Geotechnical

 Analysis  
  𝝈 = 𝝈! + 𝒖  
 

Tresca  Failure  Criterion  

Total  stress  approach  
Undrained  condition:  Loading  onto  soil  is  quicker  than  ability  to  drain.  
Soil  is  therefore  usually  of  low  permeability  (like  clay)  and  no  volume  change  occurs.    
Water  does  not  dissipate  and  therefore  loads  are  taken  by  the  porewater  pressure  (u).    
 
  𝜏  
 
  𝜏𝑓  
𝑆𝑢    
Initial  Stress    
  State  
  𝜎3𝑓   𝜎3   𝜎1   𝜎1𝑓   𝜎  
𝜎𝑛    
 
Stress  State  
  at  Failure  
𝑆𝑢    
 
  𝝉𝒇 = 𝑺𝒖  
  𝝈𝟏𝒇 − 𝝈𝟑𝒇 = 𝟐 ∙ 𝑺𝒖  
   

Mohr-­‐Coulomb  Failure  Criterion  

Effective  stress  approach  
Drained  condition:  Loading  onto  soil  is  slower  than  ability  to  drain.  
Soil  is  therefore  usually  of  high  permeability  (like  sand)  and  volumetric  strains  can  occur.    
Water  dissipates  (‘drains’)  and  therefore  loads  are  taken  by  the  soil  particles  (𝜎′).    
 

𝜏  
𝝉𝒇 = 𝒄! + 𝝈′𝒏 ∙ 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝝓  

𝜏𝑓  
Initial  Stress  
State  

𝜎′3𝑓   𝜎′3   𝜎′1  

𝜎’  
𝜙′   𝜎′1𝑓  
𝜎′𝑛  
c'   Stress  State  
at  Failure