Supplemental Notes - Stress Calculations

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Geostatic Stress Calculations

Analysis and design problems in soil and/or structural mechanics generally include a
comparison of the actual stress at a point with the strength at that point. Hence,
civil/environmental engineers should have the ability to compute the state of stress at
any general point within a soil profile.
In general, the stress at a particular depth in a soil profile is the sum of (1) the stress
produced by the soil mass above that point (i.e. overburden), and (2) the cumulative
stress transmitted by all nearby foundation elements. In CE 381, we deal with stresses
produced by the soil overburden. In CE 481, we discuss methods for computing
stresses associated with loaded surface and/or subsurface foundation elements.
In general, soil is a three-phase medium, consisting of solids, fluids, and gasses. Any
stress applied to a soil element will be borne in part by the solid fraction, in part by the
fluid fraction, and in part by the gas fraction. However, due to the relatively high
compressibility of gas, the stress supported by this phase is insignificant and may be
ignored. Therefore, the expression for stress within a soil mass becomes:

= + u

where:
= the gross or total stress
= the intergranular or effective stress (the stress that is borne by
the solids)
u = the pore fluid or neutral stress (the stress that is borne by
the fluids in the voids)
This equation is known as the Effective Stress Equation. It is arguably the most
important single relation in all of geotechnical engineering. Its introduction by Karl
Terzaghi, the father of soil mechanics, in 1924 marks the beginning of modern
geotechnical engineering.

Supplemental Notes - Stress Calculations

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In geotechnical practice, the interface between a foundation element and the adjacent
supported or supporting soil may be vertical (for retaining walls, drilled cast-in-place
shafts, and driven pre-cast piles), horizontal (for footings and slabs), or anywhere inbetween (for battered foundation elements and inclined reinforcement materials).
Hence, engineers should have the ability to compute both vertical and horizontal
stresses. Fortunately, Terzaghis equation holds for any direction:

v = v + u

h = h + u

where:
v
h
v
h
u

=
=
=
=
=

the vertical total stress

the horizontal total stress
the vertical effective stress
the horizontal effective stress
the pore water stress

Computation of the complete state of stress requires a knowledge of: (1) the moist (or
total) density (or unit weight ), internal friction angle , and thickness h of each
material layer above the point under consideration; (2) the location of the groundwater
table (GWT); (3) the height of capillary rise hc; and (4) the state of lateral strain at the
point under consideration.
Overburden Stress Computations
1.

Compute the total unit weight and governing lateral earth pressure coefficient K
(Ka, Ko, or Kp) for each layer.

2.

Construct a sketch of the profile that shows layer thicknesses, total unit weights,
the location(s) of the groundwater table(s), and zone(s) of capillary saturation.

3.

Avoid the most common errors:

a.

v = i hi = 1h1 + 2h2 + . . . + nhn. Hence, when computing v, the

analyst must always account for all materials above the point under
consideration (including soil, standing water, foundation elements and
superstructures, etc.)

b.

The earth pressure coefficient K used in geotechnical analyses is roughly

analogous to the Poissons ratio used in structural analyses. In general, K
changes whenever the material (-value) changes. Hence, when
establishing the variation in lateral stress as a function of depth [h(z) or
h(z)], the analyst must generally examine points directly above and
directly below each layer interface.