SUBSURFACE STRESSES

Factors affecting stresses in a soil mass

o weight of soil
o weight of structure

Types of stresses in a soil mass

o vertical stress, σv

o horizontal stress, σh

⇨ Stresses due to soil mass(effective stress)

▪ Homogeneous soil

σv = γt z σv = vertical stress due to soil mass γt = total unit weight

z = depth
▪ Effect of Water Table

σv = γt z1 + (γt - γw ) z2 z1 = soil layer above the G.W.T z2 = soil layer below

the G.W.T
▪ Effect of Stratification

σv = γa za + γb zb + γc zc

⇨ Vertical Stresses due to Overburden and Point loads (subsurface stresses) Q

pressure diagram due to the point load

pressure diagram due to overburden

Methods in analyzing stresses due to foundation / structural loading o

Westergaard analysis
o Boussinesq analysis

⇨ Stress due to a point load

z
∆σv

▪ Boussinesq methoD
Q31
∆σv = •

z2 2Π [ (r/z)2 + 1 ]5/2

Q
∆σv = I1 where I1 = Boussinesq influence factor
z2

▪ Westergaard analysis

Q1
∆σv =

z2 Π [ 1 + 2(r/z)2 ]3/2

Q
∆σv = I2 where I2 = Westergaard influence factor
z2

Illustrative Examples:
(1) Determine the vertical stress at a point 15 feet from the ground surface. What will be the
stress if there is a water table 12 feet below the ground surface.

Soil A γt = 110 pcf

h = 10 ft

Soil B γt = 120 pcf

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(2) A six-foot square foundation supports a total load of 96 kips. Determine the vertical stress
resulting from the foundation loading at the depth of 6 ft. below the existing ground
surface directly beneath the center of the footing. Treat the load as a concentrated load.
Q =96 kips
Z = 6 ft
R=0

F1
F4
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62 ⎢ ⎤⎥
96
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62
⎣
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96 ⎤
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62
Z= 2.5 ft ⎣
R= 3 ft ⎢⎢⎢

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2
2.5 1
(3) Determine the total vertical stress directly beneath F4 at a point 7.5 meters below the
 ground surface. Assume homogeneous soil with total unit weight of 18.85 KN/m 3. Neglect
stress release due to excavation.

F1 F2 Column loadings: (KN)

F1 = 3000
F3 F4 F5 F2 = 2500
F3 = F5 = 3500
F4 = 4500
F6 F7 F8 F6 = F8 = 2800 F7 = 3800

Soil Profile Depth of excavation = 3.5 meters Distance between footings:

homogeneous soil vertical = 8 meters
γt = 18.85 KN/m3 horizontal = 6 meters Z= 4 m

FOOTING Q r I1 QI1/z^2 (kPa) I2 QI2/z^2

NO. 4

1 3000 8 0.008541151 1.601465723

2 2500 10 0.003373622 0.527128377

3 3500 6 0.025074541 5.485055744

4 4500 0 0.477464829 134.2869832

5 3500 6 0.025074541 5.485055744

6 2800 10 0.003373622 0.590383782

7 3800 8 0.008541151 2.028523249

8 2800 10 0.003373622 0.590383782

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���� ���� ��������) = 150.5949796 ��������
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∆��������( ) = 291.9699796 ��������

NOTE :

If stress release due to excavation is considered,

Q = Qo – W
where:
Qo = initial load
Q = actual load
W = load released, γV ( V = footing dimension • depth of excavation )