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EFFECTIVE STRESS CONCEPT Capillary rise
C
To analyze problems such as compressibility of
soils, bearing capacity of foundations,
hmm =
stability of embankments, and lateral pressure
eD10
on earth-retaining structures, we need to know • C- capillary constant that varies from
the nature of the distribution of stress along 10 to 50 sq. mm.
a given cross-section of the soil profile • D 10 - effective size (mm)
R R

• E= void ratio
TYPES OF STRESSES
(a) Total stress (σ)
(b) Pore water pressure/neutral stress (u)
(c) Effective Stress (σ’)

STRESSES IN SATURATED SOIL WITHOUT SEEPAGE

(a) Effective stress at point A

Problem 1
A soil profile shown in the figure:
(a) Compute the effective stress
immediately below A.
(b) Compute the effective stress at B.
(c) Compute the effective stress at C.

(b) Effective stress at point A

Problem 2
From the figure shown a soil formation with
(c) Effective stress at point A its corresponding soil properties and water
table is located 2 meter below the ground
surface. To consolidate the ground, surcharge
load at the top or dewatering are being
considered
(a) A decision has been made to consolidate
the clay layer prior to site
development by preloading with a sand
layer 1 m. Thick. The sand fill will
have a unit weight of 15 kN/cu.m. What
is the increase in stress at the mid-
layer of clay.
(b) By dewatering 1.8 m., what is the
stress increase at the mid-layer of
clay as water level is lowered down?
(c) How much must the water level be
lowered to be more effective than the
surcharge load.

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Stresses in Saturated Soil with
Downward Seepage

Problem 3
From the given soil formation and their
corresponding properties. Seepage Force per unit volume
(a) What thickness of surcharge load having
a unit weight of 15 kN/cu.m is F = iδ w
necessary to have the same increase at
mid-layer of clay as lowering the water Problem 4
level by 2m. The figure shows
(b) If by dewatering, the water level a layer of
lowered by 3 m., determine the stress granular soil in
increase at the bottom of the soil a tank with an
formation. upward seepage by
(c) Determine also the stress increase at applying water
the mid-depth of the clay if the water through the valve
level is lowered by 3 m. at the bottom of
the tank. The
loss of head
caused by upward
seepage between
the levels of A
and B is 0.70 m and between levels A and C is
0.28 m. The void ratio of the soil is 0.52 and
its specific gravity is 2.72.
(a) Compute the effective stress at point
C. Ans. 19.45
(b) Compute the critical hydraulic gradient
for zero effective stress. Ans. 1.13
(c) Compute the effective stress at B. Ans.
48.63
Stresses in Saturated Soil with Upward (d) Compute the hydraulic gradient cause by
Seepage the flow. Ans. 0.14
(e) Compute the upward seepage force per
unit volume. Ans. 1.37

Problem 5
Steady state vertical seepage is occurring in
the soil profile shown in the figure:

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(a) Compute the elevation of the water BOUSSINESQ EQUATION
U

surface at the piezometer attached at

the base of the upper soil layer B.
(b) Compute the effective stress at the
base of the upper soil layer B. 3𝑃
(c) Compute the volumetric flow rate of the 𝑞=
lower soil layer assuming cross 𝑟 2
sectional area of soil layer is 0.80sq 2𝜋𝑧 2 [1 + � � ]5/2
m. 𝑧
STRESS IN SOILS

USING MOHR’S CIRCLE

• A mohr circle describes the two-
dimensional state of stress at a point
q= approximate vertical stress at depth z
plotted a normal stress versus shear
P= total Load
stress diagram
B= width of footing
L=length of footing
CONSTRUCTION OF MOHR’S
Z=depth
CIRCLE
• Consider the state
of plane stress at Problem 9
a point defined in A concentrated load of 2500 kN is applied to
the figure the ground surface. Using Boussinesq equation,
(a) Compute the vertical stress increment
in kPa due to this load at a depth of 6
Problem 6 meters directly below the load.
Using the principles of (b) Compute the vertical stress increment
mohrs circle, for the in kPa due to this load at a depth of 6
soil element shown, meters below the ground surface and at
determine the following: a horizontal distance of 4.8 meters from
a. Major Principal the line of the concentrated load.
Stress.
b. Minor Principal Problem 10
Stress. According to the elastic theory, the vertical
c. Normal Stress on stress induced by a flexible live load of
plane AB. infinite length that has an intensity of q
d. Shear Stress on plane AB. units/length on the surface of a semi-infinite
soil mass can be estimated by the expression
Problem 7 P= 0.637q/N
A soil element is shown in the figure. Where: N = z(1+(r/z)2)2
P P P

Determine the following: r=horizontal distance from the line load

a. Major Principal z=depth of interest at which stress is induced
Stress.
b. Minor Principal
A concrete hollow block wall weighing 6kN per
Stress.
c. Normal Stress on plane lineal meter is carried by a wall footing 0.6m
AB. wide
d. Shear Stress on plane
AB. a. Evaluate the bearing pressure in kPa
exerted by the footing onto the supporting
soil
Problem 8 b. Evaluate the stress in the soil caused by
For the stressed soil the load depth equal to twice its width
element shown using the Pole c. Evaluate the stress at a depth of 2m and a
Method of finding the horizontal distance of 3m from the line load
stresses
(a) Compute the major
principal stress.
(b) Compute the minor
principal stress.
(c) Compute the normal
stress on plane CE.
(d) Compute the shear stress on plane CE.
FLOW NETS
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A combination of a number of flow lines and
equipotential lines. for non − isotrophic soils :
K x K z HN f
q=
Nd
when K x ≠ K z
K = KxKz
Problem 11
A flow net for flow around a single row of
sheet piles in a permeable layer is shown
in the figure.

A flow line is a line along which a water

particle will travel from upstream to the
downstream side in the permeable soil
medium.

An equipotential line is a line along which

the potential head at all points is equal.
Given that kx = kz = k= 5x10-3 cm/sec.
P P

Determine
a. How high above the ground surface the
water will rise if piezometers are
placed at points a and b.
b. The total rate of seepage through the
permeable layer per unit length
c. The approximate average hydraulic
gradient of c.

Problem 12
A dam section is shown. The hydraulic
conductivity of the permeable layer in the
vertical and horizontal directions are 2x10-2 P P

mm/s and 4x10-2 mm/s respectively. Calculate

P P

A combination of flow lines and

the seepage loss of the dam in ft3/day/ft. P P

equipotential lines is called a flow net.

1. The equipotential lines intersect the

flow lines at right angles.

2. The flow elements formed are

approximate squares.

Nf - number of flow channels in the

flow net.

Nd – number of potential drops

SEEPAGE CALCULATION from FLOW NET

for isotrophic soils :

HN f
q=k
Nd
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Problem 13
From the given hydraulic structure, compute
the following

a) The uplift pressure at A

b) The uplift pressure at F
c) The uplift force per unit length
measured along the axis of the weir.

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