DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

Chapter 2: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

1. INTRODUCTION
2. PORE PRESSURE AND EFFECTIVE
STRESS
3. STRESSES DUE TO APPLIED LOADING

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 1

1. INTRODUCTION

 Soil mass has a horizontal surface , the depth (z) is

measured downward with x and y being lateral
dimension.
 Conceptual model: semi-infinite elastic half space.
 The soil is assumed to be homogenous and isotropic
ally elastic.
 In 1885 Boussenesq published solutions for the
stresses beneath a point load applied at the surface
of such a soil mass.
 Many other solutions have been developed for
stresses and displacements

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 2

1
DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

2. PORE PRESSURE AND EFFECTIVE STRESS

 External stress is applied to saturated soil 

immediate increase the pore pressure  porewater
flows away through adjoining voids  pore pressure
decreases  stress is transferred to the granular.
 Pore pressure (u). This is the pressure induced in the
fluid
 Effective stress ('). This is the stress transmitted
through the soil fabric via intergranular contacts.

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 3

2. PORE PRESSURE AND EFFECTIVE STRESS

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 4

2
DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

2. PORE PRESSURE AND EFFECTIVE STRESS

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 5

2. PORE PRESSURE AND EFFECTIVE STRESS

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 6

3
DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

2. PORE PRESSURE AND EFFECTIVE STRESS

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 7

2. PORE PRESSURE AND EFFECTIVE STRESS

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 8

4
DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

2. PORE PRESSURE AND EFFECTIVE STRESS

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 9

2. PORE PRESSURE AND EFFECTIVE STRESS

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 10

5
DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

2. PORE PRESSURE AND EFFECTIVE STRESS

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 11

2. PORE PRESSURE AND EFFECTIVE STRESS

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 12

6
DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

3. STRESSES DUE TO APPLIED LOADING

3.1 Stresses due to a vertical point load

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 13

3. STRESSES DUE TO APPLIED LOADING

3.1 Stresses due to a vertical point load

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 14

7
DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

3.1 Stresses due to a vertical point load

In undrained conditions vu = 0.5, and so  = 0 and

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 15

3.1 Stresses due to a vertical point load

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 16

8
DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

3.2 Stresses due

to a long line load

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 17

3.3 Stresses due to a uniform strip load

 The length of a strip footing is very long compared
with its breadth.

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 18

9
DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

Chapter 3: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS DUE

TO APPLIED LOADING

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 19

3.4 Stresses due to a triangle strip load

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 20

10
DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

Chapter 3: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS DUE TO

APPLIED LOADING

5. Stresses due to a triangle strip load

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 21

3.5 Stresses due to a uniformly loaded circular area

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 22

11
DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

3.6 Stresses due to a uniformly loaded rectangular

area

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 23

7. Stresses due to a uniformly loaded rectangular

area

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 24

12
DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

Chapter 2: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS DUE TO

APPLIED LOADING

Example 2.1 Uniform

loading of 250 kPa over
the shaded area and
150 kPa over the
unshaded area.
Determine the increase
in vertical direct and
shear stresses at a
point 3.0 m below the
corner A.

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 25

Chapter 2: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS DUE TO

APPLIED LOADING

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 26

13
DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

Chapter 2: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS DUE TO

APPLIED LOADING

Increase in stresses:
1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 27

Chapter 2: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS DUE TO

APPLIED LOADING

Example 2.2 A continuous strip footing of breadth

4.3 m carries a uniform load of 100 kPa.
(a) Plot the distribution of vertical stress occurring
on a horizontal plane at a depth of 3.0 m below the
footing, and
(b) compare this distribution with that obtained
when a 300 load spread is assumed and comment on
any 'errors'.

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 28

14
DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

Chapter 2: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS DUE TO

APPLIED LOADING

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 29

Chapter 2: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS DUE TO

APPLIED LOADING
 The loading is
uniform  the
vertical stress
distribution is
symmetrical about
the centre-line

 The stress beneath

a footing the
footing is assumed
to be distributed
uniformly over
breadth B z, at
depth z below the
base.
1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 30

15
DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

Chapter 2: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS DUE TO

APPLIED LOADING

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 31

Chapter 2: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS DUE TO

APPLIED LOADING

Example 2.3 Calculate the increase in vertical stress that

will follow completion of the embankment at a depth of
4.0 m at points A and B as shown. Assume an average
rolled unit weight of 20 kN/m3 for the placed soil.

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 32

16
DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

Chapter 2: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS DUE TO

APPLIED LOADING

The uniform load at the base of the central section:

q=20x 6= 120 kPa
Point A: z = 4.00 m

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 33

Chapter 2: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS DUE TO

APPLIED LOADING

Point B: z = 5.00 m

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 34

17
DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

Chapter 2: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS DUE TO

APPLIED LOADING

Example 2.4 A uniform contact pressure of 120 kPa.

Determine the vertical stress induced by this loading:
(a) at a depth of 10 m below point A, and
(b) at a depth of 5 m below B.

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 35

Chapter 2: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS DUE TO

APPLIED LOADING

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 36

18
DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

Chapter 2: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS DUE TO

APPLIED LOADING

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 37

Chapter 2: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS DUE TO

APPLIED LOADING

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 38

19
DIVISION OF BASIC MECHANICS 1/5/2017

Chapter 2: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS DUE TO

APPLIED LOADING

1/5/2017 SOIL MECHANICS 800052 39

20