University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines

Civil Engineering Department

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING (SOIL

MECHANICS)

Stresses due to Applied

Load

By: CE Faculty
Stresses due to Applied Load

Recap on the Previous Topic!!!!

Stresses due to Applied Load

Expected Outcome

Students may able to:

❑ 1. learn about the stresses due to applied loading; and

❑ 2. learn on how to solve the soil stresses due to applied

loading
Stresses due to Applied Load
Stresses due to Applied Load
Stresses due to Applied Load

To analyze problems a such

as compressibility of soils,
bearing capacity of
foundations, stability of
embankments, and lateral
pressure on earth retaining
structures, the nature of the
distribution of stress along
the given cross section of
the soil profile must be
known.
Stresses due to Applied Load

When a load is applied

to the soil surface, it
increases the vertical
stresses within the soil
mass. The increased
stresses are directly
under the loaded area,
but extend indefinitely
in all directions
Stresses due to Applied Load

At a point within a soil mass, stress will

be developed as a result of:

❑The soil laying above the point

(overburden)
❑By a any structural or other loading
imposed on that soil mass
Stresses due to Applied Load

GEOSTATIC STRESSES
Stresses due to Applied Load

GEOSTATIC STRESSES

When the ground surface is horizontal and the

properties of the soil do not change along a horizontal
plane, the stresses due to self weight are known as
Geostatic Stresses. Such a condition generally exists
in sedimentary soil deposits. In such a case, the
stresses are normal to the horizontal and vertical
planes, and there are no shearing stresses on these
planes
Stresses due to Applied Load

GEOSTATIC STRESSES
(Sub-surface stresses cause by the mass of soil)

❑ Vertical Stress
In natural deposits, generally the density of the soil
increases with an increase in depth due to the weight of soil
above. In such a case, the unit weight of soil cannot be taken
as constant.
y = Unit weight of the soil
h = height/depth of the soil

❑ Horizontal Stress
The horizontal stresses at a point in a soil mass are highly
variable. These depend not only upon the vertical stresses, but
also on the type of the soil and on the conditions whether the
soil is stretched or compresses laterally.

Ko = coefficient of lateral pressure at rest

σv = vertical stress
Stresses due to applied load
 What are the
common external
load???
Common examples of the external loads are as follows:
❑Uniform strip loads such as the load on along wall
footing of sufficient width.

❑Uniformly loaded square, rectangular or circular footings

such as column footings of buildings, pier footings,
footings for water tanks, mats, etc.

❑Triangular and or trapezoidal strip loads such as the

loads of long earth embankments.
Determination of vertical stress increase at a certain depth due
to the application of load on the surface. The loading type
includes:

Point load
Line load
Uniformly distributed vertical strip load
Linearly increasing vertical loading on a strip
Embankment type of loading
Uniformly loaded circular area
Uniformly loaded rectangular area
 The most important original solution was given by BOUSSINESQ (1885) for
the distribution of stress within a linear elastic half space resulting from a point
load normal to the surface. The solutions are commonly used to obtain the
stresses in a soil mass due to externally applied loads. The following assumptions
are made:
❑ The soil mass is an elastic continuum, having a constant value or modulus of
elasticity.
❑ The soil is homogeneous, it has identical properties at different points.
❑ The soil is isotropic, it has identical properties in all directions.
❑ The soil mass is semi-infinite, it extends to infinity in the downward direction and
lateral directions. In other words, it is limited on its top by a horizontal plane and
extends to infinity in all other directions.
❑ The soil is weightless and is free from residual stresses before the application of
the load.
Stresses due to applied load: Point load
 ❑ Vertical Stresses Caused by a Point Load
Boussinesq’s solution for normal stresses at a point
caused by the point load P is:

Stresses in an elastic medium caused

by a point load
 ❑ Vertical Stresses Caused by a Point Load
However, the relationship for the vertical normal
stress, σz is independent of Poisson’s ratio. The
relationship for σz can be rewritten as:

The variation of I1 for various values of r/z is given in

Table next slide. Figure shows a plot of I1 vs. r/z Stresses in an elastic medium caused
varying from zero to 1.5. by a point load
❑ Vertical Stresses Caused by a Point Load
❑ Vertical Stresses Caused by a Point Load
 ❑ Vertical Stresses Caused by a Point Load
Example:
Consider a point load P = 5 kN. Calculate the vertical
stress increase (Δσz) at z = 0, 2m, 4m, 6m, 10m, and
20m. Given x = 3m and y = 4m.

Solution:
 ❑ Vertical Stresses Caused by a Point Load
Example:
Consider a point load P = 5 kN. Calculate the vertical
stress increase (Δσz) at z = 0, 2m, 4m, 6m, 10m, and
20m. Given x = 3m and y = 4m.
Solution:
 ❑ Vertical Stresses Caused by a Point Load
Example:
Consider a point load P = 5 kN. Calculate the vertical
stress increase (Δσz) at z = 0, 2m, 4m, 6m, 10m, and
20m. Given x = 3m and y = 4m.
Solution:
Stresses due to applied load: Vertical Line Load
 ❑ Vertical Stresses Caused by Vertical Line Load
The value of σz is the additional stress on soil caused by the line load. The value of σz does not
include the overburden pressure of the soil above point A.

The equation above is in a nondimensional form.

Using this equation, we can calculate the variation of
Δσz/(q/z) with x/z.
❑ Vertical Stresses Caused by Vertical Line Load
❑ Vertical Stresses Caused by Vertical Line Load
 ❑ Vertical Stresses Caused by Vertical Line Load
Example:
Figure shows two line loads on the ground surface.
Determine the increase of stress at point A.

(a) Two line loads on the ground surface;

(b) (b) use of superposition principle to obtain stress at point A
Stresses due to applied load:
Horizontal Line Load
❑ Vertical Stresses Caused by Horizontal Line Load
Figure shows a horizontal flexible line load on the surface of a semi-infinite soil mass. The vertical
stress increase at point A in the soil mass can be given as:
❑ Vertical Stresses Caused by Horizontal Line Load
Example:
An inclined line load with a magnitude of 10 kN/m is shown in Figure. Determine the increase of
vertical stress Δσz at point A due to the line load.
Solution:

The vertical component of the inclined load

qV = 10 cos 20 = 9.4 kN/m,
and the horizontal component
qH = 10 sin 20 = 3.42 kN/m.

For point A,
x/z = 5/4 = 1.25
❑ Vertical Stresses Caused by Horizontal Line Load
Example:
An inclined line load with a magnitude of 10 kN/m is shown in Figure. Determine the increase of
vertical stress Δσz at point A due to the line load.
Solution:
❑ Vertical Stresses Caused by Horizontal Line Load
Example:
An inclined line load with a magnitude of 10 kN/m is shown in Figure. Determine the increase of
vertical stress Δσz at point A due to the line load.
Solution:
❑ Vertical Stresses Caused by Horizontal Line Load
Example:
An inclined line load with a magnitude of 10 kN/m is shown in Figure. Determine the increase of
vertical stress Δσz at point A due to the line load.
Solution:
Similarly, using Table, the vertical stress
increase at point A due to qH is:
❑ Vertical Stresses Caused by Horizontal Line Load
Example:
An inclined line load with a magnitude of 10 kN/m is shown in Figure. Determine the increase of
vertical stress Δσz at point A due to the line load.
Solution:

Thus, the total is:

Stresses due to applied load:
Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Strip Load
(Finite Width and Infinite Length)
❑ Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Strip Load
Such conditions are found for structures extended very
much in one direction, such as strip and wall
foundations, foundations of retaining walls,
embankments, dams and the like.
❑ Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Strip Load
With respect to Eq., the following should be kept in mind:
❑ Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Strip Load
❑ Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Strip Load
❑ Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Strip Load
❑ Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Strip Load
❑ Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Strip Load
Example:
Refer to Figure. Given: B = 4m and q = 100 kN/m2 . For
point A, z = 1m and x = 1m. Determine the vertical
stress Δσz at A.
❑ Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Strip Load
Example:
❑ Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Strip Load
Example:
Stresses due to applied load:
Vertical Loading on an Infinite Strip
❑ Vertical Loading on an Infinite Strip
❑ Vertical Loading on an Infinite Strip
Example:
Refer to Figure. For a linearly increasing
vertical loading on an infinite strip, given: B =
2m; q = 100kN/m2 . Determine the vertical
stress σz at A (-1 m, 1.5 m).
❑ Vertical Loading on an Infinite Strip
Example:
Refer to Figure. For a linearly increasing
vertical loading on an infinite strip, given: B =
2m; q = 100kN/m2 . Determine the vertical
stress σz at A (-1 m, 1.5 m).
❑ Vertical Loading on an Infinite Strip
Example:
Stresses due to applied load:
Vertical Stress Due to Embankment Loading
 ❑ Vertical Stress Due to Embankment Loading
Figure shows the cross section of an embankment of height
H. For this two-dimensional loading condition the vertical
stress increase may be expressed as:

where qo = yH
y = unit weight of the embankment soil
H = height of the embankment
❑ Vertical Stress Due to Embankment Loading

Simplified Form

Osterberg’s chart for determination of

vertical stress due to embankment loading
❑ Vertical Stress Due to Embankment Loading
Example:
An embankment is shown in Figure. Determine the stress increase under the embankment at
points A1 and A2.
❑ Vertical Stress Due to Embankment Loading
Example:
❑ Vertical Stress Due to Embankment Loading
Example:
❑ Vertical Stress Due to Embankment Loading
Example:
❑ Vertical Stress Due to Embankment Loading
Example:
❑ Vertical Stress Due to Embankment Loading
Example:
Stresses due to applied load:
Vertical Stress below the Center of a Uniformly
Loaded Circular Area
 ❑ Vertical Stress below the Center of a Uniformly Loaded
Circular Area
Using Boussinesq’s solution for vertical stress σz caused by a
point load one also can develop an expression for the vertical
stress below the center of a uniformly loaded flexible circular
area.

Vertical stress
below the center of
a uniformly loaded
flexible circular
area
Stresses due to applied load:
Vertical Stress at Any Point below a Uniformly
Loaded Circular Area
❑ Vertical Stress at Any Point below a Uniformly Loaded
Circular Area

where A and B are functions of z/R and r/R

Vertical stress at any point below a

uniformly loaded circular area
❑ Vertical Stress at Any Point below a Uniformly Loaded
Circular Area
❑ Vertical Stress at Any Point below a Uniformly Loaded
Circular Area
❑ Vertical Stress at Any Point below a Uniformly Loaded
Circular Area
❑ Vertical Stress at Any Point below a Uniformly Loaded
Circular Area
❑ Vertical Stress at Any Point below a Uniformly Loaded
Circular Area
❑ Vertical Stress at Any Point below a Uniformly Loaded
Circular Area
Example:
Consider a uniformly loaded flexible circular
area on the ground surface, as shown in Fig.
Given: R = 3 =m and uniform load q =
100kN/m2. Calculate the increase in vertical
stress at depths of 1.5m, 3m, 4.5m, 6m, and
12m below the ground surface for points at
(a) r = 0 and (b) r = 4.5m.
❑ Vertical Stress at Any Point below a Uniformly Loaded
Circular Area
Example:
❑ Vertical Stress at Any Point below a Uniformly Loaded
Circular Area
Example:
Stresses due to applied load:
Vertical Stress Caused by a
Rectangularly Loaded
❑ Vertical Stress Caused by a Rectangularly Loaded
❑ Recall Boussinesq’s solution for point load:

❑ Boussinesq’s solution also can be used to

calculate the vertical stress increase below a
flexible rectangular loaded area
❑ Consider a small elemental area dx dy of the
rectangle
❑ The load on this elemental area can be given by

❑ We need to replace P with dq = q dx dy and r2 with

x2+ y2 . Thus,
❑ Vertical Stress Caused by a Rectangularly Loaded
(Corner of the rectangular area )
The increase in the stress, at point A caused by the entire loaded area can now be determined by
integrating the preceding equation. We obtain:

Note!!!!
The arctangent term Δσz equation must be a positive angle in radians. When m2+n2+1
< m2n2, it becomes a negative angle. So a term p should be added to that angle.
❑ Vertical Stress Caused by a Rectangularly Loaded
(Corner of the rectangular area )
❑ Vertical Stress Caused by a Rectangularly Loaded
(Corner of the rectangular area )
❑ Vertical Stress Caused by a Rectangularly Loaded
❑ (Corner of the rectangular area )

I3

m
❑ Vertical Stress Caused by a Rectangularly Loaded
(The increase in the stress at any point below a rectangularly loaded area)

B A’

L
❑ Vertical Stress Caused by a Rectangularly Loaded
(The increase in the stress at any point below a rectangularly loaded area)

Example:
❑ Vertical Stress Caused by a Rectangularly Loaded
(The increase in the stress at any point below a rectangularly loaded area)

Example:
Stresses due to applied load:
Approximate Method
❑ Approximate Method (2:1 Method)
❑ In this method it is assumed that the
STRESSED AREA is larger than the
corresponding dimension of the loaded area
by an amount equal to the depth of the
subsurface area.

❑ Therefore, if a load is applied on a

rectangular with dimension B and L, the
stress on the soil at depth z is considered to
be uniformly distributed on an area with
dimension (B+z) and (L+z).

❑ This is called 2:1 method because the

stressed area increases at a slope of 1
horizontally for each 2 of depth as
measured from the depth of foundation.
❑ Approximate Method (2:1 Method)
❑ Approximate Method (2:1 Method)
If the load at the surface is given to be
distributed, it is first converted to point load
by multiplying by the area (B x L) as
demonstrated in the figure below.
❑ Approximate Method (2:1 Method)
Example:
From the soil profile shown, given B = 1.5m and L = 2.5m. The footing
carries a load of 120 kN

A. Compute the total stress at the mid-

layer of the clay
B. Compute the effective stress at the mid-
Saturated Sand
layer of the clay Ysat = 18 kN/m3
1.5m
C. Compute the average increase of
effective pressure in the clay layer Saturated Clay
using 2:1 method Moisture Content = 35%
Specific Gravity = 2.7
Liquid Limit = 38 2.5m
❑ Approximate Method (2:1 Method)
Example:
From the soil profile shown, given B = 1.5m and L = 2.5m. The footing
carries a load of 120 kN

A. Compute the total stress at the mid- Sand

Ydry = 15 kN/m3 1.5m
layer of the clay

𝜔𝐺𝑠 𝐺𝑠 +𝑒 Saturated Sand

𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 𝛾𝑤 1.5m
𝑆= 1+𝑒 Ysat = 18 kN/m3
𝑒
35(2.7) 2.7+0.945
100 = 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = (9.81) Saturated Clay
1+0.945
𝑒 Moisture Content = 35%
𝑒 = 0.945 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 18.38𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 Specific Gravity = 2.7
Liquid Limit = 38 2.5m

𝜎 = 15 1.5 + 18 1.5 + (18.38)(1.25)

𝜎 = 72.475 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3
❑ Approximate Method (2:1 Method)
Example:
From the soil profile shown, given B = 1.5m and L = 2.5m. The footing
carries a load of 120 kN

B. Compute the effective stress at the mid- Sand

Ydry = 15 kN/m3 1.5m
layer of the clay
𝜎′ = 𝜎 − 𝜇 Saturated Sand
1.5m
Ysat = 18 kN/m3
𝜎 ′ = 72.475 − (9.81)(2.75)
𝜎 ′ = 45.50𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 Saturated Clay
Moisture Content = 35%
Specific Gravity = 2.7
Liquid Limit = 38 2.5m
❑ Approximate Method (2:1 Method)
Example:
From the soil profile shown, given B = 1.5m and L = 2.5m. The footing
carries a load of 120 kN

C. Compute the average increase of

1.5m
effective pressure in the clay layer using 2:1
method
1.5m
∆𝑃𝑡
0.75 1.5 0.75
1.25m
∆𝑃𝑚
1.375 1.5 1.375
1.25m
∆𝑃𝑏
2.0 2.0 2.0
❑ Approximate Method (2:1 Method)
Example:
From the soil profile shown, given B = 1.5m and L = 2.5m. The footing
carries a load of 120 kN

C. Compute the average increase of

1.5m
effective pressure in the clay layer using 2:1
method
1.5m
∆𝑃𝑡
0.75 1.5 0.75
1.25m
∆𝑃𝑚
1.375 1.5 1.375
1.25m
∆𝑃𝑏
2.0 2.0 2.0
❑ Approximate Method (2:1 Method)
Example:
From the soil profile shown, given B = 1.5m and L = 2.5m. The footing
carries a load of 120 kN

C. Compute the average increase of

1.5m
effective pressure in the clay layer using 2:1
method
1.5m
∆𝑃𝑡
0.75 1.5 0.75
1.25m
∆𝑃𝑚
1.375 1.5 1.375
1.25m
∆𝑃𝑏
2.0 2.0 2.0
❑ Approximate Method (2:1 Method)
Example:
From the soil profile shown, given B = 1.5m and L = 2.5m. The footing
carries a load of 120 kN

C. Compute the average increase of

1.5m
effective pressure in the clay layer using 2:1
method
1.5m
120
∆𝑃𝑡 = = 10 ∆𝑃𝑡
(3)(4)
0.75 1.5 0.75
120
∆𝑃𝑚 = = 5.38 1.25m
(4.25)(5.25)
∆𝑃𝑚
1.375 1.5 1.375
120
∆𝑃𝑏 = = 3.36 1.25m
(5.5)(6.5)
∆𝑃𝑏
∆𝑃𝑡 +4(∆𝑃𝑚) + ∆𝑃𝑏 2.0 1.5 2.0
∆𝑃 = = 5.81kPa
6