22 THE MECHANICS OF SOILS (a) | Figure E2-3 Vertical stresses in (@) estuarine and (b) deep-sea sediments 17 KN m- ahd the unit wei ight of sea water is 10 kNm=. Calculate the vertical effective stresses acting on each element. | ' @) For the estuarine sediment, oe = BH = 17.0 1.0 = 17.0 kNm-2, U= Hy Ym = 10.0% 1.0 = 10.0 kNm-2, % = 0,~u = 17,00—10,0, of, = 7.0kNm-2, (b) For the Seep-sea sediment, = Thy = (17.0% 1.0) +-(10.0x 10°) = 100 017 kN m+, © 4 = Hy" = 10.0 10001 = 100 010 kNm-, A 100 017-100 o10, % = 7.0 kN m-2,STRESSES AND STRAINS IN SOILS 23 The effective stresses in the estuarine sediment and in the deep-sea sediment are the same and, provided that the structure and mineralogy of the sediments are the same, they will have the same engineering, properties. Corollary 2 If a soil is loaded or unloaded without any change of volume and without any distortion there will be no change of effective stress. Example 2-4 Stresses and pore pressures in a constant volume isotropic loading test i Figure E2-4 illustrates a simple experiment. A cylindrical soil sample seated on a smooth base is sealed in a thin rubber membrane and enclosed in a vessel which is filled with a fluid. The fluid pressure applies an equal all-round total stress o to the sample. The total stress « and the pore pressure v may be changed independently and the dimensions of the sample observed by a set of displacement transducers such as A and B. | Water Pressure vessel Rubber membrane i Rubber sealing ring Soil sample BZ, Figure E2-4 Constant volume isotropic compression test Total stress 0 —>fS Pore pressure At the start of a test the total stress is o = 17 kNm~* and the pore pressure is u = 10 kN m=. The total stress is raised to o = 1000 kNm~* and the pore pressure changed simultaneously so that the transducers register no displacement of the sample; calculate the magnitude of the final pore pressure. Since there has been no volume change or distortion of the soil the effective stress must remain constant.24 THE MECHANICS OF SOILS At the start of the test, u= 17-10 =7kNm; at the end of the test, o =0—u=1000-v=7kNm-, Hence, u = 1000-7, u=993kNm-. Corollary 3 Soil will expand in volume (and weaken) or compress ( et fang strengthen) if the pore pressure alone is raised or lowered. Example 2-5 Effects of changes of pore pressure with constant total stress Figure E2-5 illustrates a simple experiment; the apparatus is similar (o that described in Ex. 2-4 except that now the volume of water entering or leaving the sample can be measured by means of a graduated vesse Pore | pressure ; [ u Volume gauge Total stress —> a Figure E2-5 Isotropic compression test The total stress o is held constant while the pore pressure w is change! and the change of volume of the sample observed. At the start of the test, o ITkNm~, w= 10 kNm~?, Henee, i TKN m=, i The pore pressure uw is raised to 15 kNm®? while the total stress is He! i a