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CH-3 Effective
Stress and
Pore Water
Soil Pressure

Mechanics-I 1 2

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Definitions and Key Terms The Principle of Effective Stress

Effective stress (σ’) is the stress carried by the soil

particles.
Total stress (σ) is the stress carried by the soil
particles and the liquids and gases in the voids.
Porewater pressure, u, is the pressure of the water
held in the soil pores.
 The resistance or reaction to soil is provided by a
combination of the stresses from the solids,
called effective stress (σ’), and from water in the
pores, called porewater pressure (u).

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Karl Terzaghi
The Principle Father of Modern

of Effective Stress
Soil mechanics The Principle of Effective Stress
 Effective stress, σ’ is the normal stress to which soil  Effective stress is critical for :
particles are subjected.
 Shear strength determination
 Effective stress is the portion of the total stress which is
 Bearing capacity calculation
carried by the soil grains themselves (i.e., particle-to-
particle contact).  Slope stability evaluation
 Amount of settlement calculation
σ’ = effective stress (i.e., the  Rate of settlement calculation
amount of stress that the
particles feel)

U = Pore Water pressure

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…The Principle of Effective Stress

…The Principle of Effective Stress
Total Stress
 Total stress (σ) = Stress due to all forces on the soil
sample (i.e., soil, water, and air)
 Example: Find the total stress at points 1 & 2:
 The above equation is called the principle of
effective stress.
 Deformations of soils are a function of effective
stresses, not total stresses.
 The principle of effective stresses applies only to  While we must often calculate total stress, it doesn’t
normal stresses and not to shear stresses. correlate with the stress that the soil grain Feel. The
stress taken by the water and the air must be taken
out first to get the effective stress.
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…The Principle of Effective Stress …The Principle of Effective Stress

Effective Stress Effective Stress
 Consider forces on surface area A, 2. Forces due to pore pressure ( U)
of wavy surface (a-a) passes
Area of solid
through contact points of soil…
1. Forces due to grain-to grain contact Space occupied by water
(effective stress 𝝈′)
∑ ( ) ………..
σ = ̅
= ̅
𝒂𝒔
𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒙𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 = 𝟎
𝑨

Effective stress at any point A is independent

of the depth of water, H, above the
submerged soil.

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…The Principle of Effective Stress

Effective Stresses Due to Geostatic Stress Fields
Effective Stress
Example : Proof The above statement

10m

5m
2m 𝐾𝑁
𝛾 = 18 2m 𝑲𝑵
𝑚 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 = 𝟏𝟖
𝒎𝟑

 The effective stress in a soil mass not subjected to

external loads is found from the unit weight of the
soil and the depth of groundwater.

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…Effective Stresses Due to Geostatic Stress Fields …Effective Stresses Due to Geostatic Stress Fields

 If the GWL is at a depth zw below ground level (case

 If the ground water level (GWL) is at the ground b), then
level (case a), then

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Effects of Seepage Stress in saturated soil without Seepage

 As water flows through soil, it exerts a frictional drag

, known as seepage force, on the soil particles,
resulting in head losses.

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Stress in saturated soil with upward Stress in saturated soil with upward
Seepage Seepage

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Stress in saturated soil with upward Stress in saturated soil with Downward
Seepage Seepage

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…Effects of Seepage …Effects of Seepage

Example 1: Solution:

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Effects of Surcharge on Effective Effects of Surcharge on Effective

stress stress

Effective stress
at the bottom of
the soil will be:

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Effects of Surcharge on Effective Effects of Surcharge on Effective

stress stress
Exercise 3.1
q s =20 kPa
For the soil layer shown in Figure, determine the following:

H1=2 m
 sat =19 kN/m3
Sand a) Determine Total stress , Pore and effective stress
b) Draw the stress Diagram.
 sat =20 kN/m
3

H2=4 m
Clay

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Effects of Capillarity …Effects of Capillarity

 The porewater pressure due to capillarity is negative

(suction) and is a function of the size of the soil pores
and the water content.
 The effective stress increases because the porewater
pressure is negative.
 For example, for the capillary zone, zc, the porewater
pressure at the top is -zcγw and the effective stress is

 For soils, d is assumed to be equivalent to 0.1D10

where D10 is the effective size.
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Key Points

 The effective stress represents the average stress carried by

the soil solids and is the difference between the total stress
and the porewater pressure.
 The effective stress principle applies only to normal stresses
and not to shear stresses.
 Deformations of soils are due to effective, not total stress.
 Soils, especially silts and fine sands, can be affected by
capillary action.
 Capillary action results in negative porewater pressures and
increases the effective stresses.
 Downward seepage increases the resultant effective stress;
upward seepage decreases the resultant effective stress.

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