Soil Lecture-6

TECH-ZONE ENGINEERING AND BUSINESS COLLEGE
CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
CTMG 321
Soil Mechanics
Instructor: Petros Fekadu

12/2014
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CHAPTER 5
STRESS DISTRIBUTION
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5.1 Definitions
In situ vertical stress () is the existing stress in soil
strata due to self weight. The vertical stress at a point
located at a depth z below the ground surface is equal to the
weight of the soil above that point.
Stress increase () is the stress increase within a soil

mass caused by various types of external loading. It can be
calculated based on the theory of elasticity. This stress
increase is in excess of the in situ stress and has to be
calculated separately
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5.1 Definitions … Cont’d
 The total stress (v ) applied to a saturated soil mass will
be shared by the pore water and the solid grains:
(1) The ‘neutral stress’ (u): the part borne by pore water &
(2) The ‘effective stress’ (v'): the part borne through
grain-to-grain contact
 The effective stress is obtained indirectly by subtracting
the neutral stress from the total stress: v ' = v - u
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Example 5.1
Plot the total stress, the pore water pressure, and the effective
stress distribution for a 5-m-thick soil layer. The water table
is at a depth of 2 m. The soil has a dry unit weight of 18
kN/m3 and a saturated unit weight of 20 kN/m3.
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5.2 Stresses Caused by a Point Load
(Boussinesq’s Solution)
A Boussinesq’s solution for a point load assumes that the soil mass is
semi-infinite, homogeneous, linearly elastic, and isotropic.
 For the case of a vertical point load P applied at the origin of the
coordinate system, the vertical stress increase at any point (x,y,z) within
the semi-infinite soil mass is given by
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Boussinesq’s Solution … Cont’d
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Example 5.2
A concentrated load of 450 kN acts on the surface of a
homogeneous soil mass of large extent. Find the stress
intensity at a depth of 10 m and at a horizontal distance of 5
m. Use (a) formulas and (b) tables/ charts based on
Boussinesq’s theory.
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Graphical vertical stress distribution on a horizontal plane at any
depth z below the ground surface can be drawn as shown here under.
The stress diminishes as

we move down from the
ground surface and also as
we move away from the
point of load application.
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Vertical stress distribution on a vertical plane at any radial distance r
from the load can be drawn as shown here under.
 As we move away from the

point of load application the
stress decreases. The stress
first increases, attains a max.
value and then decreases with
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depth.
Westergaard’s Theory
 The vertical stress z caused by a point load, as obtained by
Westergaard, is given by:
 The symbols have the same meaning as in the case of Boussinesq’s

solution;  is Poisson’s ratio for the medium, and may be taken to be
zero for large lateral restraint. Then the equation for z reduces to:
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Isobar or Pressure Bulb
An ‘isobar’ is a stress contour or a line which connects all points
below the ground surface at which the vertical pressure is the same.
An isobar is a spatial curved surface and resembles a bulb in shape;
this is because the vertical pressure at all points in a horizontal plane at
equal radial distances from the load is the same.
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Isobar … Cont’d
Tables/ charts have been

used
N.B:
 Constructing an isobar is as simple as determining (r , z) for a specific stress.
 Equations can be used instead of tables/ charts. 14
Example 5.3
A single concentrated load of 1000 kN acts at the ground
surface. Construct an isobar for z = 40 kN/m2 by making
use of the Boussinesq’s equation.
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5.3 (a) Stresses Caused by a Line Load
(Infinite Length)
The vertical stress increase at any point (x,z) is given as
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5.3 (b) Stresses Caused by a Line Load
(Finite Length)
The vertical stress increase at any point (x,z) is given as
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Example 5.4
A line load of 200 kN/m extends to a long distance.
Determine the intensity of vertical stress at a point, 5 m
below the surface and at a distance of 3 m perpendicular to
the line. Use Boussinesq’s theory.
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TECH-ZONE ENGINEERING AND BUSINESS COLLEGE

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT

Instructor: Petros Fekadu

Stress increase () is the stress increase within a soil

The stress diminishes as

 As we move away from the

 The symbols have the same meaning as in the case of Boussinesq’s

Tables/ charts have been

The vertical stress increase at any point (x,z) is given as

The vertical stress increase at any point (x,z) is given as

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