UBGMWQ-15-3: Tutorial 1-Stresses in soils

Question 1.
For the soil profile shown below:
Calculate the total stress, pore water pressure, and effective stress at points A,
B, C, and D. Plot the stress profile with depth.

Fig. Q1
Question 2.
A borehole at a site reveals the soil profile shown below. Calculate the
following
• Effective stress at 20.6m (bottom of the saturated clay layer)
• Effective horizontal stress (Take Ko = 0.5)
• Plot the distribution of vertical total, pore water pressure and effective
stresses with depth.
 Fig. Q2
Question 3.
For the soil profile shown below.
(a) Calculate the effective stress at the bottom of the soft blue clay
(b) Calculate the horizontal effective stress at bottom of clay (𝜎ℎ′ = Ko𝜎𝑣′ ,
Take k = 0.5)
(c) Calculate the horizontal total stress at 20.6m (𝜎ℎ = 𝜎ℎ′ + u )

Fig. Q3
 Question 4.
Draw the ground profile using information provided in Table 1 and complete
Table 1.
Table 1.
Thickness of Unit Depth in Total stress at Effective
Description layer weight profile bottom of layer pwp stress
(m) (kN/m3) (m) (kPa) (kPa) (kPa)
surface - - 0 0 0 0
Layer 1 sand (dry) 2.0 16.7
Layer 2 sand (wet) 3.0 19.1
Layer 3 gravel 4.0 20.1

GWL = 2.0 m