Question: A soil element experienced an increase of stresses as 1=100 kPa, 2=150

kPa, 3=250 kPa. (1) Find out all the strain increments of the soil element produced by the
applied stresses. (2) Find out the volumetric strain increment of the soil. Assuming the
behaviour of the soil follows Hook’s law and the Young’ modulus of the soil is 50,000 kPa
and Poisson’s ratio is  = 0.25.

Step 1: According to Hook’s law, the three principal strain increments are linked to the three
principal stress increment by the following equations

 d1 d2 d3

 d  1     
E E E

 d1 d2 d3
 d 2    
 E E E
 d1 d2 d3
d 3   E   E  E

Step 2: the three principal strain increments of the soil element can be calculated as

d1 d d 100 150 250

d1   2  3   0.25   0.25 
E E E 50,000 50,000 50,000
 0.002  0.00075  0.00125  0

d1 d2 d 100 150 250

d 2      3  0.25    0.25 
E E E 50,000 50,000 50,000
 0.0005  0.003  0.00125  0.00125

d1 d2 d3 100 150 250

d3      0.25   0.25  
E E E 50,000 50,000 50,000
 0.0005  0.00075  0.005  0.00375

Step3: The volumetric strain increment of the soil is

dv  d1  d2  d3  0  0.00125 0.00375  0.005

Question: Suppose a soil element under axially symmetric stress and strain states. The
initial stress of the soil is 1 = 2 = 3 = 150 kPa and the voids ratio 0.95. The soil is then
loaded proportionally to a stress state with 1 = 750 kPa and 2 = 3 = 350 kPa. Assuming
the soil obey Hook’s law and with the bulk modulus K and Poisson’s ratio described K=1600
kPa and v=0.3. (1) Plot the stress path of the soil, (2) Find out the volumetric strain and
distortional strain of the soil, and (3) Find out the voids ratio of the soil at the end of the test.

A: Plot the stress path of the soil in the p - q plane

Step 1: Two stress states of the stress path are known, denoted them a and b separately. The
soil is loaded proportionally, the corresponding stress path is a line linking a to b.

Step 2: Calculate the coordinates of the two stress

states in the p - q plane. 500
For stress state a, 1= 2= 3= 150 kPa.
400 b

Shear stress q (kPa)

p  1  22   150 kPa q  1  2   0
1
3 300

200 1
For stress state b, 1= 750 kPa and 2= 3= 350
kPa. 100

p 
1
1  22   483 kPa , and 0
a
3 0 100 200 300 400 500
q  1  2   400 kPa Mean effective stress p ' (kPa)

Stress path in the p  - q plane

Step 3: Plot the two stress states in the p - q plane.
The stress path is obtained by linking the two states (shown in the Figure).

B: Find out the volumetric and distortional strain of the soil.

Step 1: The volumetric and distortional strain of the soil is the strain increments induced by
the stress change. The volumetric and distortional strain of the soil can be calculated by the
following equations
 e dp
d v  K
 dq
d ed 
 3G
The shear modulus is calculated by the equation
31  2 
G K
21   
K=1600 kPa, v=0.3. Then G=738 kPa.
Δp'=483-150=333 kPa; Δq=400-0=400 kPa

Step 4: The volumetric strain

=333/1600=0.208

Step 5: The shear strain

=400/3/738=0.181.

C: Find out the voids ratio of the soil at the end of the test.
Step 1: The change in voids ratio and the volumetric strain of the soil is defined as
 e
 v  1  2 2  
1 e
Then
e  1  ev

Step 2: Find out the voids ratio

The voids ratio at the start of test is 0.95. Since e is a variable with volumetric strain, the
volumetric deformation is divided into two parts for calculation. The value of the voids ratio
at the beginning is used.
Step 3: For the first half volumetric deformation
0.5Δεv=0.104
Δe1=-(1+ei) Δεv = -(1+0.95)*0.104=-0.203

Then the voids ratio at end of half volumetric deformation is

e1=ei+ Δe1=0.95-0.203=0.747
Step 3: For the second half volumetric deformation
Δe2=-(1+ei) Δεv = -(1+0.747)*0.104=-0.182

Then the voids ratio at end of test is

e2=e1+ Δe2=0.747-0.182=0.565