ECG553 - CHAP2A - Stress Distribution in Soil - 2

CHAP 2A : STRESSES DISTRIBUTION IN SOIL MASS
ECG553 GEOTECHNIQUES : PART 4
CHAPTER 2 – Part A
STRESSES DISTRIBUTION IN SOIL MASS
TEACHING LECTURER ;
HJH. FAUZILAH HJ. ISMAIL
Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam 1

ACTIVITY : CHAP. 2A
• Introduction
• Lecture ~ 61 slides
• Independent learning activities

CHAP2A : Coverage ~ Definition of total stress, effective

stress and overburden pressures of soil. Concept of soil
response to stress; elastic, plastic, elasto-plastic.
Learning outcomes:
At the end of this lecture/week the students would
be able to:
i. Define & differentiate total stress, effective stress and
overburden pressures of soil.
ii. Describe the concept of soil response to stress, compare
and contrast the behaviour of elastic, plastic and
elasto-plastic.

OUTLINE of PRESENTATION
1.1 Normal and Shear Stresses
1.2 Contact Pressures
1.3 Stresses in a Soil Mass due to Applied Surface Loading
1.4 Various Type of Surface Applied Load
1.5 Empirical Analysis of Vertical Stresses Distribution
due to Surface Applied Load based on
Boussinesq’s Equation
1.5.1 Vertical Point Load
1.5.2 Long Uniform Line Load
1.5.3 Uniformly Loaded Circular Area
1.5.4 Uniform Strip Load
1.5.5 Triangular Strip Load
1.5.6 Uniformly Loaded Rectangular Area

OUTLINE of PRESENTATION
1.6 Empirical Analysis of Vertical Stresses Distribution
due to Uniformly Loaded Rectangular
Area using Fadum’s
1.7 Newmark’s Chart for Irregular shape
1.8 Bulb Pressure

1.1 NORMAL AND SHEAR STRESSES
Stress is defined as the intensity of loading per unit

area

1.1 NORMAL AND SHEAR STRESSES

1.2 CONTACT PRESSURES
σo = γz
σ = σo + Δσz

Effect of soil type on

contact pressure
Uniform load = qo
qmax = qo dish-shaped Uniform load = qo

settlement profile
uniform contact pressure
(a) flexible footing
Uniform load = qo qmax
uniform settlement
profile
uniform
qmax settlement profile (c) Rigid footing on cohesionless soil
Effect of footing rigidity

(b) Rigid footing on cohesive soil
of contact pressure
1.3 STRESSES IN A SOIL MASS DUE TO APPLIED

SURFACE LOADING
What factors affecting the stress distribution in soil?
- Size and shape of foundation (depends on foundation

shape)
- Type of Load distribution
- Contact pressure (position of stress to be considered)
- Modulus of elasticity (Type of soil will give diff.
modulus)
- Rigid boundary (depth that will give effect to soil)

1.3 Stresses in a Soil Mass due to Applied Surface

Loading
Why need to learn?
To know how surface stresses are distributed in the soil and

resulting deformation.
Soil is elastic plastic material, so how to calculate stress?
To do stress analysis on soil, we must assumed that
• Soil is elastic and modulus of elasticity is constant.

• Soil mass is homogeneous, isotropic.
• Soil is semi-infinite (elastic half space)
By using this assumptions, we can apply Boussinesq’s

Equation.
1) APPROXIMATE 2:1 DISTRIBUTION

How the stress is perceived to be
distributed from the surface to a
point in the soil mass.
q kN/m2
An approximate stress
distribution assumes that
the total applied load on
the surface of the soil is
distributed over an area of
the same shape as the
loaded area on the surface,
but with dimensions that
increase by an amount
equal to the depth below Approximate of Δσz at z depth
the surface. using 2:1 Method;

1.3 Stresses in a Soil Mass due to Applied Surface

Loading
• In a real condition of the soil (natural), soil is difficult to analyse
because it is non-homogenous, non-isotropy and non-elastic.
• But to easy the analysis and calculation the assumption of soil
behave elastically in isoptropic condition and homogenous MUST
be made.
• In detailed…

1.3 STRESSES IN A SOIL MASS DUE TO APPLIED

SURFACE LOADING
• Figure shows the

distribution of pressure
form point load (After
Craig, 2001).
~ vertical plane
~ horizontal plane

1.4 VARIOUS TYPE OF SURFACE APPLIED LOAD
•Vertical Point load

•Vertical load
transferred from
an electric power
pole line.
•Long Uniform Line

Load
•Long brick wall
•Uniform Circular
load
•Water tank

1.4 VARIOUS TYPE OF SURFACE APPLIED LOAD
•Uniform Strip load

•Long road
embankment
•Triangular load
•Side of an
embankment
•Rectangular load
•Structural
foundation

1.5 Empirical Analysis of Vertical Stresses

Distribution due to Surface Applied Load based
on Boussinesq’s Equation
1.8.1 Vertical Stress Increase due to a Vertical Point
Load
Vertical stress increase at a point in a soil mass
due to a point load P on the soil surface is
where IP is the influence factor given by;
Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam See table for influence Factors, IP 18

1.5.1 Vertical Stress Increase due to a Vertical Point Load

1.5.1 Vertical Stress Increase due to a Vertical Point Load

Example 1
P1=1200 kN P2=600 kN
z = 2m r1 = 2m r2 = 6m
Solution (You can tabulated answer for simplicity)

Load (kN) r/z Ip σz (kN/m2)
P1 = 1200 2/2 = 1.0 0.0844 25.32
P2 = 600 6/2 = 3.0 0.0015 0.225
Total vertical stress increment at Point A, ΣσA = 25.55
Example 2
Calculate the vertical stress in a soil mass at a depth of 4 m vertically
below a point load of 6000 kN. Plot the variation of vertical stress with
a radial distance interval of 2 m ( up to 10 m) at a depth of 4 m.

Load, P z r r/z Ip Δσz
(kN) (m) (m) (kN/m2)
6000 4m 0 0 0.4775 179.06
2 2/4 = 0.5 0.2733 102.49
4 4/4 = 1.0 0.0844 31.65
6 6/4 = 1.5 0.0251 9.41
8 8/4 = 2.0 0.0085 3.19
10 10/4 = 2.5 0.0034 1.28
* Do not summarise σz

1.5.2 Vertical Stress Increase due to a Long Uniform
Line Load
Q per unit length (kN/m)
where IL is the Influence Factor

α
Δσz
x
Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam See table for influence Factors, IL 23
1.5.2 Vertical Stress Increase due to a Long Uniform Line

Load

Example 3
TWO (2) parallel line loads of 100 kN/m and 50 kN/m respectively and 2 m apart, act
vertically on a horizontal soil surface. Calculate the vertical stress increase at depth of 2
m directly at the middle points between them.
Q1=100 kN/m Q2=50 kN/m
x1=1m x2=1m
z=2m

Load (kN/m) x/z IL σz (kN/m2)
Q1 = 100 1/2 = 0.5 0.4074 20.37

Q2 = 50 1/2 = 0.5 0.4074 10.19
Total vertical stress at the middle, , Σσ = 30.56
Example 4
Two bearing walls meet perpendicularly at point A as shown in Figure Q1(c). Each walls
carry line loads Q1 = 200 kN/m and Q2 = 400 kN/m respectively as shown. Calculate the
increase of vertical stress at point A and B at the depth of 5 m.

Vertical Stress at Point A;
Load (kN/m) z (m) x (m) x/z IL σz (kN/m2)
Q1 = 200 5 0 0 0.6366 25.46

Q2 = 400 5 0 0 0.6366 50.93
Total vertical stress at point A, ΣσA = 76.39
30 m
B A
15 m Vertical Stress at Point B;

Load (kN/m) z (m) x (m) x/z IL σz (kN/m2)
Q1 = 200 5 0 0 0.6366 25.46
Q2 = 400 5 15 15/5 = 3.0 0.0064 0.51
Total vertical stress at point B, Σσn = 25.97

1.5.3 Vertical Stress Increase due to a Uniformly
Loaded Circular Area
q
where Ic is the Influence Factor
See table for influence Factors, IC


1.5.3 Vertical Stress Increase due to a Uniformly Loaded Circular Area

1.5.3 Vertical Stress Increase due to a Uniformly Loaded Circular Area

0.75
0.13
0.25
0.686 0.609 0.583

0.257 0.261 0.262

Example 5
A circular area with radius 1.6 m, induced a soil pressure at the

surface of 100 kPa. Calculate the pressure at a depth of 3.2 m
directly under the center of the circular area.
σz
q (kN/m2) z/a r/a A B Ic (A+B)
(kN/m2)
100 3.2/1.6 = 2.0 0/1.6 = 0 0.106 0.179 0.285 28.50
Total vertical stress at the center, Σσ = 28.50 kN/m2

Example 6
Calculate the vertical stress induced at point A, 6 m shifted from
the center and at the depth of 2 m below a ring-shaped structure.

Example 6
Calculate the vertical stress induced at point A, 6 m shifted from
the center and at the depth of 2 m below a ring-shaped structure.
σz
q (kN/m2) z/a r/a A B Ic (A+B)
(kN/m2)
250 2/15 = 0.13 6/15 = 0.40 0.856 0.135 0.991 247.75
140 2/8 = 0.25 6/8 = 0.75 0.609 0.261 0.870 -(121.80)
110 2/5 = 0.40 6/5 = 1.20 0.187 - 0.008 0.179 -(19.69)
Total vertical stress at point A, ΣσA = 106.26

1.5 Empirical Analysis of Vertical Stresses Distribution due to

Surface Applied Load based on Boussinesq’s Equation
1.5.4Vertical Stress Increase due to a Uniform Strip Load

Uniform contact presure, q
B
b b
where Ic is the Influence Factor

α z
β
Δσz
Note : b = B/2 and x is the horizontal

distance from the centerline of the uniform
x
strip load
CL See table for influence Factors, IS

Example 7
Three parallel strip foundation, each 1.8 m wide and 3.6 m apart center
to center are founded at 1.2 m depth transmit contact pressures of 240
kPa, 180 kPa and 200 kPa respectively. Using the table of inﬂuence
factor, Is , calculate the intensity of vertical stresses due to combined
load beneath the centre of each footing at a depth of 3.0 m from the
ground surface.
b = 0.9 m
240 kPa 180 kPa 200 kPa 1.2 m
3.0 m
z =1.8 m
A 3.6 m B 3.6 m C
x = distance from datum or reference line

Solution:
B = ? *try to solve it x = distance from datum or reference line


1.5.5Vertical Stress Increase due to a Triangular Strip Load

Load varying linearly
B
q = max
q=0
c
Where Ic is the Influence Factor
α z
β
Δσz
Note : c = B and x is the horizontal

distance from the toe of the slope (+ or -)
-x x See table for influence Factors, IT
1.5.5 Vertical Stress Increase due to a Triangular Load

Example 8 (Combination Uniform + Triangular Strip Load)
A 6.0 m high embankment with unit weight of 20 kN/m3 is as shown

below. Determine the increase in vertical stress at depth of 3.2 m at
points A upon completion of the embankment.
8m 6m
γ = 20 kN/m3
H=6m
q = 20*6 = 120 kN/m2
z = 3.2 m

Example 8
Strip
q (kN/m2) z/b x/b IS σz (kN/m2)
Load
Uniform 20*6 = 120 3.2/6 = 0.53 0 0.951 114.12
q (kN/m2) z/c x/c IT σz (kN/m2)
Triangular 20*6 = 120 3.2/8 = 0.4 14/8 = 1.75 0.025 3*2 = 6
Total vertical stress under embankment at point A, ΣσA = 120.12
Total vertical stress induced in the soil mass at point A is

= Uniform(1)+ Triangular (2+3)= 120.12 kN/m2

Example 9 (Combination Uniform + Triangular Strip Load)
Figure below shows the cross section of a road embankment having

the unit weight of 18 kN/m3. There is also a culvert of 0.8 m diameter
passes under the embankment. It is engraved in the soil beneath at
depth of 2 m. Calculate the vertical stress induced at the top of the
culvert at point A & B due to loads from embankment.
T1 q = 18*3 = 54 kN/m2 T2
z = 1.2 m

Example 9 Solution (You can tabulated answer for simplicity)

q σz
Load Point z/b x/b IS z/c x/c IT
(kN/m2) (kN/m2)
1.2/3 6.5/3
Uniform A 0.009 - - - 54 0.49
= 0.40 = 2.17
1.2/2 - 1.5/2
Triangular 1 A - - - 0.020 54 1.08
= 0.6 = - 0.75
1.2/2 11.5/2
Triangular 2 A - - - 0 54 0
= 0.6 = 5.75
Total vertical stress under embankment at point A, ΣσA = 1.57

q σz
Load Point z/b x/b IS z/c x/c IT
(kN/m2) (kN/m2)
1.2/3
Uniform B 0 0.977 - - - 54 52.76
= 0.40
1.2/2 5/2
Triangular 1 B - - - 0 54 0
= 0.6 = 2.5
1.2/2 5/2
Triangular 2 B - - - 0 54 0
= 0.6 = 2.5
Total vertical stress under embankment at point B, ΣσB = 52.76


1.5.6Vertical Stress Increase due to a Uniformly Loaded Rectangular Area
Vertical stress increase, Δσz, , beneath the

q (kN/m2) corner of a rectangular loaded foundation
L can be derived using Boussinesq’s equation;
The vertical stress increase can be
dy
simplified as,
dx
B where IR is the influence value as a

function of m and n,
z
q = uniform loading intensity
= P/BL kN/m2
where m = B/z
Δσz n = L/z
For points other than the corner, Δσz, may
be obtained by superpositions of rectangles.
Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam See table for influence Factors, IR 44

1.5.6 Vertical Stress Increase due to a Uniformly Loaded

Rectangular Area


1.5.6Vertical Stress Increase due to a Uniformly Loaded Rectanglular Area

4m
2m
z = 2m
For points other than the corner, Δσz, may be obtained by superpositions of rectangles.
(a) IR = IR for area ABCD (directly measured)

(b) IR = IR for area AFIE + FBGI + IGCH +EIHD
(c) IR = IR for area AEFD + EBCF
(d) IR = IR for area AEGI – BEGH – DFGI + CFGH
Example 10
GIVEN : A rectangular footing 2m x 4m carrying a load of 1.5 MN
DETERMINE : The increase in stress in the soil 2.0 m below

a) the corner of the footing
b) the center of the footing.
4m 4m
2m 2m
1m
2m
a) b)

Example 10
Point q z B L σz
M=B/z N=L/z IR
Location (kN/m2) (m) (m) (m) (kN/m2)
a) Corner 187.50 2 2 4 2/2 = 1.0 4/2 = 2.0 0.1999 37.48
b) Center 187.50 2 1 2 1/2 = 0.50 2/2 = 1.0 0.1202 22.54
Therefore, * Do not summarise σz

a) Total vertical stress at the corner, Σσ = 37.48 kN/m2
b) Total vertical stress at the center, Σσ = 22.54*4 = 90.16 kN/m2

1.6 Empirical Analysis of Vertical

Stresses Distribution due to Uniformly
Loaded Rectangle Area using Fadum’s
Chart approach
P/BL
• The influence values referred to this chart is strictly for
corner of a rectangular loaded foundation only.
• For points other than the corner, value of IR may be
obtained by superpositions of rectangles.
Refer Fadum’s Chart Influence Factors, IR


Uniformly Loaded Rectangle Area using Fadum’s Chart approach
For points other than the corner, Δσz, may be obtained by superpositions of rectangles.
(a) IR = IR for area ABCD (directly measured)
(b) IR = IR for area AFIE + FBGI + IGCH +EIHD
(c) IR = IR for area AEFD + EBCF
(d) IR = IR for area AEGI – BEGH – DFGI + CFGH
Example 11 (Fadum’s Chart)
GIVEN : A rectangular footing 2m x 4m carrying a load of 1.5 MN
DETERMINE : The increase in stress in the soil 2.0 m below

a) the corner of the footing
b) the center of the footing.
4m 4m
2m 2m
1m
2m
a) b)

Example 11
Point q z B L σz
B/z L/z IR
Location (kN/m2) (m) (m) (m) (kN/m2)
Corner 187.50
Center 187.50 x 4 nos
* Do not summarise σz
Therefore,
a) Total vertical stress at the corner, Σσ = ……… kN/m2
b) Total vertical stress at the center, Σσ = ……… kN/m2

Uniformly Loaded Rectangle Area using Newmark’s Chart approach
(irregular shaped)
The vertical stress are:
Where
q = load per unit area, kN/m2
n = influence unit or field number
I = Influence value
Value of n and I is obtained from

Newmark’s Influence Chart

Example 12 (Newmark’s Chart)

Find the vertical stress at point U at a depth of 12m with q= 100 kPa using
Newmark’s Chart.
Newmark’s Chart
Influence value per field = 0.005

Example 12 (Newmark’s Chart) Steps;

1. Determine the depth, z where you
wish to calculate the stress
increase.
2. Adopt a scale of z = AB.
exp; z = 12 m and AB = 20 mm
thus 1 m = 1.67 mm
4 m = 6.7 mm
6 m = 10 mm
10 m = 16.7 mm
2 m = 3.3 mm
U 3. Draw the foundation to scale and
place the point of interest over the
center of the chart.
4. Count the numbers of elements
covered by the foundation as n
A 20 mm B
for example; n = 46.
5. Calculate the stress increase as;



n =94
n =168 A
25 mm
NEWMARK’S CHART
Influence value per
field = 0.002

Example 13 (Newmark’s Chart)

Calculate the increase in vertical stress under point A at the depth of 3 m
and 6 m respectively. The L-shape foundation carried a UDL of 100 kN/m2
*Use Newmark’s Chart of Influence value per field = 0.005 to solve the problem

1.8 Pressure bulbs for

vertical stress
(a) Circular foundation
(b) Strip foundation

Pressure bulbs indicating depth to which soil is significantly stressed

REFERENCES
1. Whitlow, R ~ Basic Soil Mechanics, 2004.

2. Budhu, M.,~ Soil Mechanics and Foundations, 2011.
3. Das, B.M., ~ Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, 2010.
4. Lecturer’s notes** ~ Baharom, B., Kamarudin, F., Hashim,
K.A., Abdullah, N.H.H., Che Lat, D., Mohd Noor, S.N.A., and
Nabi Khan, I.

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CHAP 2A : STRESSES DISTRIBUTION IN SOIL MASS

ECG553 GEOTECHNIQUES : PART 4

Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam 1

Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam 2

CHAP2A : Coverage ~ Definition of total stress, effective

Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam 3

Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam 4

Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam 5

1.1 NORMAL AND SHEAR STRESSES

Stress is defined as the intensity of loading per unit

Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam 6

1.1 NORMAL AND SHEAR STRESSES

Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam 7

1.2 CONTACT PRESSURES

Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam 8

1.2 CONTACT PRESSURES

Effect of soil type on

1.2 CONTACT PRESSURES

qmax = qo dish-shaped Uniform load = qo

(a) flexible footing

Uniform load = qo qmax

Effect of footing rigidity

1.3 STRESSES IN A SOIL MASS DUE TO APPLIED

- Size and shape of foundation (depends on foundation

Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam 11

1.3 Stresses in a Soil Mass due to Applied Surface

To know how surface stresses are distributed in the soil and

Soil is elastic plastic material, so how to calculate stress?

To do stress analysis on soil, we must assumed that

• Soil is elastic and modulus of elasticity is constant.

By using this assumptions, we can apply Boussinesq’s

1) APPROXIMATE 2:1 DISTRIBUTION

Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam 13

1.3 Stresses in a Soil Mass due to Applied Surface

Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam 14

1.3 STRESSES IN A SOIL MASS DUE TO APPLIED

• Figure shows the

Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam 15

1.4 VARIOUS TYPE OF SURFACE APPLIED LOAD

•Vertical Point load

•Long Uniform Line

Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam 16

1.4 VARIOUS TYPE OF SURFACE APPLIED LOAD

•Uniform Strip load

Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam 17

1.5 Empirical Analysis of Vertical Stresses

where IP is the influence factor given by;

Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam See table for influence Factors, IP 18

1.5.1 Vertical Stress Increase due to a Vertical Point Load

Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam 19

1.5.1 Vertical Stress Increase due to a Vertical Point Load

Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam 20

Solution (You can tabulated answer for simplicity)

Solution (You can tabulated answer for simplicity)

1.5 Empirical Analysis of Vertical Stresses

where IL is the Influence Factor

1.5.2 Vertical Stress Increase due to a Long Uniform Line

Geotechniques ECG553/Shah Alam 24

Q1=100 kN/m Q2=50 kN/m

Solution (You can tabulated answer for simplicity)

Q1 = 100 1/2 = 0.5 0.4074 20.37

Solution (You can tabulated answer for simplicity)

Q1 = 200 5 0 0 0.6366 25.46

Triangular 206 = 120 3.2/8 = 0.4 14/8 = 1.75 0.025 32 = 6