CHAPTER 10

STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

Omitted Section 10.2 , 10.3 , 10.15 , 10.16
TYPES OF STRESSES IN SOIL
TYPES OF STRESSES IN SOIL
 INTRODUCTION

 At a point within a soil mass, stress will be developed as a result

of:

The soil laying above the point (overburden)

by a any structural or other loading imposed on that soil

mass.

 In the preceding chapter we have discussed the stresses

originated from weight of the soil itself. These stresses are
called BODY STRESSES or GEOSTATIC STRESSES, or
OVERBURDEN.
 INTRODUCTION

 Common examples of the external loads are as follows:

Uniform strip loads such as the load on along wall

footing of sufficient width.

Uniformly loaded square, rectangular or circular

footings such as column footings of buildings, pier
footings, footings for water tanks, mats, etc

Triangular and or trapezoidal strip loads such as the

loads of long earth embankments.
 INTRODUCTION

 Both body stresses and induced stresses must be taken into

consideration in solving certain problems.

 The focus of this chapter is on the discussion of the principles

of estimation of vertical stress increase in soil due to various
types of loading, based on the THEORY OF ELASTICITY.

 We actually know that the soil is not elastic, however we use

elasticity theory on the absence of better alternative. Estimation
of induced vertical stress based on the assumption of elasticity
yields fairly good results for practical work.
 Stresses from Approximate Methods

2:1 Method
 In this method it is assumed that the STRESSED AREA is larger
than the corresponding dimension of the loaded area by an
amount equal to the depth of the subsurface area.
P
 Therefore, if a load is applied on a
rectangular with dimension B and L, the
stress on the soil at depth z is considered B
to be uniformly distributed on an area with 2 z
dimension (B+z) and (L+z). 1

B+z

 This is called 2:1 method because the stressed area increases at

a slope of 1 horizontally for each 2 of depth as measured from
the depth of foundation.
Stresses from Approximate Methods

P
z 
( B  z )( L  z )
 Stresses from Approximate Methods

 If the load at the surface is given to be distributed, it is first

converted to point load by multiplying by the area (B x L) as
demonstrated in the figure below.
 Stresses From Theory of Elasticity

 There are a number of solutions which are based on the theory

of elasticity. Most of them assume the following assumptions:

The soil is homogeneous

The soil is isotropic
The soil is perfectly elastic infinite or semi-finite medium

 The derivations of the equations for various common loadings

are tedious.

 We will concentrate only on formula, tables and charts for some

of the loadings most commonly encountered in practice.

 Tens of solutions for different problems are now available in the

literature. It is enough to say that a whole book (Poulos and
Davis) is now available for the elastic solutions of various
problems.
 Stresses From Theory of Elasticity

The book contains a comprehensive collection of graphs, tables and

explicit solutions of problems in elasticity relevant to soil and rock
mechanics.
 Stresses From Theory of Elasticity

 The available solution depends on the following conditions:

1. Types of the applied load 4. Type of soil
Point Cohesive
Distributed Cohesionless
2. Shape of the loaded area 5. Location of Load
Rectangular At the surface
Square At a certain depth
Circular
etc.
3. Extension of the Medium 6. Stiffness of Loaded Area
Half-space Flexible
Finite Rigid
layered
 We can see that a lot of combinations can be made from the above
conditions. Next we will consider some of these solutions which
are well-known and has been accepted and extensively used.
 Stresses From Theory of Elasticity

Determination of vertical stress increase at a certain depth due to

the application of load on the surface. The loading type includes:

 Point load
 Line load
 Uniformly distributed vertical strip load
 Linearly increasing vertical loading on a strip
 Embankment type of loading
 Uniformly loaded circular area
 Uniformly loaded rectangular area
Vertical Stresses Caused by a Point Load

 The most important original solution was given by BOUSSINESQ

(1885) for the distribution of stress within a linear elastic half
space resulting from a point load normal to the surface as
shown
Vertical Stresses Caused by a Point Load
EXAMPLE 10.3
EXAMPLE 10.4
Vertical Stresses Caused by a Vertical Line Load

The value of Dz is the additional stress on soil caused by the line load.
The value of Dz does not include the overburden pressure of the soil
above point A.
EXAMPLE 10.5

Solve using Table 10.2

Vertical Stresses Caused by a Horizontal Line Load
EXAMPLE 10.6

Solve by Equations
 Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Strip Load
(Finite width and infinite length)

Such conditions are found for structures extended very much in

one direction, such as strip and wall foundations, foundations of
retaining walls, embankments, dams and the like.
Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Strip Load
(Finite width and infinite length)
Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Strip Load
(Finite width and infinite length)
Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Strip Load
(Finite width and infinite length)
Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Strip Load
(Finite width and infinite length)
EXAMPLE 10.7
EXAMPLE 10.7
Vertical Stress Caused by a Horizontal Strip Load
EXAMPLE 10.8
EXAMPLE 10.9
EXAMPLE 10.9
Linearly Increasing Vertical Loading on an Infinite Strip
EXAMPLE 10.10
EXAMPLE 10.10
Vertical Stress Due to Embankment Loading
 Vertical Stress Due to Embankment Loading

A simplified form

B1/z

B2/z
EXAMPLE 10.11
EXAMPLE 10.11
EXAMPLE 10.11
 Vertical Stress Below the Center
of a Uniformly Loaded Circular Area

Using Boussinesq’s solution for vertical stress z

caused by a point load one also can develop an
expression for the vertical stress below the
center of a uniformly loaded flexible circular area.
Vertical Stress at Any Point below a Uniformly
Loaded Circular Area
Vertical Stress at Any Point below a Uniformly
Loaded Circular Area
Vertical Stress at Any Point below a Uniformly
Loaded Circular Area
Vertical Stress at Any Point below a Uniformly
Loaded Circular Area
Vertical Stress at Any Point below a Uniformly
Loaded Circular Area
EXAMPLE 10.12
 EXAMPLE

Circular tank, 25 m diameter with bearing pressure P = 122 kPa.

Find stress induced by the tank 10 m below the edge.

R = 12. 5 m
r = 12.5 m
z = 10 m A’ = 0.213
r/R = 1 B’ = 0.153
z/R = 0.8

Dz = (0.213+0.153) x 122 = 44.65 kPa

 Vertical Stress Caused by a Rectangularly
Loaded Area

 Recall Boussinesq’s solution for point load:

 Boussinesq’s solution also can be used

to calculate the vertical stress increase
below a flexible rectangular loaded area
 Consider a small elemental area dx dy of
the rectangle
 The load on this elemental area can be
given by

 we need to replace P with dq = q dx dy and r2 with x2+ y2. Thus,

 Vertical Stress Caused by a Rectangularly
Loaded Area

Corner of the rectangular area

 The increase in the stress, at point A caused by the entire loaded
area can now be determined by integrating the preceding equation.
We obtain

Eq. 10.32
Vertical Stress Caused by a Rectangularly
Loaded Area
 Vertical Stress Caused by a Rectangularly
Loaded Area

Corner of the rectangular area

Value of n

Value of m
 Vertical Stress Caused by a Rectangularly
Loaded Area

The increase in the stress at any point below a rectangularly

loaded area

B A/

L
EXAMPLE 10.13
EXAMPLE 10.13
 EXAMPLE

Determine the increase in stress at point A and A/ below the footing shown
below.

Solution
 Vertical Stress Caused by a Rectangularly
Loaded Area

Vertical stress increase below the center of a rectangular area

 EXAMPLE

Determine the increase in stress at point A and A/ below the footing shown
below.
Solution by below the center of a rectangular area
𝐿 3 𝐵 3
𝑚1 = = = 1 𝑏 = = = 1.5
𝐵 3 2 2
Point A
𝑧 3
𝑛1 = = =2
𝑏 1.5
For m1 = 1 and n1= 2 I4 = 0.336 (Table 10.11)
Dz=0.336 x 100 = 33.6 kPa

Point A/
𝑧 5
𝑛1 = = = 3.33
𝑏 1.5
For m1 = 1 and n1= 3.33 I4 = 0.155 (Table 10.11)

Dz=0.155 x 100 = 15.5 kPa Interpolate from the table

 EXAMPLE

For the flexible footing shown below, determine the increase in the vertical
stress at depth of z = 5 below point C for the uniformly distributed surface
load q.
Solution
 Some Possible Cases

Loaded area: ABCD

Case I Case II
A B A B
I3(1) I3(3) I3(1)
 
I3(4) I3(2)
D C D C

I3=4I3(1) I3=I3(1)+I3(2)+I3(3)+I3(4)
 Some Possible Cases

Loaded area: ABCD

Case IV
Case III A B E
A B E

D K
C
D C F
I3=I3(AEFD)- I3(BEFC)
H G
 F

I3=I3(HAEF) - I3(GBEF) –I3(HDKF)+I3(GCKF)

 Newmark’s Influence Chart

 Newmark (1942) constructed an influence chart based on the

Boussinesq’s solution.
 This chart can be used to determine the vertical stress at any point
below uniformly loaded flexible area of any shape.
 Using the value of (R/z) obtained from Eq. (*) for various pressure ratios
(i.e Dz/q), Newmark (1942) presented an influence chart that can be
used to determine the vertical pressure at any point below a uniformly
loaded flexible area of any shape. 2

 D z  3 (*)
R
z  1   1
 q 
 Newmark’s Influence Chart

 The radii of the circles are equal to

(R/z) values corresponding to

D z q  0,0.1,0.2,......1
Note:
For Dz/q = 0, R/z = 0, and for z/q = 1, R/z =,
so nine circles are shown

 The unit length for plotting the circle is

AB
 The circles are divided by equally
spaced radial lines
 Newmark’s Influence Chart

 The influence value of the chart is given by 1/N, where N is

equal to the number of elements in the chart.

 In the shown chart, there are 200

elements; hence the influence
value is 0.005.

 The area of each segment

represents an equal proportion of
the applied surface stress at a
depth z below the surface.
Procedures for Using the Chart
EXAMPLE 10.14
 EXAMPLE 10.13

Side View

3 m  25 mm

Top View


660 
Dz  (IV) q M  0.005 
 48.5  17.78kN / m
2

3x3 

 EXAMPLE

A rectangular footing is 3 m X 5 m and transmits a uniform load of 100

kPa into the soil mass. Compute the incremental vertical pressures at:

 Point A which is directly below the center

of the footing

 Point B Below the corner of the footing

 Point C which is along the longest

axis of the footing offset by 1.5 m
from the nearest edge.

All points are 2.5 m deep relative to the footing base.

EXAMPLE
 EXAMPLE

A raft foundation of the size given below carries a uniformly distributed load
of 300 kN/m3. Estimate the vertical pressure at a depth 9 m below point O
marked in the figure.
 EXAMPLE

Approach 1: Superposition
EXAMPLE
 EXAMPLE

Loaded area is ACDLGH

B
Area A C
m n I3
KABO 1.33 1 0.197
L M D
BCEO 1 0.66 0.145
K
FHKO 1.33 0.83 0.175 E
N
MDEO 0.67 0.33 0.075
FGNO 0.83 0.33 0.085
NLMO H G F
0.33 0.33 0.045

I =0.197 + .145 + .175 - .075 - .085 - .046 = 0.312

D  0.312  300  93.6 kN/m 2

 EXAMPLE

Approach 2: Using Newmark’s chart

• The Depth at which D required is 9 m
• From the Fig. across, the scale of the
foundation plan is AB = 3 cm = 9 m or
1 cm = 3 m.
• Plot the loaded area at this scale.
• Superimpose the plan on the chart with
point O coinciding with the center of the
chart.
• Number of loaded blocks occupied by the
plan, M = 62 O
• The vertical stress is given by:

D  ( IV )  M  q
D  0.005  62  300  93 kN/m2
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE

z= 2 m
 EXAMPLE

z= 5 m
THE END