SoilMechanicsI

CE 222
CE222
StressesinSoil

Stressesinsoilfromsurface&interiorloads
Itisimportanttoknowhowthesurfacestressesare
distributedwithinthesoil&theresultingdisplacements
to estimate:
toestimate:
whetherthesoilundergeosystemwouldfail,or
theresultingdisplacementsareexcessive,or
the resulting displacements are excessive or
whethernearbystructureswouldbenegativelyaffected.

Soil
Soilisconsideredasemiinfinite,homogeneous,linear,
is considered a semi infinite homogeneous linear
isotropic,elasticmaterial.
Semiinfinite
Semi infinitemassisboundedononesideandextends
mass is bounded on one side and extends
infinitelyinallotherdirections.Thisiscalledelastichalf
space.
Forsoils,horizontalsurfaceistheboundingside.

Stressesinsoilfromsurface&interiorloads
Sinceweareassumingsoilisanelasticmaterial,we
canusetheprincipleofsuperpositiontodetermine
p
p
p p
stressdistributionforcomplexloadingsby
decomposing
decomposingthecomplexloadingintosimpleloads(e.g.
the complex loading into simple loads (e.g.
rectangularorcircular)and
addingthesolutionofeachofthesesimpleloads.
g
p

Thestressincreasefromsurfaceloadsaretotalstress
increases.
increases
Ifsoilsisdryorverypermeable(e.g.cleancoarse
grainedsoils),thenwecanassumethatthestress
i d il ) th
th t th t
increaseareeffectivestressincreases.

Boussinesqformulaforpointload

Boussinesq(1883)solvedtheproblemofstressproducedbyanypointload
onfollowingassumptions.
The soil mass is elastic, isotropic, homogeneous and semiinfinite.
infinite.
Thesoilmassiselastic,isotropic,homogeneousandsemi
Thesoilmassisweightless.
Theloadisapointloadactingonthesurface.

x
r

x
y

Boussinesqformulaforpointload

3
3
x2 y2
P 3x 2 z
y 2 z
3
Pz
3
P
z
x =
+ 3 2 z =
=
5 (1 2 ) 2
5
2
2 52
(
)
2 L
Lr
L
z
L
r
+
2

L
2

r +z
h
y2 x2
P 3 y 2 z
x 2 z where
y =
+ 3 2 r = x2 + z 2
5 (1 2 ) 2
2 L
Lr (L + z ) L r
L = x2 + y2 + z 2 = r 2 + z 2

Vertical normal stress z is independent of Poissons ratio.

P
r

ratio

= poissons

Boussinesqformulaforpointload
3Pz 3 3P
z3
z =
=
5
2L
2 r 2 + z 2

52

The above relationship for z can be re-written as

P
z = 2
z

3
1
P
= 2 IB

52
2
2 (r z ) + 1 z

3
1
where I B =
2 (r z )2 + 1 5 2

Boussinesqformulaforpointload
P
z = 2
z
P

3
P
1
= 2 IB

52
2
2 (r z ) + 1 z

Westergaards formulaforpointloads
Westergaard,aBritishScientist,proposed(1938)aformulaforthe
computationofverticalstressz byapointload,P,atthesurfaceas

(1 2 ) (2 2 )
P
z =
2z 2 (1 2 ) (2 ) + (r z )2

32

P
= 2 IW
z

Ifpoissons ratio,,istakenaszero,theaboveequationsimplifiesto

z =

where

1
P
z 2 1 + 2(r z )2

IW =

32

1 + 2(r z )2

32

P
I
2 W
z

Westergaardvs Boussinesqcoefficient
IW =

1 + 2(r z )2

32

3
1
IB =
2 (r z )2 + 1 5 2

ThevalueofI
Th
l
f IW atr/z
t / =0is
0i
0.32whichislessthanthatof
IB by33%.
Geotechnicalengineersprefer
to use Boussinesqsssolution
touseBoussinesq
solution
asthisgivesconservative
results.

Pointload examples
Example1:Aconcentratedloadof1000kN isappliedatthe
groundsurface.Computetheverticalstress(i)atadepthof4m
belo the load (ii) at a distance of 3 m at the same depth Use
belowtheload,(ii)atadistanceof3matthesamedepth.Use
Boussinesqsequation.

P
P=1000KN
Z=4matx,y=0
I1 0 4775
I1=0.4775
verticalstress=????

Z=4m,r=3m

10

Verticalstresscausedbyalineload

11

Boussinesqequationisusedforcomputing
df
z atanypointPinan
elasticsemiinfinitemass.Usingthistheory,thestressesatany
p
pointinthesoilmassduetolineloadofinfiniteextentactingat
g
surfacecanbeobtained.
ThestrainatanypointPintheYdirectionparalleltolineloadis
assumedequaltozero.Thisistermedasplanestraincondition.

z =

2q

q/unit length

z3

(x 2 + z 2 )2

y
z

A
x
z

Lineload example

12

Example2:Followingfigureshowstwolineloadsandapointload
actingatthegroundsurface.Determinetheincreaseinvertical
stressatpointA,whichislocatedatadepthof1.5m.

P = 30 kN

q2 = 10 kN/m
2m

q1 = 15 kN/m
2m

3m

1.5 m

A
Overburdenpressureisnotincooperated

Verticalstresscausedbyastripload
For line load =>

z3

2q

z =

(x 2 + z 2 )2

Substitute qdr for q and (x r) for x

=>

d z =

B=2b

2(qdr
d )z 3

(x r ) + z
2

2 2

Assume line load

qdr (force/length)
x

q = Load per unit area

dr
x r
xr

z
z
A

13

Verticalstresscausedbyastripload
Applying the principal of superposition, the total stress by strip
load is

z = d z =

B 2

2qz

[(x r )

B 2

+z

2 2

dr

z
z
1
tan
tan

q
x (B 2 )
x + (B 2 )
z =

2
2
2

Bz x z B 4

x2 + z 2 B2 4 2 + B2 z 2

(
)]

)]

14

Verticalstresscausedbyastripload
In non-dimensional form

1 (2 z B )
1 (2 z B )
tan
tan

(
(
2 x B ) 1
2 x B ) + 1

z 1

2
2
=

(
)(
)
(
)
2
z
B
2
x
B

2
z

1
B
q

2
1
2
2
2

(
)
(
)
(
)
2
+
2

1
+
2
2
x
B
z
B
z
B
2

15

z/q
0
0

Verticalstresscaused
byastripload
1

Graphical
p
representation
p
of equation
2
2z/B

1 (2 z B )
3
1 (2 z B )
tan
tan (2 x B ) + 1
(
)

2
x
B
1

z 1
=
(2 z B )(2 x B )2 (2 z B )2 1
q
1 (2 x B )2 + (2 z B )2 1 2 + 2(2 z B )2 4
2

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

16

Stripload example

17

Example3
Considerthefollowingfigure.
Givenq =200kPa,B=6m,z =3m.
Determinetheverticalstressincreaseatx =9,6,3,and0m.
Plotthegraph.
g p
B=2b
q = Load per unit area
x

z
A
x
z

Verticalstressduetoembankmentloading

qo B1 + B2
B1
(1 + 2 ) ( 2 )
z =
B2
B2

1 B1 + B2
1 B1
1 (radians ) = tan
tan ,
z
z
B2

B1
2 = tan
z
1

B1
q o = H

A simplified form of
above equation is

z = qo I embank

18

B2/z

log scale

19

Verticalstressdueto
embankmentloading

Iembank

z = qo I embank
B1

B2

q o = H

B1/z

Osterbergs chart
f d
fordetermination
ofverticalstress
dueto
embankment
loading

Embankmentloading example
Example4:Anembankmentisshownbelow.Determinethe
stressincreaseundertheembankmentatpointsA1 andA2.

20

21

qo=H =(17.5)(7)=122.5kN/m2
Considerleftsideoffig.
B1 =2.5,B
2 5 B2 =14=>B
14 > B1/z=2.5/5=0.5,B
/z 2 5/5 0 5 B2/z=14/5=2.8
/z 14/5 2 8
FromfigureIembank =0.445
z =2(qoIembank)=2(122.5x0.445)=109.03kN/m2

22

Stressesunderuniformlyloadedcircularfooting
ConsiderelementaryareadA.LetdQ bethe
pointloadactingonthisareawhichisequalto
qdA.

dQ = qdA = q[(rd )(dr )]

Theverticalstressd atdepthz duetopoint

loaddQ maybeexpressedas

ddr
d
3q z 3rd
d z =
2 r 2 + z 2 5 2

Theintegralformoftheequationforentire
The
integral form of the equation for entire
circularareamaybewrittenas

z =

= 2 r = Ro

=0

3qz 3
r =0d z = 2

= 2 r = Ro

(r

=0 r =0

rddr
2

+ z2

52

Onintegrationwehave

1
z = q 1
2
(
)
R
z
+1
o

32

23

Stressesunderuniformlyloadedcircularfooting

24

Circularloadedarea example
Example5
Awatertankisrequiredtobeconstructedwithacircular
foundationhavingadiameterof16mfoundedatadepthof2m
belowthegroundsurface.Theestimateddistributedloadonthe
foundation is 325 kPa. Assuming that the subsoil extends to a
foundationis325kPa.Assumingthatthesubsoilextendstoa
greatdepthandisisotropicandhomogeneous.Determinethe
stressz atpoints(i)z =8m,r =0(ii)z =8m,r =8,(iii)z =16m,r
=0,and(iv)z
0 and (iv) z =16m,r
16 m r =8,wherer
8 where r istheradialdistancefromthe
is the radial distance from the
centralaxis.Neglecttheeffectofthedepthofthefoundationon
thestresses.

25

Stressescausedbyrectangularloadedarea
Considerasmallareadxdy.thepressureactingonthisareacanbereplacedby
aconcentratedloaddQ actingatitscenter.Hence

dQ = qdA = qdxdy
Theincreaseinstressdz duetodQ
canbewrittenas

d z =

3qdxdyz 3

2 r 2 + z 2

52

TheincreaseinstressatpointA duetoentire
loadedrectangularareacanbedetermined
by integrating above eq.
byintegratingaboveeq.

z = d z =

dy
dx

y =0 x =0

3qz 3

2 r + z
2

2 52

dxdyy = q
qI rec
z

26

Stressescausedbyrectangularloadedarea
z = d z =

y =0 x =0

3qz 3

2 r 2 + z

2 52

dxdyy = qqI rec

2mn m 2 + n 2 + 1 m 2 + n 2 + 2
2

2
2
2 2
2
1 m + n + m n + 1 m + n + 1
I rec =

2
2

1 2 mn m + n + 1
+
tan

m2 + n2 m2n2 + 1

B
L
m= , n=
z
z

27

28

Stressescausedby
rectangularloadedarea

B
L
m= , n=
z
z
Logscale

Rectangularloadedarea differentcases
B

CaseI

CaseII
LoadonABCD=
4 x Load on EBFG
4xLoadonEBFG

F
C

CaseIII
LoadonABCD=Loadon
EBFI+IFCG+IGDH+AEIH

29

Rectangularloadedarea differentcases
A

CaseIV
LoadonABCD=2xLoadonABEF

CaseV
LoadonABCD=2xLoadonEBCF
E

CaseVI
L d ABCD L d
LoadonABCD=Loadon
AEGI BEGH DFGI+CFGH
D
I

C
H

30

Rectangularloadedarea example
Example6
A20x30ftrectangularfootingcarryingauniform loadof6000
lb/ft2isappliedtothegroundsurface.
Required
Theverticalstressincrementduetothisuniformloadatadepth
of20ftbelowthecenterofloadedarea
A

20ft

D
30ft

31

Newmarks influencechart

32

Stressunderuniformlyloadedcircularareais

1
z = q 1
32
2
(R z ) + 1
Rearrangingtheaboveequation,weget

z
R
= 1
z
q

2 3

UsingvaluesofR/zfor
variouspressureratios,
Newmark (1942) presented
Newmark(1942)presented
aninfluencechartthatcan
beusedtodetermine
vertical stress at any point
verticalstressatanypoint
belowauniformlyloaded
flexibleareaofanyshape.

Influencevalue=0.005

Newmarks influencechart

33

z/q=0.9, R = 1.9084
z/q=0.8, R = 1.3871
z/q
/q=0
0.8,
8 R = 1.3871
1 3871
N element in the chart
IInfluence
fl
value
l = 1/N
= 1/200 = 0.005

z = (I N )qM
IN = influence value of chart
q = pressure on loaded area
M = number of elements of
chart enclosed by plan of loaded
area

AB = z (depth below loaded area

at which stress is required)
Influencevalue=0.005

Newmarks chart example

Example7
Araftfoundationofthesizegivenbelowcarriesauniformly
distributedloadof300kN/m2.Estimatetheverticalpressureata
depthof9mbelowpointOmarkedinthefigure.

34

Newmarks chart example

z = (I N )qM
IN =influencevalueofchart=0.005
q =pressureonloadedarea=300kPa
M =numberofelementsofchart
enclosed by plan of loaded area 62
enclosedbyplanofloadedarea=62
z =0.005x300x62=93kN/m2.

35

Pressureisobars

36

Anisobarisalinewhichconnectsallpointsofequalstressbelow
thegroundsurface.Inotherwords,anisobarisastresscontour.
Eachisobarrepresentsafractionoftheloadappliedatthe
surface.
Sinceisobarsformclosedfiguresresemblingtheformofabulb,
theyaretermedaspressurebulb.
Isobarscanbedrawnforvertical,
horizontal&shearstresses.
Verticalpressureisobarsare
important as these are used in
importantastheseareusedin
calculationoffootingsettlement.

Pressureisobars
PressureisobarsbasedonBoussinesqequation
foruniformlyloadedcircularfootings

37

Pressureisobars square&cont.footing
UsingWestergaardequation

UsingBoussinesqequation

38

Pressureisobars

39

Thedepthofstressedzoneresponsibleforsettlementistermedas
significantdepthDs.Forallpracticalpurposesonecantakeastresscontour
whichrepresents20%offoundationcontactpressureq or0.2q (Terzaghi).
Significantdepthofstressed
zoneforsinglefooting

Pressurebulbgivestheidea
about the depth of soil affected
aboutthedepthofsoilaffected
byfoundation.

Effectofcloselyplacedfootings

Pressureisobars

40

Boreholesinasiteinvestigationshouldbetakendowntoadepthat
least1.5to2timesthewidthoftheproposedfoundationoruntil
rock is encountered whichever is the lesser
rockisencountered,whicheveristhelesser.
c/cdistance<5b
Smallfoundationswillact
togetherasonelarge
g
g
foundationunlessthe
foundationsareatagreater
distance apart (c/c) than five
distanceapart(c/c)thanfive
timetheirwidth.
Boreholesforabuildingsite
investigationshouldbetaken
toadepthofapprox.1.5
p
pp
timesthewidthofproposed
building.

Pressurebulb Importance

41

Resultsofplateloadtestcanbemisleadingiftheproposed
foundationismuchlarger.
Thesoftlayerofsoilinthefollowingdiagramisunaffectedbythe
plateloadingtestbutwouldbeconsiderablystressedbyfoundation.