Geotechnical Engineering–II [CE-321]

BSc Civil Engineering – 5th Semester

Lecture # 4
24-Sep-2019

by
Dr. Jahanzaib Israr
Civil Engg. Dept. – UET Lahore
Email: jisrar@uet.edu.pk
1
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOIL

What causes stress in soil?

Two principle factors causing ∆σ

σv
stresses in soil.
σh
1. Self weight of soil
2. External loads (Structural loads,
external load, etc.)

2
STRESSES DUE TO SELF WEIGHT OF SOIL

Vertical geostatic stress at any depth

= weight of the soil above that depth.

(A) Unit weight of the soil is

σv
constant with depth
ߪ = ߛ. ‫ݖ‬ σh

Where,
z = depth
γ = unit weight of soil

3
STRESSES DUE TO SELF WEIGHT OF SOIL
Soil density generally increases with depth because
of compression caused by geostatic stress.
(B) Unit weight of soil varies
continuously with depth
௭

ߪ = න ߛ. ݀‫ݖ‬
σv
଴
σh

(C) Stratified soil; having unit

weight different for each layer;
ߪ = ෍ ߛ. ∆‫ݖ‬
4
Practice Problem #1
The water table in a deposit of uniform sand is located at 1
meter below the ground surface. The specific gravity of soil
solids is 2.7 and voids ratio of sand deposit is 0.8.
a. Assuming the soil above the water table to be dry. Find out
the effective stress at a depth of 6m below the ground
surface.
b. If the soil above the water table is saturated by capillary
action, sketch the total stress, pore water pressure and
effective stress diagrams for the sand deposit for a depth of
6m below the ground surface.

5
STRESS DUE TO EXTERNAL LOAD
Contact Pressure
P
Pressure developed at the
contact point of foundation and ࣌࢕ =
ࡼ
࡮∙ࡸ
soil.
ܲ
ߪ‫= ݋‬
‫ܮ∙ܤ‬
Where,
σo = contact pressure
P = Point load
B x L = Contact area

6
 STRESS DUE TO EXTERNAL LOAD
Stress Distribution in Soil with Depth
• Intensity of stress decreases with depth.
• Intensity of stress decreases radially from the point load.

7
STRESS INCREASE (∆q) DUE TO
EXTERNAL LOAD

Determination of stress due to external load at any

point in soil

1. Approximate (2:1) Method

2. Boussinesq’s Theory
3. Westergaard’s Theory

8
APPROXIMATE METHOD
Use of 2:1 (V:H) stress
distribution.

ܳ
ߪ‫= ݖ‬ ࣌ࢠ
(‫ ܤ‬+ ‫ ܮ( ∙ )ݖ‬+ ‫)ݖ‬

Where,
σz = Stress at depth ‘z’
Q = Point load
B x L = Footing dimensions
9
 APPROXIMATE METHOD
For rectangular foundation
ࡽ
 ࣌࢕ =

  ࡮ࡸ
   ∙   

For strip footing



 
   ∙ 1

ࡽ
࣌ࢠ =
Where,
σz = Stress at depth ‘z’ ࡮ + ࢠ .   
Q = Point load
B x L = Footing dimensions
10
STRESS INCREASE (∆q) DUE TO
EXTERNAL LOAD

Determination of stress due to external load at any

point in soil

1. Approximate Method
2. Boussinesq’s Theory
3. Westergaard’s Theory

11
 Boussinesq’s Theory for Point Load
Boussinesq (1885) solved the problem of stress produced by any point
load on following assumptions;
• The soil mass is elastic, isotropic, homogeneous and semi-infinite.
• The soil mass is weightless.
• The load is a point load acting on the surface.
Q Q

12
 Boussinesq’s Theory for Point Load
3Qz 3 3Q z3 Q
∆σ z = =
2πL5
2π (r 2 + z 2 )5 2
Where,
r = x2 + y2

L = x2 + y2 + z 2 = r 2 + z 2

Q  3x 2 z  x2 − y2 y 2 z 
∆σ x =  5 − (1 − 2 µ ) 2 + 3 2 
2π  L  Lr (L + z ) L r  
µ = Poisson’s
Q 3 y 2 z  y2 − x2 x2 z  ratio
∆σ y =  5 − (1 − 2 µ ) 2 + 3 2 
2π  L  Lr (L + z ) L r  
13
 Boussinesq’s Theory
for Point Load Q

3Qz 3 3Q z3
∆σ z = =
2πL5
(
2π r 2 + z 2 ) 52

The above relationship for

∆σz can be re-written as

Q  3 1  Q
∆σ z = 2  52 = 2 IB Q
z [ 2
]
 2π (r z ) + 1  z
where
3 1
IB =
[
2π (r z )2 + 1 5 2 ]
Independent of all material properties
14
Practice Problem #2
A concentrated load of 1000 kN is applied at the ground
surface. Compute the vertical stress
(i) at a depth of 4m below the load,
(ii) at a distance of 3m at the same depth.

(A) Use Boussinesq’s equation

(B) Use Westergaard’s equation P

15
 Vertical Stress caused by Line Load
By integrating the point load equation along a line, stress due
to a line load (force per unit length) may be found.

q
σ z = IL
z
Q/unit length x q is line load in “per unit length”

∆σz Where,
y 2
z 2 1 
IL =  2
A π 1 + (x / z ) 
x
z
16
Practical Problem #3
Following figure shows two line loads and a point load acting
at the ground surface. Determine the increase in vertical stress
at point A, which is located at a depth of 1.5 m.

P = 30 kN q2 = 10 kN/m q1 = 15 kN/m

2m 2m

3m
∆σz 1.5 m

17
STRESS INCREASE (∆q) DUE TO
EXTERNAL LOAD
Q

Point load ∆σz = 2 I B
z
q

Line Load σ z = IL
z
• But engineering loads typically act on areas and
not points or lines.
• Bousinesq solution for line load was thus
integrated for a finite area

Uniformly Loaded Uniformly Loaded Trapezoidal,

Circular Area Rectangular Area Triangular, etc.
18
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOIL

What causes stress in soil?

Two principle factors causing ∆σ

σv
stresses in soil.
σh
1. Self weight of soil
2. External loads (Structural loads,
external load, etc.)

19
Practice Problem #2
Find the total stress, pore water pressure and effective stress of
the soil system at 6m and 16m depths from NSL. Also plot the
stress plots for each down to the bottom of layer B.
WT +12m

NSL
0m
Stratum-A
γsat = 1856.7 kg/m3
-6m

Stratum-B
γsat = 1952.8 kg/m3

-20m
20
Practice Problem #3
A layer of sand 4.5m deep overlies a thick bed of clay. The
water table is 2m below the top of sand. Above WT the sand
has an average void ratio of 0.52 and average degree of
saturation of 0.37. The clay has a water content of 42%.
Calculate the total stress, effective stress and PWP on a
horizontal plane 9m below the ground surface and draw
pressure distribution diagrams down to this level. Assume the
specific gravity of soil grains equal to 2.65 for both the sand
and clay layer.

21
Practice Problem #4
A layer of sand extends from ground level to a depth of 9m
and overlies a 6m thick layer of clay having very low
permeability. The WT is 6m below the surface of sand. The
saturated unit weight of sand is 19 kN/m3 and that of the clay
is 20 kN/m3. The unit weight of sand above the WT is 16
kN/m3. Over a short period of time, the WT rises by 3m and is
expected to remain permanently at this new level. Determine
the effective vertical stress at depth of 8m and 12m below the
ground level.
a) Immediately after the rise of WT
b) Several years after the rise of WT

22
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOIL

What causes stress in soil?

Two principle factors causing ∆σ

σv
stresses in soil.
σh
1. Self weight of soil
2. External loads (Structural loads,
external load, etc.)

23
STRESS DUE TO EXTERNAL LOAD
Contact Pressure
P
Pressure developed at the
contact point of foundation and ࣌࢕ =
ࡼ
࡮∙ࡸ
soil.


 
∙
Where,
σo = contact pressure
P = Point load
B x L = Contact area

24
 STRESS DUE TO EXTERNAL LOAD
Stress Distribution in Soil with Depth
• Intensity of stress decreases with depth.
• Intensity of stress decreases radially from the point load.

25
STRESS INCREASE (∆q) DUE TO
EXTERNAL LOAD

Determination of stress due to external load at any

point in soil

1. Approximate (2:1) Method

2. Boussinesq’s Theory
3. Westergaard’s Theory

26
APPROXIMATE METHOD
Use of 2:1 (V:H) stress
distribution.

ܳ
ߪ‫= ݖ‬ ࣌ࢠ
(‫ ܤ‬+ ‫ ܮ( ∙ )ݖ‬+ ‫)ݖ‬

Where,
σz = Stress at depth ‘z’
Q = Point load
B x L = Footing dimensions
27
 APPROXIMATE METHOD
For rectangular foundation
ࡽ
 ࣌࢕ =

  ࡮ࡸ
   ∙   

For strip footing



 
   ∙ 1

ࡽ
࣌ࢠ =
Where,
σz = Stress at depth ‘z’ ࡮ + ࢠ .   
Q = Point load
B x L = Footing dimensions
28
STRESS INCREASE (∆q) DUE TO
EXTERNAL LOAD

Determination of stress due to external load at any

point in soil

1. Approximate Method
2. Boussinesq’s Theory
3. Westergaard’s Theory

29
 Boussinesq’s Theory for Point Load
Boussinesq (1885) solved the problem of stress produced by any point
load on following assumptions;
• The soil mass is elastic, isotropic, homogeneous and semi-infinite.
• The soil mass is weightless.
• The load is a point load acting on the surface.
Q Q

30
 Boussinesq’s Theory for Point Load
3Qz 3 3Q z3 Q
∆σ z = =
2πL5
2π (r 2 + z 2 )5 2
Where,
r = x2 + y2

L = x2 + y2 + z 2 = r 2 + z 2

Q  3x 2 z  x2 − y2 y 2 z 
∆σ x =  5 − (1 − 2 µ ) 2 + 3 2 
2π  L  Lr (L + z ) L r  
µ = Poisson’s
Q 3 y 2 z  y2 − x2 x2 z  ratio
∆σ y =  5 − (1 − 2 µ ) 2 + 3 2 
2π  L  Lr (L + z ) L r  
31
 Boussinesq’s Theory
for Point Load Q

3Qz 3 3Q z3
∆σ z = =
2πL5
(
2π r 2 + z 2 ) 52

The above relationship for

∆σz can be re-written as

Q  3 1  Q
∆σ z = 2  52 = 2 IB Q
z [
 2π 1 + (r z )2 ]  z
where
3 1
IB =
[
2π 1 + (r z )2 ] 52

Independent of all material properties

32
REFERENCE MATERIAL
An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering (2nd Ed.)
Robert D. Holtz & William D. Kovacs
Chapter #10

CONCLUDED

33