Exercise 1

Calculate the effective stress for a soil element at depth of 152.4cm in a uniform

deposit of soil, as shown in the following Figure. Assume that the pore air pressure

is zero.

Strategy You need to get unit weights from the given data, and you should

note that the soil above the groundwater level is not saturated.

Exercise 2

Water is seeping downward through a saturated soil layer, as shown in the

following Figure. Two piezometers (A and B) located 60.96cm apart (vertically)

showed a head loss of 6.1cm. Calculate the resultant vertical effective stress for a

soil element at a depth of 182.88cm.

Strategy You have to calculate the seepage stress. But to obtain this you must

know the hydraulic gradient, which you can find from the data given.

Exercise 3

Now there is a uniform load p = 100kPa, the load area is 2mX1m, as shown in

the figure.

Calculated the additional stress at the depth of z = 1m under the corner point A,

the edge point E, the center point O, and the point F and G outside the load

area.
1.
Solution
Step 1: Calculate unit weights.

Above groundwater level

𝐺𝑠 + 𝑆𝑒 𝐺𝑠 (1 + 𝑤)
𝛾=( ) 𝛾𝑤 = 𝛾𝑤
1+𝑒 1+𝑒
0.3𝑋2.7
𝑆𝑒 = 𝑤𝐺𝑠 ，∴𝑒 = = 1.35
0.6

2.7(1 + 0.3) kg ∗ m
𝛾= 𝑋10 = 14.94( 2 )
1 + 1.35 s
Below groundwater level

Soil is saturated, S = 1.

𝑒 = 𝑤𝐺𝑠 = 0.4𝑥2.7 = 1.08

𝐺𝑠 + 𝑒 2.7 + 1.08 kg ∗ m
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 =( ) 𝛾𝑤 = ( ) 𝑥10 = 18.17( 2 )
1+𝑒 1 + 1.08 s
Step 2: Calculate the effective stress

Total stress: 𝜎𝑧 = 60.96𝛾 + 91.44𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 60.96𝑥14.94 + 91.44𝑥18.17 =

2572.21 𝑁/𝑚2
Porewater pressure: 𝑢 = 91.44𝛾𝑤 = 91.44𝑥10 = 914.4 𝑁/𝑚2

Effective stress: 𝜎𝑧′ = 𝜎𝑧 − 𝑢 = 2572.21 − 914.4 = 1657.81 𝑁/𝑚2

Alternatively:

𝜎𝑧′ = 60.96𝛾 + 91.44(𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 − 𝛾𝑤 ) = 60.96𝑥14.94 + 91.44𝑥(18.17 − 10)

= 1657.81 𝑁/𝑚2
2.
Solution
Step 1: Find the hydraulic gradient.

∆H 6.1
∆H = 6.1cm; L = 60.96cm; i = = = 0.1
𝐿 60.96
Step 2: Determine the effective stress. Assume that the hydraulic gradient is the

average for the soil mass; then

𝜎𝑧′ = (𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 − 𝛾𝑤 )𝑧 + 𝑖𝛾𝑤 𝑧 = (18.65 − 10)𝑥182.88 + 0.1𝑥10𝑥182.88

= 1764.79𝑁/𝑚2
Step 3: Check reasonableness of answer. The seepage pressure is downward.

Therefore, the vertical effective stress will be higher than that without seepage

(1582 𝑁/𝑚2). The answer is reasonable.

3.
Solution
(1) Stress at point A

𝑙 2 𝑧 1
Point A is the corner of the rectangular ABCD, and 𝑚 = 𝑏 = 1 = 2, 𝑛 = 𝑏 = 1 =

1, 𝑘𝑠 = 0.1999, so

(2) Stress at point E

The rectangular load area is divided into two equal rectangular EADI and

EBCI by E point. Their corner stress coefficients 𝑘𝑠 :

Look up the table, 𝑘𝑠 = 0.1752,

(3) Stress at point O

The original rectangular area is divided into four equal rectangular OEAJ,

0JDI, OICK and OKBE by O point. The corner stress coefficient 𝑘𝑠 :

Look up the table, 𝑘𝑠 = 0.1202,

(4) Stress at point F

Rectangular FGAJ, FJDH, FGBK and FKCH are made over point F. Let 𝑘sI be

the corner stress coefficient of rectangular FGAJ and FJDH. 𝑘sIII is the corner
 stress coefficient of rectangular FGBK and FKCH.

Calculate 𝑘sI

Look up the table, 𝑘𝑠 = 0.1363,

Calculate 𝑘sIII

Look up the table, 𝑘𝑠 = 0.840,

(5) Stress at point G

The rectangular GADH and GBCH are made by G point, and their corner

stress coefficients 𝑘sI and 𝑘sII are obtained respectively.

Calculate 𝑘sI

Look up the table, 𝑘𝑠 = 0.2016,

Calculate 𝑘sII

Look up the table, 𝑘𝑠 =0.1202,

The calculation results are plotted as follows. It can be seen that when the

rectangular area is subjected to uniform load, additional stress is generated not

only in the range below the load area, but also in the soil outside the load area

( below points F and G ). In addition, at the same depth in the foundation ( e.g. z

= 1m ), the farther away from the midpoint of the loaded area, the smaller the 𝜎𝑧

value, and the maximum 𝜎𝑧0 at the midpoint of the rectangular area. The 𝜎𝑧 at

different depths under midpoint O and point F is obtained and plotted as

follows.The calculation results of this example confirm the diffusion law of

additional stress mentioned above.