SOLMEC 414 – SOIL MECHANICS Summing up the components of forces that acts on the In using the equations, care

cts on the In using the equations, care should be taken on the

1st SEM. A.Y. 2022 – 2023 direction of N or σn gives directions of the stresses. Since the indicated directions in
the figures were used to derive the said equations, then
 n ( EF ) = ( x sin  )(FB) + ( y cos  )(FB)
CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN A SOIL MASS these directions of stresses will have a positive sign.
+ ( xy cos  )(FB) + ( xy sin  )( EB) Whenever a stress (τxy, σy and σx) will have a reverse
A. INTRODUCTION and substituting direction, then that stress should be given a negative sign.
One of the key functions of a soil layer is to support Usually, in the case of soils, it is the shear stress that
the structures that are founded on it. It may be a pole or a reverses direction. However, normal stresses and are
post, a wall, a pavement, a footing or a whole building. practically compressive stresses because soil have a very
Therefore, it is necessary to obtain an estimate of change  n =  x sin 2  +  y cos 2  + 2 xy sin  cos little or no resistance to tensile stress. Same thing goes
in soil stresses due to these external loads or surface loads with the plane angle which is to be measured from the
imposed by the structures.  y +x  y − x horizontal.
n = + cos 2 +  xy sin 2
There are two main reasons for obtaining the 2 2
estimate of change in soil stresses: Sample Problem 1: A soil element is shown in the figure. The
• To ensure that the soil is not approaching failure due to Similarly, summing up components of forces in the magnitude of stresses are σx = 2000 psf, σy = 2500 psf,
the loads imposed by the structure, and direction of T or τ τxy = 800 psf and θ = 30°. Determine:
• To estimate the amount of settlement that the structure  n ( EF ) = −( x cos  )(FB) + ( y sin  )(EB) a. Magnitude of the principal stresses
may experience during its life span. b. Normal and shear stresses on plane AB.
− ( xy cos  )( EB) + ( xy sin  )(FB)
B. NORMAL AND SHEAR STRESS ON A PLANE  y − x
Figure (a) shows a two-dimensional soil element n = sin 2 −  xy cos 2
2
that is subjected to normal stresses, σy and σx and
assuming that σy > σx, and shear stresses. To determine In a stressed soil mass there are planes inclined at an
the normal stress and shear stress on a plane EF that angle θ from the horizontal in such a way that τn = 0 .
makes an angle with the plane AB, a free body diagram of 2 xy
EFB is shown in Figure (b). Let and be the normal stress tan 2 =
 y − x
and shear stress on plane EF, respectively. From
geometry, For a given value of τxy, σy and σx, the will yield two values Sample Problem 2: A soil element is shown in the figure.
EB = EF cos of θ that are always 90° apart. This means that there are Determine the following:
and two planes that are 90° apart from each other where the a. Maximum and minimum principal stresses
shear stress in these planes is zero. These planes are b. Normal and shear stresses on plane AB.
FB = EF sin 
called the principal planes with the normal stress acting c. Location of the minor and major principal planes
on these planes are referred to as principal stresses. The
values of principal stresses are given by:

2
 y +x  y −  x  Major Principal
 n = 1 = +   +  xy
2
Stress
2  2 

2
 y +x  y −  x  Minor Principal
n = 3 = −   +  xy
2
Stress
2  2 
C. DETERMINATION OF STRESSES ALONG A PLANE D. STRESS CAUSED BY SURFACE LOADS
USING THE MOHR’S CIRCLE. 1. Stress Caused by a Point Load
The normal stress and shear stress acting along a Boussinesq (1883) presented a solution for the
plane can also be determined by plotting a Mohr’s circle distribution of stresses at any point in a soil that is assumed
with normal stress as the horizontal axis and shear stress to be homogenous, elastic and isotropic medium due to a
as the vertical axis as. In plotting the Mohr’s circle the point load applied on the surface of an infinitely large half-
following sign convention are used: space (partially bounded). An example of a point load is the
1. Compressive normal stresses are taken as positive. vertical load transferred to the soil by an electric power line
2. Shear stresses that act on opposite faces of the pole.
element that produces a counterclockwise rotation is 2. Vertical Stress Caused by a Line Load
taken as positive. Figure shows a line load of infinite length that has
an intensity of q/unit length on the surface of the soil mass.
An example of such load is a long wall. The vertical stress
inside the soil mass is given by:
2qz 3
 z =
 (x2 + z 2 )2

Normal stresses at a point A caused by a point load P is

given by

P  3x 2 z  x2 − y2 y2z  
 x =  5 − (1 − 2 )  2 + 3 2 
2  L  Lr ( L + z ) L r  
2. Vertical Stress Caused by a Horizontal Line Load
P  3 y 2 z  y2 − x2 x2 z   Figure shows a horizontal line load of infinite length
 y =  5 − (1 − 2  )  + 3 2 
2  L  Lr ( L + z ) L r 
2
 that has an intensity of q/unit length on the surface of the
soil mass. An example of such load is a long wall. The
3P z 3 3P z3 vertical stress inside the soil mass is given by:
 z = =
2 L5 2 (r 2 + z 2 )5 2 2q xz 2
 z =
 (x2 + z 2 )2
Sample Problem 4: Point loads of magnitude 125 kN, 250 kN,
and 500 kN acts at B, C and D, respectively. Determine the
increase in vertical stress at a depth of 10 m below the
Sample Problem 3: Redo Sample Problem 1 and Sample point A. Use Boussinesq’s equation
Problem 2 using the Mohr’s circle.
Sample Problem 5: An inclined line load with magnitude 10 Sample Problem 6: With reference to the figure, given that B
kN/m is shown in the figure. Determine the increase in = 4 m and q = 100 kPa, determine the increase in vertical
vertical stress at point A due to the line load. stress at point A where x = 1 m and z = 1 m.

3. Vertical Stress Caused by a Horizontal Strip Load

(Finite Width and Infinite Length)
Figure shows a horizontal strip load of infinite
length that has an intensity of q/unit area on the surface of
the soil mass. The vertical stress, inside the soil mass is
given by:
2 Bqxz 2
 z =
 {[ x 2 + z 2 − ( B / 2) 2 ]2 + B 2 z 2 }
3. Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Strip Load
(Finite Width and Infinite Length)
A strip load is the load transmitted by a structure of Sample Problem 7: Refer to the given figure. For a linearly
finite width and infinite length. In geotechnical engineering, increasing vertical loading on an infinite strip, given that B =
the most common load of this type is the middle section of 2 m and q = 100 kN/m2, determine the increase in vertical
a long embankment. Figure shows strip load of width B with stress at point A where (-1 m,1.5 m)
infinite length that has an intensity of q/unit area on the
surface of the soil mass. The vertical stress σz, inside the 5. Vertical Stress Due to Embankment Loading
soil mass is given by Earth embankments are very much common in
geotechnical engineering. It has somewhat of a length and
a usual trapezoidal cross section. Figure shows a cross
section of an embankment of height H. The loading actually
can be divided into two strip load – one is the uniform strip
load and the other is the uniformly varying strip load. For
this two-dimensional loading condition the vertical stress
increase can be expressed as:
4. Vertical Stress Due to a Linearly Increasing Vertical
qo  B1 + B2  B 
Loading on an Infinite Strip  z =   (1 +  2 ) − 1 ( 2 )
Figure shows a vertical loading on an infinite strip
  B2  B2 
of width B. The intensity of load increases from x = 0 to
q/unit area at x = B. The increase in vertical stress at point
A is given by:
q  2x 
 z =   − sin 2 
2  B 

In the equation, α is in radians. Also note the sign of the

angle δ.
Sample Problem 8: An embankment is shown in the figure. vertical stress below a corner of the loaded rectangular
Determine the stress increase under the embankment at area inside the soil mass is given by:
point A1 and A2.

B L
where m = and n= E. STRESS ISOBARS (PRESSURE OR STRESS BULBS)
z z Another option is determining the stress increases due to
surface loads is the use of nondimensional charts which
is the result of the analytical or numerical methods
presented in the previous sections. These charts are
6. Vertical Stress Below the Center of a Uniformly easy to use, but do not have he flexibility or
Loaded Area computational accuracy. These charts are shown below.
Figure shows a circular The charts has different curves which connect points of
area of radius R with a uniform equal induced stress. These curves are called isobars or
load of intensity q/unit area on the pressure or stress bulbs.
surface of the soil mass. An
example of a circular area that
transmits stresses in this manner
is a circular foundation of an oil or
water tank. The vertical stress Care must be taken in using the specifically in the
below the center of the loaded last term. If
m2 + n2 + 1  m2n2
circular area (the point with the
maximum stress among all the which makes the denominator of the second term to be
points in the soil mass) inside the negative, then simply add π (pi) to the bracketed quantity
soil mass is given by: in the last term – that is
 1 
 z = q 1 − 
 [( R / z ) 2 + 1]3 / 2 

7. Vertical Stress Caused by a Rectangularly Loaded

Area
Figure shows a rectangular area of width B and
length L with a uniform load of intensity q/unit area on the Sample Problem 9: The plan of a flexible rectangular loaded
surface of the soil mass. Many structural foundations are area is shown. The uniformly distributed load on the area is
rectangular or approximately rectangular in shape. The 100 kN/m2. Determine the increase in vertical stress at
depth 2 m below points A, B and C.
D. VERTICAL STRESS BELOW AN ARBITRARILY-
SHAPED AREAS
The procedure in using Newmark’s chart is as
follows:
1. Set the scale shown on the chart, equal to the depth at
which the increase in vertical stress is required. We will
call this the depth scale (z = depth scale).
2. Identify the point on the loaded area below which the
stress is required. Say point A
3. Plot the plan of the loaded area with a scale of z with
point A at the center of the chart.
4. Count the number of elements or segments Ns covered
by the scaled loaded area. If certain segments are not
fully covered, estimate what fraction is covered.
5. Calculate the vertical increase in vertical stress as:
 z = qI N N s
Sample Problem 10: The
cross section and plan of a
column foundation is shown
in the figure. Find the
increase in vertical stress
produced by the column
footing at point A.