GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

(SOIL MECHANICS)

Vertical Stresses
in soils

By: CE Faculty
Chapter 7:
Vertical Stresses in soils
This chapter entails about vertical stresses in soil. They refer to the forces
exerted on soil particles in a downward direction due to the weight of
overlying soil, structures, or other loads. Understanding vertical stresses
is essential for assessing the stability and behavior of soil masses, as well
as for designing foundations and other civil engineering structures.
Basically, the first part of this chapter discusses the in-situ stresses
considering three conditions such as downward seepage, upward
seepage, and no seepage at all. The second part focuses on stresses in
soil mass using the Mohr Circle to visualize the normal and shear
stresses. The third part tackles the stresses due to applied loads by using
Bossinisque equations, Westegaard Method, and Approximate Method.

-by CE322 Faculty

Chapter 7:
Vertical Stresses in soils
Intended Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this topic, students will be able to:

1. Calculate the vertical stresses of soil at various depths beneath the ground
surface considering upward, downward, and no seepage;
2. Construct and interpret Mohr circles to determine principal stresses,
maximum shear stresses, and orientation of principal stress planes; and
3. Analyze and describe stress states within soil masses subjected to various
types of loads.

-by CE322 Faculty

Chapter 7:
Vertical Stresses in soils
Topics:
1. Effective Stress Concepts
2. Stresses in Saturated Soil with Upward Seepage
3. Stresses in Saturated Soil with Downward Seepage
4. Stresses in Saturated Soil with No Seepage
5. Stresses in a Soil Mass: Free-body diagram of soil element
6. Stresses in a Soil Mass: Mohr Circle of stresses
7. Geostatic Stress (Sub-surface stresses cause by the mass of soil)
8. Stresses due to the applied load and uisng Bossinisque equations,
Westegaard Method, and Approximate Method.
-by CE322 Faculty
In-Situ
Stresses
Introduction In-Situ Stresses

The total stress, s, is divided into two parts:

1.A portion is carried by water in the continuous
void spaces. This portion acts with equal
intensity in all directions.
2.The rest of the total stress is carried by the soil
solids at their points of contact. The sum of the
vertical components of the forces developed at
the points of contact of the solid particles per
Effective stress consideration for a saturated unit cross-sectional area of the soil mass is
soil column without seepage called the effective stress
Introduction In-Situ Stresses
The effective stress principle enunciated by Karl
Terzaghi in 1936 forms an extremely useful basis of
the most theories in soil engineering.
Force, P

Where: γsat = saturated unit weight of soil

h = height of the soil
A = cross-sectional area

Total Stress (σ)

The total stress on the base of the prism is equal to the
force per unit area.
Introduction In-Situ Stresses

Pore Water Pressure (u)

It is a pressure due to pore
water filling the voids of the soil.

Pore water pressure is also known as neutral pressure or neutral stress because it cannot
resist shear stresses.

Pore water pressure is taken as zero when it is equal to atmospheric pressure because in soil
engineering the pressures used are generally gauge pressure and not absolute pressures
Introduction In-Situ Stresses
Effective stress ( or )
The sum of the vertical components of the
forces developed at the points of contact of the
solid particles per unit cross-sectional area of
the soil mass. It is equal to the total stress
minus the pore water pressure.

Where γ’ is the submerged unit weight

Introduction In-Situ Stresses
Effective
Stress
Concepts
Effective Stress Concepts
A. Effective stress at point A

Total Stress at A:
Saturated unit weight:
𝜎𝐴 = 𝛾𝑑𝑟𝑦 ℎ1 + 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 ℎ2
(𝐺𝑠 +𝑒)𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 =
1+𝑒
Pore water pressure at A:
𝑢 = 𝛾𝑤 ℎ2
Submerged unit weight:
Effective Stress at A:
(𝐺𝑠 −1)𝛾𝑤 Effective stress
𝛾𝑠𝑢𝑏 = = Total Stress – pore water pressure
1+𝑒
𝛾𝑠𝑢𝑏 = 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - 𝛾𝑤 𝜎′ = 𝛾𝑑𝑟𝑦 ℎ1 + 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 ℎ2 − 𝛾𝑤 ℎ2
𝛾′ = 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - 𝛾𝑤 𝜎′ = 𝛾𝑑𝑟𝑦 ℎ1 + (𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 − 𝛾𝑤 ) ℎ2
𝜎′ = 𝛾𝑑𝑟𝑦 ℎ1 + (𝛾′) ℎ2
Effective Stress Concepts
A. Effective stress at point A

Total Stress at A:
Saturated unit weight:
𝜎𝐴 = 𝛾𝑤 ℎ1 + 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 ℎ2
(𝐺𝑠 +𝑒)𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 =
1+𝑒
Pore water pressure at A:
𝑢 = 𝛾𝑤 (ℎ1 + ℎ2 )
Submerged unit weight:
Effective Stress at A:
(𝐺𝑠 −1)𝛾𝑤 Effective stress
𝛾𝑠𝑢𝑏 = = Total Stress – pore water pressure
1+𝑒
𝛾𝑠𝑢𝑏 = 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - 𝛾𝑤 𝜎′ = 𝛾𝑤 ℎ1 + 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 ℎ2 − 𝛾𝑤 (ℎ1 + ℎ2 )
𝛾′ = 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - 𝛾𝑤 𝜎′ = 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 ℎ2 − 𝛾𝑤 ℎ2
𝜎′ = 𝛾 ′ ℎ2
Effective Stress Concepts
A. Effective stress at point A

Total Stress at A:
Saturated unit weight:
𝜎𝐴 = 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 (ℎ1 + ℎ2 )
(𝐺𝑠 +𝑒)𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 =
1+𝑒
Pore water pressure at A:
𝑢 = 𝛾𝑤 (ℎ1 + ℎ2 )
Submerged unit weight:
Effective Stress at A:
(𝐺𝑠 −1)𝛾𝑤 Effective stress
𝛾𝑠𝑢𝑏 = = Total Stress – pore water pressure
1+𝑒
𝛾𝑠𝑢𝑏 = 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - 𝛾𝑤 𝜎′ = 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 ℎ1 + ℎ2 − 𝛾𝑤 (ℎ1 + ℎ2 )
𝛾′ = 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - 𝛾𝑤 𝜎′ = (𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 −𝛾𝑤 ) (ℎ1 + ℎ2 )
𝜎′ = 𝛾 ′ (ℎ1 − ℎ2 )
 Effective Stress Concepts
EXAMPLE………………
A soil profile is shown in the Figure below.
Calculate the total stress, pore water
pressure, and effective stress at points A, B,
and C.
 Effective Stress Concepts
EXAMPLE………………
How high should the water table rise so that the
effective stress at C is 190 kN/m2? Assume ysat to Equation:
be the same for both layers (i.e., 19.25 kN/m2 ).

Effective Stress at point C:

Effective Stress Concepts
In summary, effective stress is approximately the force per unit
area carried by the soil skeleton. The effective stress in a soil
mass controls its volume change and strength. Increasing the
effective stress induces soil to move into a denser state of
packing.

The compressibility and shearing resistance of a soil depend

to a great extent on the effective stress. Thus, the concept of
effective stress is significant in solving geotechnical
engineering problems, such as the lateral earth pressure on
retaining structures, the loadbearing capacity and settlement
of foundations, and the stability of earth slopes.
Stresses in Saturated
Soil with Upward
Seepage
 Stresses in Saturated Soil with Upward Seepage
If water is seeping, the effective stress at any point in a soil mass will differ from that in the
static case. It will increase or decrease, depending on the direction of seepage.

At point A
❑Total Stress at A = 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤
❑Pore Pressure at A = 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤
❑Effective Stress at A = 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤 - 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤 = 0

At point B
❑Total Stress at B = 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤 + 𝑑 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡
❑Pore Pressure at B = (𝐻1 +𝑑 + ℎ1 ) 𝛾𝑤
❑Effective Stress at B = 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 − 𝑃𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒
Effective Stress at B = 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤 + 𝑑 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - (𝐻1 +𝑑 + ℎ1 ) 𝛾𝑤
Effective Stress at B = 𝑑 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - 𝑑𝛾𝑤 − ℎ1 𝛾𝑤
Effective Stress at B = 𝑑( 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - 𝛾𝑤 ) − ℎ1 𝛾𝑤
 Stresses in Saturated Soil with Upward Seepage
If water is seeping, the effective stress at any point in a soil mass will differ from that in the
static case. It will increase or decrease, depending on the direction of seepage.

At point C
❑Total Stress at C = 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤 + 𝐻2 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡
❑Pore Pressure at C = (𝐻1 +𝐻2 + ℎ) 𝛾𝑤
❑Effective Stress at C = 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 − 𝑃𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒
= (𝐻1 𝛾𝑤 + 𝐻2 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 ) - (𝐻1 +𝐻2 + ℎ) 𝛾𝑤
= 𝐻2 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - 𝐻2 𝛾𝑤 − ℎ 𝛾𝑤
= 𝐻2 (𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - 𝛾𝑤 ) − ℎ 𝛾𝑤
 Stresses in Saturated Soil with Upward Seepage
If water is seeping, the effective stress at any point in a soil mass will differ from that in the
static case. It will increase or decrease, depending on the direction of seepage.

The (h/H2) is the hydraulic gradient (i)

caused by the flow, and therefore,

If the rate of seepage and thereby the hydraulic

gradient gradually are increased, a limiting
condition will be reached, at which point:

where icr = critical hydraulic gradient (for

zero effective stress)
 Stresses in Saturated Soil with Upward Seepage
If water is seeping, the effective stress at any point in a soil mass will differ from that in the
static case. It will increase or decrease, depending on the direction of seepage.

Under such a situation, soil stability is lost.

This situation generally is referred to as
boiling, or a quick condition.

For most soils, the value of icr varies from 0.9

to 1.1, with an average of 1.
 Stresses in Saturated Soil with Upward Seepage
If water is seeping, the effective stress at any point in a soil mass will differ from that in the
static case. It will increase or decrease, depending on the direction of seepage.
 Stresses in Saturated Soil with Upward Seepage
Example…….
A 9-m-thick layer of stiff saturated clay is underlain by a layer of sand. The sand is under
artesian pressure. Calculate the maximum depth of cut H that can be made in the clay.

Due to excavation, there will be unloading of the

overburden pressure. Let the depth of the cut be
H, at which point the bottom will heave. Let us
consider the stability of point A at that time:

For heave to occur, σA should be 0. So,

 Stresses in Saturated Soil with Upward Seepage
Example…….
A cut is made in a stiff, saturated clay that is underlain by a layer of sand. What should be the
height of the water, h, in the cut so that the stability of the saturated clay is not lost?
 Stresses in Saturated Soil with Upward Seepage
Example…….
A cut is made in a stiff, saturated clay that is underlain by a layer of sand. What should be the
height of the water, h, in the cut so that the stability of the saturated clay is not lost?
Stresses in Saturated
Soil with Downward
Seepage
 Stresses in Saturated Soil with Downward Seepage
The water level in the soil tank is held constant by adjusting the supply from the top and the
outflow at the bottom.

The hydraulic gradient caused by the

downward seepage equals i = h/H2. The total
stress, pore water pressure, and effective
stress at any point C are, respectively,
 Stresses in Saturated Soil with Downward Seepage
The water level in the soil tank is held constant by adjusting the supply from the top and the
outflow at the bottom.
Stresses in Saturated Soil with Downward Seepage

At point A
❑Total Stress at A = 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤
❑Pore Pressure at A = 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤
❑Effective Stress at A = 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤 - 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤
Effective Stress at A = 0

At point B
❑Total Stress at B = 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤 + 𝑑 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡
❑Pore Pressure at B = (𝐻1 +𝑑 − ℎ1 ) 𝛾𝑤
❑Effective Stress at B = 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 − 𝑃𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒
Effective Stress at B = 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤 + 𝑑 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - (𝐻1 +𝑑 − ℎ1 ) 𝛾𝑤
Effective Stress at B = 𝑑 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - 𝑑𝛾𝑤 + ℎ1 𝛾𝑤
Effective Stress at B = 𝑑( 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - 𝛾𝑤 ) + ℎ1 𝛾𝑤
Stresses in Saturated Soil with Downward Seepage

At point C
❑Total Stress at C = 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤 + 𝐻2 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡
❑Pore Pressure at C = (𝐻1 +𝐻2 − ℎ) 𝛾𝑤
❑Effective Stress at C = 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 − 𝑃𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒
Effective Stress at C = (𝐻1 𝛾𝑤 + 𝐻2 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 ) - (𝐻1 +𝐻2 − ℎ) 𝛾𝑤
Effective Stress at C = 𝐻2 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - 𝐻2 + ℎ 𝛾𝑤
Effective Stress at C = 𝐻2 (𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - 𝛾𝑤 ) + ℎ 𝛾𝑤
Stresses in Saturated
Soil with No Seepage
Stresses in Saturated Soil with Downward Seepage

At point A
❑Total Stress at A = 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤
❑Pore Pressure at A = 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤
❑Effective Stress at A = 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤 - 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤
Effective Stress at A = 0

At point B
❑Total Stress at B = 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤 + 𝑑 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡
❑Pore Pressure at B = (𝐻1 +𝑑) 𝛾𝑤
❑Effective Stress at B = 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 − 𝑃𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒
Effective Stress at B = 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤 + 𝑑 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - (𝐻1 +𝑑) 𝛾𝑤
Effective Stress at B = 𝑑 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - 𝑑𝛾𝑤
Effective Stress at B = 𝑑( 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - 𝛾𝑤 )
Stresses in Saturated Soil with No Seepage

At point C
❑Total Stress at C = 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤 + 𝐻2 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡
❑Pore Pressure at C = (𝐻1 +𝐻2 ) 𝛾𝑤
❑Effective Stress at C = 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 − 𝑃𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒
Effective Stress at C = 𝐻1 𝛾𝑤 + 𝐻2 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - (𝐻1 +𝐻2 ) 𝛾𝑤
Effective Stress at C = 𝐻2 (𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 - 𝛾𝑤 )
 More Examples..............
Problem No.1

Solution
 More Examples..............
Problem No.1

Solution
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Problem No.1

Solution
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Problem No.2

Solution

0.818
 More Examples..............
Problem No.2

Solution

0.818) 9.81
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Problem No.2

Solution
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Problem No.2

Solution
QUESTIONS?