STRESSES FROM ELASTIC THEORY

•The stresses within a semi-infinite, homogeneous, isotropic mass, with a linear stress–
strain relationship, due to a point load on the surface, were determined by Boussinesq in
1885
The stresses due to surface loads distributed over a particular area can be obtained by
integration from the point load solutions. The stresses at a point due to more than one
surface load are obtained by superposition. Negative values of loading can be used if the
stresses due to excavation are required or in problems in which the principle of
superposition is used. The stresses due to surface loading act in addition to the in-situ
stresses due to the self-weight of the soil.
 POINT LOAD

The stresses at X due to a point load Q on the surface

are as
follows:
• Stresses due to point load and variation of vertical stress due to point load
 Values of Ip in terms of r/z are given in Table 5.1. The left-hand side of the
figure shows the variation
of z with z on the vertical through. the right-hand side of the figure shows the
variation of z with r for three
different values of z. It should be noted that the expression for z (Equation
5.10) is independent of
elastic modulus (E ) and Poisson’s ratio (v).
 Line load
• The stresses at point X due to a line load of Q
per unit length on the surface are as follows:
• Equation can be used to
estimate the lateral pressure on an earth-
retaining structure due to a line load on the
surface of the backfill.
• In terms of the dimensions given in Figure
5.6(b) :
• However, the structure will tend to interfere with
the lateral strain due to the load Q and to obtain
the lateral pressure on a relatively rigid structure
a second load Q must be imagined at an equal
distance on the other side of the structure.
• The lateral pressure :

• The total thrust on the structure:

 Strip area carrying uniform pressure
• The stresses at point X due to a uniform pressure
q on a strip area of width B and infinite length are
given in terms of the angles α and β.

The zone lying inside the vertical stress contour of

value 0.2q is described as the bulb of pressure.
 Strip Area Carrying Linearly İncreasing Pressure

The stresses at point X due to pressure increasing linearly from zero to q on a

strip area of width B are given in terms of the angles and the lengths R1 and
R2, as defined in Figure 5.7(b).
• Circular Area Carrying Uniform Pressure
• The vertical stress at depth z under the centre of a circular area of
diameter D ¼ 2R carrying a uniform pressure q is given by
 Values of the influence factor Ic in terms of D/z are given in Figure 5.9. The
radial and circumferential stresses under the centre are equal and are given by
 Rectangular area carrying
uniform pressure
A solution has been obtained for the vertical stress at depth z under a corner
of a
rectangular area of dimensions mz and nz carrying a uniform pressure q.
The solution can be written in the form

Values of the influence factor Ir in terms of m and n are given in the chart,
due to
Fadum . The factors m and n are interchangeable. The chart
can also be used for a strip area, considered as a rectangular area of infinite
length.
Superposition enables any area based on rectangles to be dealt with and
enables the
vertical stress under any point within or outside the area to be obtained
Contours of equal vertical stress in the vicinity of a square area carrying a
uniform
pressure are plotted Influence factors for ᵟxand ᵟy (which depend on v)
are given.