPa)

u  p  10 kPa