Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec.

Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Stresses in Soil Mass

Stresses in soils can be caused by
1- weight of the soil “Geostatic Stresses” (σo)
2- external applied Stresses (∆σ)

B/ External Applied Stresses

Construction of foundations causes changes in stresses (∆σ), this change
in stress –usually positive- depends on many factors like:
1- the amount of the external load per unit area
2- the depth of the foundation below the N.G.S
3- the shape of the external load (point, line, uniform)
And many other factors…
It is important to estimate the increase of stress in soil mas due to external
loads in order to calculate the settlement that occurred because of it,
moreover, it is also important to compare the total vertical stress with the
allowable capacity of the soil to avoid soil shear failure.

9-1 Vertical Stresses caused by Point Load

Boussinesq (1883), put a formula to calculate the vertical stresses induced
by an external point load (P) on the surface of a homogenous, elastic and
isotropic soil.

( )( ) ( )
⁄
[( ) ]
{ }

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

( )
⁄
[( ) ]
{ }
Where: r and z, are shown in Fig.(1)
The variation of I1 with respect to r/z are given in table (1)

Fig. (1): Stresses in an elastic medium caused by a point load

9-2 Vertical Stresses Caused by Vertical Line Load

In order to calculate the vertical stress induced by a vertical flexible line
load (q/unit length) on the surface of a semi-infinite soil mass, we can use the
below formula (see Fig. (2))

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

[( ) ]
{ }
The above formula can be re-written as the below form

[( ) ]

The variation of with respect to x/z are given in table (2)

Fig.(2): Vertical Line load over the surface of a semi-infinite soil mass

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

9-3 Vertical Stresses Caused by Horizontal Line Load

In order to calculate the vertical stress induced by a horizontal flexible line
load (q/unit length) on the surface of a semi-infinite soil mass, we can use the
below formula (see Fig. (3))

The variation of with respect to x/z are given in table (3)

Fig.(3): Horizontal Line load over the surface of a semi-infinite soil mass

9-4 Vertical Stresses Caused by Vertical Strip Load

In order to calculate the vertical stress induced by a vertical strip load
(q/unit area) on the surface of a semi-infinite soil mass, we can use the below
formula (see Fig. (4))

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Fig. (4): Vertical stress caused by a flexible strip load

( ⁄ ) ( ⁄ )
{ [ ] [ ]

[ ( ⁄ )]

[ ( ⁄ )]
}
The long formula can be re-written in the below form

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

[ ]

The variation of with respect to (2z/B) for 2x/B) are given in table (a-1)

9-5 Vertical Stresses Caused by Embankment Loading

In order to calculate the vertical stress induced by a embankment loading
(q/unit area) on the surface of a semi-infinite soil mass, we can use the below
formula (see Fig. (5))

Fig.(5): Embankment Loading

[( ) ]

Where:

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Where:
γ= unite weight of the soil of the embankment
H= height of the embankment

( ) ( )

( )

This formula can also be re-written as:

The variation of I2 with B1/z and B2/z is shown in Chart (1).

9-6 Vertical Stress Below the Center of a Uniformly Loaded

Circular Area
In order to calculate the vertical stress at the center that induced by a
circular loading (q/unit area) on the surface of a semi-infinite soil mass, we
can use the below formula (see Fig. (6))

[( ⁄ ) ]
{ }
The variation of ∆σz /q with z/R as obtained from Eq. (10.25) is given in
Table (4). A plot of this also is shown in Chart (2). The value of ∆σz
decreases rapidly with depth, and at z = 5R, it is about 6% of q, which is the
intensity of pressure at the ground surface.

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Fig.(6): Vertical stress below

the center of a uniformly
loaded flexible circular area

9-7 Vertical Stress at Any Point Below a Uniformly Loaded

Circular Area
In order to calculate the vertical stress at any point that induced by a
circular loading (q/unit area) on the surface of a semi-infinite soil mass, we
can use the below formula (see Fig. (7))

( )

where A and B are functions of z/R and r/R. (See Tables 5 and 6)
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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Fig.(7): Vertical stress at any point below

a uniformly loaded circular area

9-8 Vertical Stress Below The Corner Caused by a Rectangularly

Loaded Area
In order to calculate the vertical stress at the corner that induced by a
rectangularly loading (q/unit area) on the surface of a semi-infinite soil mass,
we can use the below formula (see Fig. (8))

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Where:
m=B/z
n=L/z
The variation of I3 with m and n is shown in Table (7) and chart (3).

Fig.(8): Vertical stress below the corner of a uniformly loaded

flexible rectangular area

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

9-9 Vertical Stress at Any point Below Caused by a Rectangularly

Loaded Area
In order to calculate the vertical stress at any point below the rectangularly
loading area (q/unit area) that induced by a it on the surface of a semi-infinite
soil mass, we can use the concept of superposition.

Fig. (9) explains the idea. In this figure, we need to calculate the (∆σz) at
a specific point A (not the corner) below the rectangular loading area, in this
case we need to divide the loading area to a four rectangles, and the point A
will be the corner for each rectangle.

Fig.(9): Increase of stress at any point below a rectangularly loaded flexible area

Then:

( )

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Where I3(1, 2, 3 and 4) are the I3 for rectangles 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively.

In most cases the vertical stress increase below the center of a rectangular
area (Figure 10) is important (why?). This stress increase can be given by the
relationship

Fig.(10): Vertical stress below the

center of a uniformly loaded flexible
rectangular area

Where I4 can be calculated from the below formula

m1=B/z
n1=2z/B

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

The variation of I4 with m1 and n1 is given in Table (8).

9-10 Stress Isobars

In Section D, we developed the relationship to estimate (∆σz) at any point
due to a vertical strip loading. Also, section I provides the relationships to
calculate (∆σz) at any point due to a vertically and uniformly loaded
rectangular area. These relationships for (∆σz) can be used to calculate the
stress increase at various grid points below the loaded area. Based on those
calculated stress increases, stress isobars can be plotted. Figures 11 and 12
show such stress isobars under uniformly loaded (vertically) strip and square
areas.

Fig. (11):Vertical
pressure isobars
under a flexible strip
load (Note: Isobars
are for line a–a as
shown on the plan)

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Fig.(12):Vertical
pressure isobars
under a uniformly
loaded square area
(Note: Isobars are for
line a–a as shown
on the plan)

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

9-11 Influence Chart for Vertical Pressure

In order to calculate the vertical stress at a point located below an irregular
loading area (q/unit area) on the surface of a semi-infinite soil mass, we need
to use influence chart, which presented by Newmark (1942). See chart (4).
The procedure for obtaining vertical pressure at any point below a loaded
area is as follows:
1. Determine the depth z below the uniformly loaded area at which the
stress increase is required.
2. Plot the plan of the loaded area with a scale of z equal to the unit length
of the chart (AB ).
3. Place the plan (plotted in step 2) on the influence chart in such a way
that the point below which the stress is to be determined is located at
the center of the chart.
4. Count the number of elements (M) of the chart enclosed by the plan of
the loaded area.
The increase in the pressure at the point under consideration is given by

Where:

IV: influence value (given in the chart)

q: value of the load

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

9-12 Method of 2:1 (Sixty-Degree method)

This method used to give an approximation values for (∆σz) under a
uniformly loaded foundation area.
In this method, it is assumed that the vertical external stress spread out
with a slope of 2:1 (60o), as shown in Fig.(13), which means that the stress
spread 1 unit length at a depth equal to 2 unit length.

B
L

q

B
Z 2
1 Z/2

B + 2*Z/2

Fig.(13): 2:1 Method (Sixty-Degree Method)

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

9-13 Vertical Stress Below a Linearly Increasing Vertical Loaded

Area
According to Fig.(14)

( )

Where: α and in radians

9-14 Vertical Stress Below a Symmetrically Distributed Triangular

Vertical Loaded Area
According to Fig.(15)

[ ]

Where:

All angles in radians.

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

2a

R2
R1 z

Fig.(14)

a a

S
q

R1
R0 R2

Fig.(15)

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Table (1): Variation of I1 for Various Values of r/z

Table (2): Variation of ∆σz/(q/z) for with x/z

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Table (3): Variation of ∆σz/(q/z) for with x/z

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Chart (1): Osterberg’s chart for determination of vertical stress due to embankment
loading

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Table (4): Variation of ∆σz/(q/z) for with z/R

Chart (2): Stress under the center of a uniformly loaded

flexible circular area 22
Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Table (5-1): Variation of A with z/R and r/R

Table (5-2): Variation of A with z/R and r/R

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Table (6-1): Variation of B with z/R and r/R

Table (6-1): Variation of B with z/R and r/R

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Table (7): Variation of I3 with m and n

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Chart (3): Variation of I3 with m and n

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Table (8): Variation of I4 with m1 and n1

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Chart (4): Influence Chart (Newmark’s Chart) 28

Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Table (a-1): Variation of (∆σz/q) with (2z/B) and (2x/B)

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Soil Mechanics Assistant Lec. Waseem Al-Baghdadi

Table (a-1)(cont.) : Variation of (∆σz/q) with (2z/B) and (2x/B)

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