Soil Mechanics

XIV. STRESSES IN SOIL

Vertical Stress Increase due to
Various Types of Loading
 STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Introduction
Stress in soil is caused by the first or both of the following:
(a) Self-weight of soil.
(b) Structural loads, applied at or below the surface.

Estimation of vertical stresses at any point in a soil mass due to external loading is
essential to the prediction of settlements of buildings, bridges and embankments,
bearing capacity of soils and lateral earth pressure. The theory of elasticity,
which gives primarily the interrelationships of stresses and strains (Timoshenko and
Goodier, 1951), has been the basis for the determination of stresses in a soil mass.

Soil is not an ideal elastic material, but a nearly linear stress-strain relationship
exists with limited loading conditions.
 STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Introduction
A simplification therefore is made that under these conditions soil can be treated
mathematically during vertical compression as an elastic material. The same
assumption frequently is made in finite element analyses.

Soil in considered quasi-elastic, or is considered as exhibiting near-linear elastic

behavior.
There is a limit to near-linear elastic behavior of soils as loading increases and
shearing or slipping between individual soil particles increases.

When that happens any semblance to an elastic response is lost as shearing

more closely simulates plastic behavior.

This is the behavioral mode of soils in landslides, bearing capacity failures, and
behind most retaining walls.
 STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Introduction
The extent of the elastic layer below the surface loadings may be any one of the
following:

Infinite in the vertical and horizontal directions.

Limited thickness in the vertical direction underlain with a rough rigid base such as a rocky
bed.

The loads at the surface may act on flexible or rigid footings. The stress conditions
in the elastic layer below vary according to the rigidity of the footings and the
thickness of the elastic layer.

All the external loads considered are vertical loads only as the vertical loads are
of practical importance for computing settlements of foundations.
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Introduction
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Introduction
 STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Analysis Methods
BOUSSINESQ METHOD
Based on homogenous, weightless, elastic, isotropic infinitely large half-space
free of initial stress and deformation. The modulus of elasticity is assumed
constant and the principle of linear superposition is assumed valid. Not accurate
for layered soil stratigraphy with substantial thickness.

Rigid Surface Layer Over Weaker Underlying Layer. If the surface layer is the more rigid,
its acts as a distributing mat and the vertical stresses in the underlying soil layer
are less than Boussinesq values.

Weaker Surface Layer Over Stronger Underlying Layer. If the surface layer is less rigid
than the underlying layer, then vertical stresses in both layers exceed the
Boussinesq values.
 STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Analysis Methods
WESTERGAARD METHOD
Based on the assumption that the soil on which load is applied is reinforced by
closely spaced horizontal layers which prevent horizontal displacement. The
effect of the Westergaard assumption is to reduce the stresses substantially
below those obtained by the Boussinesq equations.

2V:1H METHOD
An approximate stress distribution assumes that the total applied load on the
surface of the soil is distributed over an area of the same shape as the loaded
area on the surface, but with dimensions that increase by an amount equal to
the depth below the surface. Vertical stresses calculated using 2V:1H method
agree reasonably well with the Boussinesq method for depths between B and 4B
below the foundation.
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Boussinesq Method
Point Loading
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Boussinesq Method
Point Loading
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Westergaard Method
Point Loading
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Boussinesq Method
Line Loading (Infinite Length)
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Boussinesq Method
Line Loading (Infinite Length)
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Boussinesq Method
Line Loading (Finite Length)
 STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Boussinesq Method
Strip Loading (Finite Width and Infinite Length)
 STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Boussinesq Method
Strip Loading (Finite Width and Infinite Length)
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Boussinesq Method
Circular Loading
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Boussinesq Method
Circular Loading
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Boussinesq Method
Rectangular Loading
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Boussinesq Method
Rectangular Loaded Area
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Boussinesq Method
Rectangular Loaded Area
BOUSSINESQ METHOD
Rectangular
BOUSSINESQ METHOD
Circular
BOUSSINESQ METHOD
Trapezoidal
BOUSSINESQ METHOD
Triangular
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
 STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Pressure Isobars for Footings

An isobar is a line which connects all

points of equal stress below the ground
surface. In other words, an isobar is a stress
contour. Each isobar represents a fraction
of the load applied at the surface. Since
these isobars form closed figures and
resemble the form of a bulb, they are also
termed bulb of pressure or simply pressure
bulb.
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Pressure Isobars for Footings
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
2V:1H Method
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN SOILS
Newmark Method

= . .
where,
I is the influence value
N is the number of loaded blocks
q is the intensity of uniform load
Problem 1 Problem Set 11
A concentrated load of 1000 kN is applied at the ground surface. Compute the vertical
pressure 1.1) at a depth of 4 m below the load, 1.2) at a distance of 3 m at the same depth. Use
Boussinesqs equation.
Problem 2 Problem Set 11
A concentrated load of 45000 lb acts at foundation level at a depth of 6.56 ft below
ground surface. Find the vertical stress along the axis of the load at a depth of 32.8 ft and at a radial
distance of 16.4 ft at the same depth by 2.1) Boussinesq, and 2.2) Westergaard formulae for = 0. Neglect
the depth of the foundation.
Problem 3 Problem Set 11
A rectangular raft of size 30 x 12 m founded at a depth of 2.5 m below the ground
surface is subjected to a uniform pressure of 150 kPa. Assume the center of the area is
the origin of coordinates (0, 0), and the corners have coordinates (6, 15). Calculate stresses
at a depth of 20 m below the foundation level by the methods of 3.1) Boussinesq, and 3.2) Westergaard at
coordinates of (0, 0), (0, 15), (6, 0), (6, 15) and (10, 25). Also determine the ratios of the stresses as
obtained by the two methods. Neglect the effect of foundation depth on the stresses.
Problem 4 Problem Set 11
Three parallel strip footings 3 m wide each and 5 m apart center to center transmit
contact pressures of 200, 150 and 100 kN/m2 respectively. Calculate the vertical stress due to the
combined loads beneath the centers of each footing at a depth of 3 m below the base. Assume the footings
are placed at a depth of 2 m below the ground surface. Use Boussinesq's method for line loads.
Problem 5 Problem Set 11
ABCD is a raft foundation of a multi-story building as shown in the figure below wherein
AB = 65.6 ft, and BC = 39.6 ft. The uniformly distributed load q over the raft is 7310 lb/ft2.
Determine at a depth of 19.7 ft below point O wherein AA1 = 13.12 ft and A10 = 19.68 ft.
Problem 6 Problem Set 11
A rectangular raft of size 30 x 12 m founded on the ground surface is subjected to a
uniform pressure of 150 kN/m2. Assume the center of the area as the origin of coordinates
(0,0), and corners with coordinates (6, 15). Calculate the induced stress at a depth of 20 m by the
exact method at location (0, 0).
Problem 7 Problem Set 11
A water tank is required to be constructed with a circular foundation having a diameter
of 16 m founded at a depth of 2 m below the ground surface. The estimated distributed
load on the foundation is 325 kN/m2. Assuming that the subsoil extends to a great depth
and is isotropic and homogeneous, determine the stresses at points 7.1) z = 8 m, r = 0, 7.2)
z = 8 m, r = 8 m, 7.3) z = 16 m, r = 0 and 7.4) z = 16 m, r = 8 m, where r is the radial distance from the
central axis. Neglect the effect of the depth of the foundation on the stresses.
Problem 8 Problem Set 11
A raft foundation of the size given in
the figure below carries a uniformly
distributed load of 300 kN/m2. Estimate
the vertical pressure at a depth 9 m
below the point O marked in the
figure.
Problem 9 Problem Set 11
With reference to the figure, we are given q = 200 kN/m2, B = 6 m, and z = 3 m. Determine the
vertical stress increase at x = 9 m, 6 m, 3 m, and 0 m. Plot a graph of against x.
Problem 10 Problem Set 11
A circular tank is 45 m in diameter and the design load
includes the weight of the tank itself and the weight of
the stored oil for an approximate uniform load qs of
120 kPa. There will be the increment in stresses in the
soil deposit due to this external loading. Using the
chart for circularly loaded area, calculate and graph the
increment in vertical stress distribution on the horizontal plane at
9 m depth. Also estimate the increment in vertical stress along the
same plane using the 2V:1H method.