L-9 Effective Stress

CE 223
Soil Mechanics
Unit-02 (Part 1) Effective stress
Dr. Manendra Singh

Groundwater conditions
 If you dig a hole into a soil mass that has all the voids filled with
water (fully saturated),you will observe water in the hole up to a
certain level. This water level is called groundwater level or
groundwater table.
 The top of the groundwater level is under atmospheric pressure and
is sometimes called the free surface.
 We will denote groundwater level by the symbol ▾ or ∇.
 The water table invariably fluctuates depending on environmental
conditions (e.g., rainfall patterns, winter rains, monsoons, drought),
human activities (e.g., pumping groundwater from wells and
drawdown during construction), and geological conditions.
Vertical total stress
Vertical subsurface stress resulting from the
soil mass
σv = γt*z
γt = total or bulk unit weight of soil,

homogeneous from ground surface to depth
z.
• The stresses induced either due to self-

weight of the soil or due to external applied
forces or due to both, at any point inside a
soil mass is resisted by the soil grains as
also by water present in the pores or void
spaces in the case of a saturated soil .
Pore Pressure
• Pore water pressure (PWP) is the pressure in the

water in the void spaces or pores which exist
between and around the mineral grains.
• As the name implies, is the pressure which exists
in the water which is present in the pores of the
soil. The soil pores are normally interconnected
and they may be visualized as being a highly
intricate and complex collection of irregular tubes.
• Soil having interconnected voids which are similar
to irregular tubes.
• Pore water pressure under no flow conditions is
given by the hydrostatic pressure.
u = γw h
Pore Pressure
• The increase in pressure due to the weight of water does not have a measurable
influence on the void ratio or any other mechanical property.
• Therefore, the pressure produced by water is also called as Neutral Pressure or Neutral
stress.
• Neutral stresses can not by themselves cause volume change or produce frictional
resistance.
Effective stress Principle
- given by Karl Terzaghi in 1936

- it is Valid only for Saturated soils
Effective stress σv΄, at a point in a soil mass is equal to the total stress σv, at that
point minus the pore water pressure uw at that location.
σv’=σv-uw
σv‫ = ׳‬γsat. z – γw . z = z(γsat – γw)

σv‫ = ׳‬γ ′. z
• Both total stress and pore water pressure u are physically meaningful parameters;
stresses that can actually be measured in the field.
• Effective stress, by definition, can be determined only by arithmetic manipulation.
• Unlike total stress and pre pressure, σv' is thus not a physical parameter.
• It is thus only a mathematical concept but obviously a useful parameter since it has
empirically been observed to be the determinant of the engineering behaviour of
soil.
Intergranular stress
For granular soils, silts, and clays of low plasticity, the magnitudes of A’ and R’ are small;
so for all practical purposes, the intergranular stress becomes
if A’-R’ is large,.Such situations can be encountered in highly plastic clays.

Intergranular stress
• In highly plastic and dispersed clays, A΄ - R' is large, such situations:
• In clay soils mineral crystals are not in direct contact since they are surrounded
by adsorbed layers of water.
• It is assumed that intergranular forces can be transmitted through the adsorbed
water
Effective Stress
• The principle of effective stress is the most
important principle in soil mechanics.
• Deformations of soils are a function of
effective stresses, not total stresses. The
principle of effective stresses applies only to
normal stresses and not to shear stresses.
• Also, it is applicable only to saturated soils.
• The effective stress is not the contact stress
between the soil solids.
• Rather, it is the average stress on a plane
through the soil mass.
• Soils cannot sustain tension. Consequently,
the effective stress cannot be less than zero.
• Porewater pressure can be positive or
negative.
Effective stress in a partially saturated soil
Partially saturated soils exist in a three phase

state.
The water in the voids is not continuous. Pore
air occupies considerable volume in the
system.
Total stress at any point = (effective stress + pore air + pore water pressure)
• According to Bishop (1960):
Ψ is the fraction of unit cross sectional area of soil occupied by water.

• For Dry soil: Ψ=0, (S =0)
• For Saturated soil: Ψ=1, (S =100%)
• For intermediate values of S, Ψ is read from chart.
• Bishop (1960) determined the nature of the variation

of ψ with S, for several soils, based on their triaxial
tests for unsaturated soil specimens
Effective stress due to surcharge
When surcharge is applied gradually
The effective stress is increased by q throughout

Effect of fluctuations of water table on effective stress
Case 1
Case 2
The effect of fluctuation of water table on the distribution of effective stress with depth
can be summarized as follows:
• For water table below ground surface, a rise of water table causes a reduction in the
effective stress and a fall in the water table produces an increase in effective stress.
• For water table above ground surface, a fluctuation in the exposed water level does
not alter the effective stress in the soil.
Let us consider some facts noted each year during monsoon through personal
observation or news paper reports:
• During monsoon the GWT is known to rise and hence effective stress reduces. so
does shear strength. When shear strength reduces below the magnitude of shear
stresses in soil slides /collapses occur.
Increase in a occurs instantaneously whereas an increase in effective stress is not
instantaneous, since particle adjustment and readjustment is not instantaneous.
Problem-01
• Determine the total, neutral and effective stress at different level
G.S. AA, BB, CC. Take unit weight of water = 10kN/m3.
Problem-02
Plot the stresses distribution with depth for:
• A) Water table is at 2m below the ground surface
• B) Water table is at the ground surface
• A) Water table is at 2m above the ground surface
Thank You

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CE 223

Dr. Manendra Singh

γt = total or bulk unit weight of soil,

• The stresses induced either due to self-

• Pore water pressure (PWP) is the pressure in the

- given by Karl Terzaghi in 1936

σv‫ = ׳‬γsat. z – γw . z = z(γsat – γw)

if A’-R’ is large,.Such situations can be encountered in highly plastic clays.

Partially saturated soils exist in a three phase

• According to Bishop (1960):

Ψ is the fraction of unit cross sectional area of soil occupied by water.

• Bishop (1960) determined the nature of the variation

When surcharge is applied gradually

The effective stress is increased by q throughout

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