Advanced Soil Mechanics I 2-1

Chapter II

Deformation Analysis

2.1 Stress Distribution in Soil

ex) What is settlement caused by embankment loading?

B
∆σ ≡ (Applied Stress) = γ h
= ∆σ v ( ≡ stress induced by ∆σ )
∆σ = γh
Sand → 1-D loading
∆σ v h
H If NC clays,
NC clay
consolidation settlement,
Cc σ ' + ∆σ
σ 'v 0 Sc = H log v 0
1 + e0 σ 'v0

When B/H ≥ 1, then 1-D loading (under center of structure) is valid.

( ∆σ = ∆σ )
v

When B/H<1, then we must calculate stress distribution throughout soil

mass.(∆σ ≠∆σv)

P
A

∆σ = P / A
Sand
Clay

∆σ v

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Notes
- In case that 1-D loading condition is no longer valid,

ⅰ) ∆σ v ≠ ∆σ

ⅱ) ∆u ≠ ∆σ v

ⅲ) ∆ε h ≠ 0

Use elasticity to calculate the stress distribution.

⇒ Boussinesq approach.

Assumptions
1. Soil is homogeneous and isotropic.
2. Soil is linear elastic.
3. Semi-infinite soil mass (No rigid base nearby).
4. Perfectly flexible footing.

Can get
1. good estimate of ∆σ v .
2. but poor estimate of ∆σ h (unless plane strain condition)
↑
L/B ≥ 5

(→Generally consolidation settlement is estimated by ∆u = ∆σ v , and ε h = 0 )

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Stress Distributions

- Point load : depth ≥ 3 times of width(diameter) of square ft (circular ft).

- Line load : depth ≥ 3 times of width of strip ft.

1. Fig. 2-1 (NAVFAC DM 7.1~165) (p2-5, 2-6)

Formulas for stresses
2. Fig. 2-2 (NAVFAC DM 7.1~167) (p2-7)
Difference between square and strip footings

- σz = I × p

3. Fig. 2-3 (NAVFAC DM 7.1~168) (p2-8)

Vertical stress beneath a corner of a uniformly loaded rectangular area
4. Fig. 2-4 (NAVFAC DM 7.1~169) (p2-9)
Vertical stress under uniformly loaded circular area
5. Fig. 2-5 (NAVFAC DM 7.1~170) (p2-10)
Vertical stress under embankment load of infinite length
6. Fig. 2-6 (NAVFAC DM 7.1~171) (p2-11)
Vertical stress under corner of triangular load

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Advanced Soil Mechanics I 2-4

- Comments on charts
i) Stresses penetrate further for larger loads.
ii) If the size of footing increases, stresses penetrate further.
iii) Stresses for strip footing penetrate further than stresses for square or
circular footing.
iv) For square or rectangular footing, stresses other than corner can be
found by superposition.

at center
∆σ center = I P × 4

at corner of

A B C

 ∆σ c = I ABCDEF P − I BCDG P

G D

F E

- Rule of thumb to find critical depth

critical depth : depth at which soil compression contributes significantly
to surface settlements
i) Sands
Depth at which ∆σ v is 20% of the in situ, effective stresses( σ ' vo )
ii) Clays
∆σ v ≥ 10% of σ ' vo

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Fig. 2-1 Formulas for stresses in Semi-Infinite Elastic Foundation

(NAVFAC DM 7.1-165)

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Advanced Soil Mechanics I 2-6

Fig. 2-1 (continued) Formulas for Stresses in Semi-Infinite Elastic Foundation

(NAVFAC DM 7.1-165)

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Advanced Soil Mechanics I 2-7

Fig. 2-2 Stress Contours and Their Application (NAVFAC DM 7.1-167)

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Advanced Soil Mechanics I 2-8

Fig. 2-3 Influence Value for Vertical Stress Beneath a Corner of a Uniformly
Loaded Rectangular Area (Boussinesq Case) (NAVFAC DM 7.1-168)

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Fig. 2-4 Influence Value for Vertical Stress Under Uniformly Loaded Circular Area
(Boussinesq Case) (NAVFAC DM 7.1-169)

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Advanced Soil Mechanics I 2-10

Fig. 2-5 Influence Value for Vertical Stress Under Embankment Load of Infinite
Length (Boussinesq Case) (NAVFAC DM 7.1-170)

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Advanced Soil Mechanics I 2-11

Fig. 2-6 Influence Value for Vertical Stress Beneath Triangular Load (Boussinesq
Case) (NAVFAC DM 7.1-171)

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Advanced Soil Mechanics I 2-12

Newmark charts
(useful for irregular loaded area)

1. Determine location and depth(z), where stress increment is desired to

obtain.
2. Adopt a scale such that the distance OQ(=1 inch) in Fig. is equal to the
depth z.
(i.e. if z=30ft, scale is 30ft)
3. Draw the plane of loaded area to scale determined in (2).
4. Place the plane on Newmark chart with point under consideration over
the center.
5. Count the number of blocks, N, of the influence chart which fall inside
the plane.
6. Calculate ∆σ v as
∆σ v = qFN
where, q = applied stress and,
F = influence value of charts (=0.001)

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Advanced Soil Mechanics I 2-13

Fig. 2-7 Influence chart for vertical stress σ z (= ∆σ v ) (Newmark, 1942)

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Advanced Soil Mechanics I 2-14

• Comments on Stress Distributions

1. Use superposition for areas with different applied pressures.

2. For embedded structures,

At depth, D
 Vertical load
is (P- γD)
P D γ at depth, D

→ Use this to get ∆σv

or
At ground
surface
+ P
γD  superposition

↓ ↓
-(∆σv)1 +(∆σv) 2

∆σv = (∆σv) 2 - (∆σv) 1

Conservative (i.e. higher loads), because shear resistance of soil at

boundary between embedded structure and soil is neglected.

3. Vertical stresses are affected by layering, if soils have much different E

values.

4. Stiff layer at ground surface dissipates the induced stresses rapidly.

(Hand out Fig 6-4 in p2-15, 7.1-179 in p2-16)

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Fig. 2-8 Basic pattern of Burmister Two-Layer Stress Influence Curves

(Strip footing)

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Advanced Soil Mechanics I 2-16

Fig. 2-9 Influence Values for Vertical Stresses Beneath Uniformly Loaded
Circular Area (Two-Layer Foundation) (NAVFAC DM 7.1-179)

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