Geotechnical & Foundation

Engineering
CE-209
Stresses in Soil

1
 Insitu/geostatic stress 2

• Geostatic stresses are caused by gravity acting on the

soil or rock, so the direction result is a vertical
normal stress sz.
• This stress has a significant impact on the
engineering behavior of soil, and is one is needed to
be computed.
• This vertical stress indirectly produces horizontal
normal stress and shear stresses, which are
important to geotechnical engineer.
 Insitu/geostatic stress 3

Vertical stresses
Ground surface
Consider a column of soil that extends
Area = A
from ground surface down to a point
where we wish to compute sz. Its
H1
weight is 1st stratum
g=g1
W  g 1 H1dxdy  g 2 H 2 dxdy  g 3 H 3 dxdy
H2
2nd stratum
W  dxdy  gH g=g2

The geostatic stress, sz at bottom of H3

column is 3rd stratum
g=g3
W dxdy  gH
sz     gH
A dxdy dy dx
 Insitu/geostatic stress 4

Ground surface
Area = A

The total vertical stress at any H1

1st stratum
point in the soil mass is due g=g1
solely to the weight of soil
H2
and water above it. 2nd stratum
g=g2

H3
3rd stratum
g=g3

dy dx
 5
Stresses in soil from surface & interior loads
• It is important to know how the surface stresses are
distributed within the soil & the resulting displacements
to estimate:
– whether the soil under geosystem would fail, or
– the resulting displacements are excessive, or
– whether nearby structures would be negatively affected.
• Soil is considered a semi-infinite, homogeneous, linear,
isotropic, elastic material.
• Semi-infinite mass is bounded on one side and extends
infinitely in all other directions. This is called elastic half
space.
• For soils, horizontal surface is the bounding side.
 6
Stresses in soil from surface & interior loads
• Since we are assuming soil is an elastic material, we
can use the principle of superposition to determine
stress distribution for complex loadings by
– decomposing the complex loading into simple loads (e.g.
rectangular or circular) and
– adding the solution of each of these simple loads.
 Induced Stresses 7

• Civil Engineering projects often introduce external

loads onto the ground, thus producing induced
stresses.
• These loads includes structural foundations, vehicles,
tanks, stockpiles and many others.

• The resulting induced stresses are often significant

and can be source of excessive settlement, shear
failure or other problems
 Boussinesq formula for point load 8

Boussinesq (1883) solved the problem of stress produced by any point load
on following assumptions.
• The soil mass is elastic, isotropic, homogeneous and semi-infinite.
• The soil mass is weightless.
• The load is a point load acting on the surface.
P P
x
r y
x
y
L Dsz z L

Dsx
z Dsy
 Boussinesq formula for point load 9

P  3x 2 z  x2  y2 y 2 z  3 3
 5  1  2   2
Ds x   3 2   Ds z 
3 Pz 3 P z

2  L  Lr  L  z  L r  2L 5
2 
r z
2

2 52

P 3 y 2 z  y2  x2 x 2 z   where
Ds y   5  1  2   2  3 2  r  x2  z 2
2  L  Lr L  z  L r  
L  x2  y2  z 2  r 2  z 2
Vertical normal stress Dsz is independent of Poisson’s ratio.
P
r y
x  = poisson’s
x ratio
y
L Dsz z

Dsx
z Dsy
 Boussinesq formula for point load 10

3Pz 3 3P z3
Ds z  
2L5

2 r 2  z 2  52

The above relationship for Dsz can be re-written as

P  3 1  P
Ds z  2    2 IB
z  
 2 r z 2  1  z
5 2 P

3 1
where I B 

2 r z 2  1 5 2
Boussinesq formula for point load 11

P 
3 1 
 P
Ds z  2  52
 2 IB
z   2

 2 r z   1  z
P P
 Westergaard’s formula for point loads 12

Westergaard, a British Scientist, proposed (1938) a formula for the

computation of vertical stress sz by a point load, P, at the surface as

P 1  2  2  2  P
Ds z   2 IW

2z 2 1  2   2     r z 2  32
z

If poisson’s ratio, , is taken as zero, the above equation simplifies to

P 1 P
Ds z  2  2 IW

z 1  2r z 2  32
z

1 1
IW 
 
where
 1  2r z 2 32
 Westergaard vs Boussinesq coefficient 13

1 1
IW 

 1  2r z 2  32

3 1
IB 

2 r z 2  1 5 2 
The value of IW at r/z = 0 is
0.32 which is less than that of
IB by 33%.

Geotechnical engineers prefer

to use Boussinesq’s solution
as this gives conservative
results.
 Point load – examples 14

Example 1: A concentrated load of 1000 kN is applied at the

ground surface. Compute the vertical stress (i) at a depth of 4m
below the load, (ii) at a distance of 3 m at the same depth. Use
Boussinesq’s equation.

P
 Vertical stress caused by a line load 15

Boussinesq equation is used for computing sz at any point P in an

elastic semi-infinite mass. Using this theory, the stresses at any
point in the soil mass due to line load of infinite extent acting at
surface can be obtained.
The strain at any point P in the Y-direction parallel to line load is
assumed equal to zero. This is termed as plane-strain condition.

q/unit length x
2q z3
Ds z 
 x 2  z 2 2 y
Dsz
z
A
x
z
 Line load - example 16

Example 2: Following figure shows two line loads and a point load
acting at the ground surface. Determine the increase in vertical
stress at point A, which is located at a depth of 1.5 m.

P = 30 kN q2 = 10 kN/m q1 = 15 kN/m

2m 2m

3m
Dsz 1.5 m

A
 Vertical stress caused by a strip load 17

2q z3
Ds z 
 x 2  z 2 2
For line load =>

2qdr z 3
Substitute qdr for q and (x – r) for x ds z 
 
=>
 x  r   z
2 2 2

B=2b Assume line load

q = Load per unit area
qdr (force/length)
x
dr
r x–r Dsz
z

z
 Vertical stress caused by a strip load 18

Applying the principal of superposition, the total stress by strip

load is
B2 3
2qz
s z   ds z    x  r  
dr
2 2
z
2
B 2

 1  z  1  z 
tan    tan   
q  x  B 2    x  B 2   
sz   


2 2

Bz x  z  B 4 2
  
 
 x2  z 2  B2 4 2  B2 z 2
  

 Vertical stress caused by a strip load 19

In non-dimensional form

 1  2 z B   1  2 z B  

tan    tan   

sz 1   2 x B   1  2 x B   1 

 
q    2 z B 2 
x B 2
 2 z B 2
 
1 

 1
 2 2 x B 2
 2 z B 2
 1 
2
 2 2 z B 2

 sz/q
20
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
0
Vertical stress caused
by a strip load
1

Graphical representation
of equation 2

2z/B
 1  2 z B   1  2 z B  
 3
tan 
     tan  2 x B   1 
s z 1   2 x B 1    
 
q    
2 z B 2 x B 2  2 z B 2  1 
 
 1 2 x B 2  2 z B 2  1 2  22 z B 2  4
 2 

5
 Strip load - example 21

Example 3
Consider the following figure.
Given q = 200 kPa, B = 6 m, z = 3m.
Determine the vertical stress increase at x = ±9, ±6, ±3, and 0 m.
Plot the graph.
B=2b
q = Load per unit area
x
Dsz
z
A
x
z
Vertical stress due to embankment loading 22

qo  B1  B2  
a1  a 2   a 2 
B1
Ds z  
  B2  B2 
1  B1  B2  1  B1   B1 
a1 (radians )  tan    tan  , a 2  tan  
1

 z   z   z 

B2 B1
A simplified form of
above equation is
H q o = gH
Ds z  qo I embank

a1
a2 z
 B2/z
23

Vertical stress due to

embankment loading

Ds z  qo I embank Iembank

B2 B1
Osterberg’s chart
H q o = gH for determination
of vertical stress
due to
a1 B1/z
a2 z embankment
loading
 Embankment loading - example 24

Example 4: An embankment is shown below. Determine the

stress increase under the embankment at points A1 and A2.
 25

qo=gH = (17.5)(7) = 122.5 kN/m2

Consider left side of fig.
B1 = 2.5, B2 = 14 => B1/z = 2.5/5 = 0.5, B2/z = 14/5 = 2.8
From figure Iembank = 0.445
sz = 2 (qoIembank) = 2 (122.5x0.445) = 109.03 kN/m2
26
 27
Stresses under uniformly loaded circular footing
Consider elementary area dA. Let dQ be the
point load acting on this area which is equal to
dQ  qdA  qrd dr 
qdA.

The vertical stress ds at depth z due to point

load dQ may be expressed as
3q z 3 rddr
ds z 

2 r 2  z 2 5 2 
The integral form of the equation for entire
circular area may be written as
  2 r  Ro   2 r  Ro
3qz 3 rddr
sz 


0
r 0ds z  2 
  r
0 r 0
2
z 
2 52

On integration we have
 1 
s z  q 1   qIz
  Ro z2
1  32

 28
Stresses under uniformly loaded circular footing
 Circular loaded area - example 29

Example 5
A water tank is required to be constructed with a circular
foundation having a diameter of 16 m founded at a depth of 2 m
below the ground surface. The estimated distributed load on the
foundation is 325 kPa. Assuming that the subsoil extends to a
great depth and is isotropic and homogeneous. Determine the
stress sz at points (i) z = 8 m, r = 0 (ii) z = 8 m, r = 8, (iii) z = 16 m, r
= 0, and (iv) z = 16 m, r = 8, where r is the radial distance from the
central axis. Neglect the effect of the depth of the foundation on
the stresses.
 Stresses caused by rectangular loaded area 30

Consider a small area dxdy. the pressure acting on this area can be replaced by
a concentrated load dQ acting at its center. Hence
dQ  qdA  qdxdy x
dy q
The increase in stress dsz due to dQ
can be written as y dx
3qdxdyz 3
ds z 

2 r  z 2

2 52
Dsz
The increase in stress at point A due to entire
loaded rectangular area can be determined
by integrating above eq. A
B L
3qz 3
s z   ds z    dxdy  qI rec
y 0 x 0 
2 r  z2

2 52
z
Stresses caused by rectangular loaded area 31

B L
3qz 3
s z   ds z    dxdy  qI rec
y 0 x 0 
2 r 2  z 
2 52

 2mn m 2  n 2  1  m 2  n 2  2 
 2  2 
1  m  n  m n  1  m  n  1 
2 2 2 2

I rec   
4  
1  2mn m  n  1 
2 2  
  tan 
 m2  n2  m2n2  1 
   
B L
m , n
z z
 32

Stresses caused by
rectangular loaded area

B L
m , n
z z
 Rectangular loaded area – different cases 33

A B A E B

G
F

D C D C
Case I Case II
Load on ABCD =
4 x Load on EBFG

A E B

Case III
Load on ABCD = Load on
I EBFI + IFCG + IGDH + AEIH
H F

D G C
 Rectangular loaded area – different cases 34

A B A E B

F E

D C D F C
Case IV Case V
Load on ABCD = 2 x Load on ABEF Load on ABCD = 2 x Load on EBCF
A B E

Case VI
Load on ABCD = Load on
AEGI – BEGH – DFGI + CFGH
D F
C

I G
H
 Rectangular loaded area - example 35

Example 6
A 20 x 30 ft rectangular footing carrying a uniform load of 6000
lb/ft2 is applied to the ground surface.
Required
The vertical stress increment due to this uniform load at a depth
of 20 ft below the center of loaded area

A E B

G F
20 ft

D C
30 ft
 Newmark’s influence chart 36

Stress under uniformly loaded circular area is

 1 
s z  q 1  32

 R z   1 
2

Rearranging the above equation, we get
2 3
R  sz  A
 1   1
z  q 
Influence value = 0.005 B

Using values of R/z for

various pressure ratios,
Newmark (1942) presented
an influence chart that can
be used to determine
vertical stress at any point
below a uniformly loaded
flexible area of any shape.
 Newmark’s influence chart 37

Dsz/q=0.9, R = 1.9084

Dsz/q=0.8, R = 1.3871

Dsz/q=0.8, R = 1.3871

N element in the chart

Influence value = 1/N
= 1/200 = 0.005

s z  I N qM
IN = influence value of chart
q = pressure on loaded area
M = number of elements of
chart enclosed by plan of loaded
area
A
AB = z (depth below loaded area
at which stress is required)
B
Influence value = 0.005
 Newmark’s chart - example 38

Example 7
A raft foundation of the size given below carries a uniformly
distributed load of 300 kN/m2. Estimate the vertical pressure at a
depth of 9 m below point O marked in the figure.
 Newmark’s chart - example 39

s z  I N qM
IN = influence value of chart = 0.005
q = pressure on loaded area = 300 kPa
M = number of elements of chart
enclosed by plan of loaded area = 62

sz = 0.005x300x62 = 93 kN/m2.
 Pressure isobars 40

An isobar is a line which connects all points of equal stress below

the ground surface. In other words, an isobar is a stress contour.
Each isobar represents a fraction of the load applied at the
surface.
Since isobars form closed figures resembling the form of a bulb,
they are termed as pressure bulb.

Isobars can be drawn for vertical,

horizontal & shear stresses.
Vertical pressure isobars are
important as these are used in
calculation of footing settlement.
 Pressure isobars 41

Pressure isobars based on Boussinesq equation

for uniformly loaded circular footings
 Pressure isobars – square & cont. footing 42

Using Westergaard equation Using Boussinesq equation

 Pressure isobars 43

The depth of stressed zone responsible for settlement is termed as

significant depth Ds. For all practical purposes one can take a stress contour
which represents 20% of foundation contact pressure q or 0.2q (Terzaghi).
Significant depth of stressed
zone for single footing Effect of closely placed footings

Pressure bulb gives the idea

about the depth of soil affected
by foundation.
 Pressure bulb 44

Results of plate load test can be misleading if the proposed

foundation is much larger.

The soft layer of soil in the following diagram is unaffected by the

plate loading test but would be considerably stressed by foundation.
 Pressure isobars 45

Boreholes in a site investigation should be taken down to a depth at

least 1.5 to 2 times the width of the proposed foundation or until
rock is encountered, whichever is the lesser. c/c distance <5b
Small foundations will act
together as one large
foundation unless the
foundations are at a greater
distance apart (c/c) than five
time their width.

Boreholes for a building site

investigation should be taken
to a depth of approx. 1.5
times the width of proposed
building.
 Contact pressure 46

Contact pressure is actual pressure transmitted from foundation

to soil.

It is assumed that contact pressure is uniform over the whole

base of foundation.

Contact pressure is uniformly distributed if the foundation is

perfectly flexible.

The contact Contact pressure distribution under a rigid

pressure foundation loaded with uniform pressure p
distribution of rigid
footing depends
upon the type of
soil beneath it.