Stress Increase in A Semi-Infinite Soil Mass Caused by External Loading

STRESS INCREASE IN A SEMI-INFINITE SOIL MASS CAUSED BY EXTERNAL LOADING 101
surface. The capillary rise in the silt layer is 1.5 m. Assume that the silt layer has
a degree of saturation S = 60% in the zone of capillary rise.
SOLUTION: To calculate the in situ stresses, we need to estimate the unit weight
of each soil layer. The dry unit weight of the top silt layer is
Gs γw (2.7)(9.81)
γd = = = 16.55 kN/m3
1+e 1 + 0.6
The moist unit weight of the silt in the zone of capillary rise is
(Gs + Se)γw [2.7 + (0.6)(0.6)](9.81)

γ= = = 18.8 kN/m3
1+e 1 + 0.6
The saturated unit weight of the silt layer below the water table is
(Gs + e)γw (2.7 + 0.6)(9.81)

γsat = = = 20.2 kN/m3
1+e 1 + 0.6
The saturated unit weight of the clay layer is
(Gs + e)γw (2.69 + 0.807)(9.81)

γsat = = = 18.98 kN/m3
1+e 1 + 0.807
Table 3.1 is a detailed calculation of the stresses at points A, B, C, D, and E (at

z = 0, 1, 2.5, 3.5, and 6.5 m, respectively). The profiles calculated are shown in
Figure 3.11b.
TABLE 3.1
Point Z (m) σ (kPa) u, kPa σ (kPa)
A 0 0 0 0
Babove 0.999 (1)(16.55) = 16.55 0 16.55 − 0 = 16.55
Bbelow 1.001 (1)(16.55) = 16.55 (−0.6)(1.5)(9.81) = −8.8 16.55 − (−8.8) = 25.35
C 2.5 16.55+(1.5)(18.8) = 44.75 0 44.75 − 0 = 44.75
D 3.5 44.75+(1)(20.2) = 64.95 (1)(9.81) = 9.81 64.96 − 9.81 = 55.14
E 6.5 64.95+(3)(18.98) = 121.89 (4)(9.81) = 39.24 121.89 − 39.24 = 82.65
3.3 STRESS INCREASE IN A SEMI-INFINITE SOIL MASS CAUSED BY

EXTERNAL LOADING
The stress increase within a soil mass caused by various types of external loading
can be calculated based on the theory of elasticity. This stress increase is in excess
of the in situ stress and has to be calculated separately. Solutions for various types
of loading are presented next.
102 STRESSES IN SOIL
P (kN)
X
z
∆σz y
Y
x (x,y,z)
FIGURE 3.12 Vertical stresses caused by a point load.
3.3.1 Stresses Caused by a Point Load (Boussinesq Solution)
A point load is a concentrated load that can be applied at the surface of a semi-
infinite soil mass as indicated in Figure 3.12. Boussinesq (1883) presented solutions
for stresses within a semi-infinite soil mass subjected to a vertical point load applied
at the surface. A semi-infinite soil mass is defined as an infinitely thick layer (in
the z-direction) that is bounded by a horizontal plane at the top (x –y plane in
Figure 3.12). A Boussinesq solution for a point load assumes that the soil mass
is semi-infinite, homogeneous, linearly elastic, and isotropic. For the case of a
vertical point load P applied at the origin of the coordinate system (Figure 3.12),
the vertical stress increase at any point (x,y,z) within the semi-infinite soil mass is
given by
3P z3
σz = (3.9)
2π (x 2 + y 2 + z2 )5/2
where P is the intensity of the point load given in force units and x, y, and z are
the coordinates of the point at which the increase of vertical stress is calculated.
Example 3.4 A vertical point load of 10 kN is applied at the surface of a semi-

infinite soil mass. (a) Regarding the point of load application as the origin of the
Cartesian coordinate system, calculate the increase of vertical stress directly under
the applied load (i.e., at x = 0 and y = 0) for z = 0 to 1 m. Also calculate the
increase in vertical stresses at x = 0.1 m, y = 0 m, for z = 0 to 1 m. (b) Repeat
your solution using the finite element method and assuming that the soil is linear
elastic with E = 1 × 107 kPa and ν = 0.3.
STRESS INCREASE IN A SEMI-INFINITE SOIL MASS CAUSED BY EXTERNAL LOADING 103
SOLUTION: (a) Boussinesq solution To calculate the increase in vertical stress

directly under the applied load for z = 0 to 1 m, we substitute x = 0 and y = 0
into (3.9):
3P 1
σz =
2π z2
Using this equation, we can calculate the increase in vertical stress as a function
of z. The equation is plotted in Figure 3.13. According to this equation, σz is
linearly proportional to the intensity of the point load and inversely proportional
to z2 . This means that σz is very large near the point of load application but
decreases very rapidly with depth as shown in Figure 3.13.
To calculate the increase in vertical stresses at x = 0.1 m, y = 0 m, for z = 0 to
1 m, we substitute these values in (3.9). The resulting increase in vertical stress is
plotted as a function of depth in Figure 3.13. Note that near the surface the increase
in vertical stress at x = 0.1 m and y = 0 m is much smaller than that immediately
under the applied load (i.e., x = 0 m, y = 0 m). But at greater depths (z > 0.4 m)
the increase in vertical stress is nearly identical at both locations.
(b) Finite element solution (filename: Chapter3 Example4.cae) For simplicity,
the semi-infinite soil mass is assumed to be a cylinder 2 m in diameter and 2 m
in height, as shown in Figure 3.14. The reason of using a cylindrical shape in this
simulation is to take advantage of axisymmetry, in which we can utilize axisym-
metric two-dimensional analysis instead of three-dimensional analysis. The load is
applied to the top surface at the center as shown in the figure. The purpose of the
analysis is to calculate the increase in vertical stress within the soil mass due to the
application of the point load, and to compare with Boussinesq analytical solution.
0.0
0.1
0.2
FEM, x = 0 m, y = 0 m
0.3
Boussinesq, x = 0 m, y = 0 m
0.4
Depth (m)
FEM, x = 0.1 m, y = 0 m
0.5
Boussinesq, x = 0.1 m, y = 0 m
0.6
P (kN)
0.7 X
0.8
Y
0.9
Z
1.0
0 100 200 300 400 500
Vertical Stress (kPa)
FIGURE 3.13 FEM versus Boussinesq solution of vertical stresses caused by a point load.
104 STRESSES IN SOIL
P = 10 kN
Axis of Symmetry 2m
1m
FIGURE 3.14 Axisymmetric finite element mesh of the point load problem.
The two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element mesh used has 20 elements

in the x-direction and 40 elements in the z-direction, as shown in Figure 3.14. The
finite element mesh is made finer in the zone around the point load where stress
concentration is expected. The element chosen is a four-node bilinear axisymmetric
quadrilateral element. The soil is assumed to be linear elastic with E = 1 × 107 kPa
and ν = 0.3. The increase in vertical stress is plotted as a function of depth as shown
in Figure 3.13 for x = 0 m, y = 0 m and x = 0.1 m, y = 0 m. The figure shows
excellent agreement between the stresses calculated using the Boussinesq and finite
element solutions.
3.3.2 Stresses Caused by a Line Load
A line load can be thought of as a point load that is applied repeatedly, in a

uniform manner, along the y-axis as illustrated in Figure 3.15. The line load is
applied infinitely along the y-axis. The units of a line load are given as force per

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STRESS INCREASE IN A SEMI-INFINITE SOIL MASS CAUSED BY EXTERNAL LOADING 101

(Gs + Se)γw [2.7 + (0.6)(0.6)](9.81)

(Gs + e)γw (2.7 + 0.6)(9.81)

The saturated unit weight of the clay layer is

(Gs + e)γw (2.69 + 0.807)(9.81)

Table 3.1 is a detailed calculation of the stresses at points A, B, C, D, and E (at

3.3 STRESS INCREASE IN A SEMI-INFINITE SOIL MASS CAUSED BY

FIGURE 3.12 Vertical stresses caused by a point load.

3.3.1 Stresses Caused by a Point Load (Boussinesq Solution)

Example 3.4 A vertical point load of 10 kN is applied at the surface of a semi-

SOLUTION: (a) Boussinesq solution To calculate the increase in vertical stress

The two-dimensional axisymmetric ﬁnite element mesh used has 20 elements

3.3.2 Stresses Caused by a Line Load

A line load can be thought of as a point load that is applied repeatedly, in a

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