Problem 1: A concentrated point load Q acts vertically at the surface.

distribution along the depth for

.
Solution: Using

where values of NB are obtained, for

Determine the vertical stress

, the values of

at various arbitrarily

selected depths are shown below.

(m)

0.4
0.8
1.2
1.6
2.0
2.4
2.8
3.6
5.0
10.0

The distribution of

NB

0
0.00014
0.00337
0.01712
0.04543
0.08440
0.12775
0.17035
0.24372
0.32946
0.43287

5.0
2.5
1.67
1.25
1.0
0.83
0.71
0.56
0.40
0.2

0
0.16
0.64
1.44
2.56
4.00
5.76
7.84
12.96
25.00
100.00

with depth is shown below.

Problem 2:
For the figure shown,

. Find

at points 0, 1, and 2.

Solution:
a)

Point O,
Thus,

)=3.944 kN/m

. From table:
2

(Q/m )

6.250Q
1.563Q
0.694Q
0.391Q
0.250Q
0.174Q
0.128Q
0.0772Q
0.0400Q
0.0100Q

0.0009Q
0.0053Q
0.0119Q
0.0178Q
0.0211Q
0.0222Q
0.0217Q
0.0188Q
0.0132Q
0.0043Q

b)

Point 1:

Due to load on left:

from the table:

(

Due to load on right:

from table:
(

c)

Point 2:

Actual load plus extra load

Due to actual load plus extra load:

Extra load

from table:
due to extra load :

from table:
(

0.05325.
)

Problem 3: A circular area, r = 1.6 m induces a soil pressure at the surface of

Determine the
pressure at a depth of (a) 2 m directly under the center of the circular area, and (b) 2 m below and
2 m away from the center of the circle.
Solution:
(a)

; from table:
(

From Figure 6, for a depth ratio

total = 52 % of 100

radii and an offset distance = 0 from the centerline,

, % of

(b) At a depth = 2 m (

) and offset = 2 m (

Problem 4: A rectangular footing 2 m by 3 m carries a total load of 120 metric tons uniformly distributed.
Determine the stress 2.5 m below the footing at a point (a) under one corner, and (b) under the
center.
Solution:
(a)

Point at corner,

From table:

)
(

(b)

Point at center :
From table:

)
(

Problem 5: A rectangular loading is shown with

(c) T, (d) U.

Solution:

(a) Point R.

)
(

)(

(b) Point S.
(

) (
( )(

)
)

(c) Point T, for rectangle TGAE:

(

For square THBE,

)(

. Determine

at

for points (a) R, (b) S,

Superimposing loads:
(

)(

(d) PointU. For rectangle UHAE,

For rectangle UGBE,

For rectangle, UHDF,

For square UGCF,

(
Then,

)
(

Problem 6: A concentrated load

is situated directly over the center of an area 2m x 3m, 2.5 m below
the surface. Determine the total load on the area.
Solution: Divide the area such that the load falls over one of the corners, as shown.

From table: for

(

)
(

Problem 7: A surface load is shown in the figure. Determine the total load on the shaded area ABCD.

Solution: For the rectangle FBCE:

(

For the rectangle FADE:

(
(

)
)

Problem 8: The T-shaped foundation shown is loaded with a uniform load of

pressure at 6 m below point G.

Solution:
The scale is determined such that the distance AB
represents 6 m. Hence, the T-shaped area is
redrawn to scale with point G placed over the
center of the chart. The number of squares
encompassed as shown below is 66. Hence, the
2
total pressure at G is 0.005 x 66 x 100 kN/m .

. Determine the

Problem 9: A 120 t load is uniformly distributed on a surface area of 3 m by 2 m. Find the approximate
vertical stress at
Solution:
Using

Using

)(

)(

)(

)(