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cE10el6

GIIOTI4CHNICAL ENGINIIERING
UNI'T"6
STRESS DISTRIBU:I'ION

6.1 intloduction.
6.2 Boussinescl'sTheoi'y.

6.:?.I Assumptions andLimitations.

6.2,2 Vertical stress under a point load.

6.2.3 Verlical stress under a uniformly loaded l'ectangulat- area.
6.2,4 pquivalent Point l-oad method for rectangular loaded area.
6.2.5 Approximate (2: 1) method.

6.3 Westergaard Theory.

6.3.1 Assumptions andLimitations.qo.

6.3.2 Veltical stress causecl by a point load.
(t.4 Nervmark's Influence chan.
6.4.J Principle of Newmark's chafi.
6.4.2 Construction of Newmark's chart.
(r.4.3 Use of Nervmark's chafl.
6.5 Cu,ntact Pressures.
6.6 , Worked E,xarnples.
6 "7 Assignrnent.

6.7 II{TRODUCTION:
An1,'load placed on the sud'ace of a soil mass induces stress in the underlying strata. The

problem of determining the.se stresses is of particulal irnportance for estimating the magnitudes
of settlements, pore pressures induced and for establishing the strength and stability of the soil.
Boussinesq and Westergaard have studied the distribution of stresses in a loaded soil mass uslng

applications of the theory of elasticity.

6.2 BOUSSINTTSQ'S TIIEORY

6.2.7 ASSTIA{PTIOJ\S AND LIMITATIONS :

The follorving assumptioils are made in developing the theory for stttdying the

distdbution of stresses in a loaded soil rnass,

i. The soil mass is homogeneous. That means it has identical propenies at overy point in it and
i n identical directions.

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i.,-
: cB409t6
t
1.-
+;:

ii' The soil mass is isotropic' That is, it has identical elastic properties
'i
?-

''rl
?:f
il:,, any point in it.
in all directions throur
.: ;jr[
' r.i:i
tji

xi iii' The soil mass is elastic, which impliesthat the soil de,forms lineady.
i: The values of mdcirrh
$ii of 'Elasticity (E) and Poisson's ratio (rr) a^re constant.
two or If
l{l
more loads
{i simultaneously' the resultant stress
at any point is the summation of stress
ir

Fi caused by ,:iic
-i:
i",
I..
loadinqe acting independently.
i:?

i''
,, :
iv' ,-r
The soil mass is semi-infinite' It is
i bounded at top by horizontal
plane and exte'crin
-::!ai
:
,il:
'j;.i
:,tr: i:,' indefinitely in both depth and width,
::t
In addition to the above important assumptions,
'. neglecting of the stresses induced
: weight of the soil; neglecting the
bi, sel
:
:

::i
irrjl
]l,l deformation of the soil mass, and
continuity of stress along th
/a
, depth are some other assur ptions
made in the development of the
analysis.
,, Limitations:
t' The soil mass cannot truly be homogeneous
and isotropic. However, pure
.

clay deposits car

mogeneous provided their consistence
do not vary significantly.
truly elastic. The linearity is valid
for low strains.
mi_infinite elastic medium is valid
to a major extent.
SS UNDER A POINT LOAD:
Boussinesq gave solution for a point
load applied normal to the surface
' Fig6l
as illustrated i'
.jii}J: , :

G'

-T
I

lt.,
lr I l't,
,+t:
:.:
!);r
l'\ \f I '
\
r:,.
ij\
i.r':'
:1:1
I
|
\ C-
- a

i...
ir,,,'
llt,:

irli: t ,-J
l*------ f -
!
-----.J

Fig 6.1 stress beneath a point road

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3
{ llr-l{1916

.l-l.rc (6 1)
re sLtlt is o/ --=

Substittttittg It? = 1'!

l
5rr=. Q
2n

,-)
-)

2n
,

a IB
(6.2t
Oti' = )
z-

? (6.3)
wlrere JB =
Jn

In is the Boussinesq's influence factor for

point load'

Thus Ie is a functior] of
I and is a dimensionless pararneter'
z

be zero, when the intensity of vertical

prcsstll€ is to be determined directly below
In Ec'.6.3, r will
any depth 'z''
the point loacl i'c. on its axis of loading at ',t.
:'-:.

3 '"1'

when r = ()r Ia= ',i'J

G :
_';r
.: ri:
ri,
'i.il
.. /,4

-1Q (6.4) ' t.:-

:'.:;ii-{:

= Zn7
- :.t

and o, , t.:i
'.;r.
.,t:;
r :' ,,
ri!'.
:;.i.i.

diagrarns can be pr:epared :

The followir'rg vertical pressul€ distribution
".tr:
'. t:..

, ,-;'._'ii

-r.1'-d

Isobar
plane
Pressule distribution on a horizontal

Pressure clistribution on a vel'ttcal

plane'

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cE409l6

Isobar

Fig.6.2 Family of Isobars

An isobar is obtainecl by connecting all points of equal vertical pressure below the gro*'cl
surface. It is in the shape of a bulb. For any load system, a number of isobars corresponding
to
different pressure intensities, can be drawn (Fig.6.2). The zone in a loaded soil mass bounded
ili:
l-;
!:.;:.1.

by
an isobar of an arbitrarily selected pressure intensity is called a "pressure bulb',.
z:a t.

z':.
The distribution of vertical stress on a horizontal plane and along a verticalplane are
.

shown in Fig 6.3 a and b.

oz rna x

(a ) (b)
Fig.6.3 Stress distribution with depth
6.2.3 VERTICAL STRESS UNDER A UNIF'ORMLY LOADED RECTAI\GTJLAR AREA

Newmark (1935) has. derived the following equation for the vertical stress under the
corner of a uniformly loaded rectangular area subjected to a load intensity q.

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i
o'z

l-ig.6.4 Uniformly loaded rectangular area of length'L'and breath ,B'.

E:.q.(6.51may be written as

o, = q.I" (6.6)

In is the influence value whicl'r depends on m and n. Io values lbl ditferent m ancl n values are

presettted in a graphical {bnn by Fadum (194i). The Fadum's chart is given in Fig 6.5.

For tlte determination of vertical stresses by the method of comer points, the fbllowing
iliristrations rnay lre used as examples.
(a) Thc point 'p' is in the loaded area

A
Figure
Divide the area into 4 rectangles such that each has a corner point 'p'. Determine m and

n values of each rectangle oz= g0or+Lz+Ior+L+)

(b) The point 'p' is outside the loaded area 'ABCD'.

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cE409t6

I I

A L_ Dl
k
1l-'
I

I
I

Figure
cotistruct rectangles such that each has .p,. The
a corner at point
four rectarigles are
BEPH (Designated as 1)
CEPG (Designated as 2)
AFPH (Designated as 3)

DEPG (Designated as 4)

cz:9 (I"1-I"2-f3+fa)
6.2.4 EQUIVALENT POINT LOAD
METHOD FOR RECTANGUI.AR
LOADED AR.IIA
This is an approximate method'
Multiply the load inte*sity q by the
area of trre srna'
element to get the equivarent poi't load acting on the eremental area..
For that, the totar area is divided into
a number of smar i:renrental
areas (lvith each si,.le
heing iess than one-thircl Z)
'fhe verlical stress

az: II
' uz, .r, (6.71

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{jtr41) et6

.2 B
---l--l
3 L56
9-\92 a
. -.tY
-/t'

,2G
-**(2%-^
7.,
'i
,-3'-,
*/

: Ir. L.ood q per ';nil

'-e'*

.7. r. r_

i*_-|" ot orro r'r-Aft

'i--i;
l,B
| 'n=i":-Z-
Z
.27
rn ond n orr
ir'tcrchongrblt
:- --l
%, : I xQ ZO rn:'0.9

i * ='*.a
.l 6
0.01 3 t" 55 80.1 34 5

.16

g
f .r0 .10
o

at
L.)
.0 I .09
c
l,
:t
.0 6
#il .05
c

.0 .04

.c2 .42

0 0
0.01 B 1.0

Varlue of n

ttig.6.5 Influence value for vertical stress under corner of uniformly loaded rectangular
area

Plan

Ii'ig 6.6 llquivalent Point loacl method

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cE409t6

6.2.5 APPROXIMATE (2:t) METI{OD

ln cases ivhere severar strata appear i'a profire, the erfect of roacr appliecl at tlre sul-liru:
on one or of the underlying strata can be cletennined by assuming
i110re
that the load froru t!.ie
surface is distributed over an area o' the surface but
with dirnersions which increase lty iirl
armount equal to tlie depth below the surface (Fig,6.7).

Fig 6.7 Approximate rnethocl

or a strip fboting of width 'B', the vertical stress (cz) at a depth Z below the grouncl
surface is given by

G7B:q
@.2) (6.8)

For a square footing,

6z: e @;d
r (6.e)

and For a Rectangular footing

BL
Gz: 9
(n* z)(r,+ z) (6. 10)

6.3 WESTERGAARD THEORY

Bousinesq's Theory considers a soil mass tcl
be hornogeneous and isotropic. But typical
clay strata usually have lenses which render the
soil to be anisotropic. An elastic solution to
tiris
type of conditions has been provided by wESTERGAARD
(193g).
6.3.1 ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS:
The assumptions made in this theory are
(i) The soil is elastic.
(ii) It is assumed to be laterally reinforce.d by a
numerous, closely spaced, horizontal sheets
which are of negligible thickness but which are infinitely
rigid, These greatly increase
resistance to lateral strain.

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9
cti409l6

no lateral strain is trot t1-rl y ct-lmect.

Hcwever'
(iir) [.,irr,-ritation: 'fhe i]ssunrption regarding
of Westergattrd's
struti f,iecr cc)ncJitir)ns prev*i lirrq
in secliffIentary cieposits talies the application

Lircoi Y neztl'ct' trl t'i:ality'

(6.1 1)
,1 7

i-.."" t (2-z/4 |
ir' )1)
L
t;l l
Wltere Pt is the Poissons ratto
and p nray be
restrattted, the latelal sl'r:ain is very small
F<lt.thc case tl| a srlii which is lar.gely
[rl
erSSul^ire,J to be.-/-el'o. The cclttation tiren reduces
(6.t2)

o, -- ;i
a ['u
(6'13)

f-actor, rvrich is also a climensionless

number and is a
I,, is callco .o[r,"rruat'd's influencc
westergaard
f,urrction grz): Fig.6.g srrows the comparative valucs of Boussinescl's and
of
eqr.ratiott
figure, it carr be seen that the Westergaard
(rlz). Fr.onr the
infl,;ei.lce values for differen L

ecluation (or:) (r/z) values of 0 to l'5'

gi'cs resser value of verticar stress trran the Boussinesq's
the ratio exceeds I .5, Westergaard's formula yiel<ls almost the salne vzrlue as
\ir hen

iJ o r-r s:si itcsq's '

I
I
I
I

{
1;
Ie
I
o
(0

t ---{
o o'5 1.o t.5 z'o
-L
z -:>.-
and westergaard's nce values for Point ioad'
!.ig.6.g comparison of Boussi'esq's
6.4 NEWMARK'S INFLUE,I CE CHART
with the
loaded areas of any shape can be determined
The verricel stress unclef uniformly
(1942)'
help of influenie charts cle'ised by Newmark

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cFr4 09t6 l0

6,4.7 PRJNCIPTE OTI NI:WMATI.K'Ii CT{ART;

Fof urrit'onnly loaded eiretrlHr area, tlte vertieal stress c2 has lteen liruncl to be a function
ol.(r/2.).
'l'he intery:retation o f the eq uatiorrs
is that lhe rlz raticl is the relative size of a cire ular area which,
rvlren loaded, gives a ttrriclue pressure rutio aylqon the soil elernent r1t e depth in fhe station. (cr7
is the vertical stress eausctl by l loatl intensity of 'q' inrpr;rserl on thc surface), For Boussinesq's

case and Westergaarcl'$ case, the lbllowing relationship's can be otrtnined between fu *A !
cl z.
.

%-s@

ozlq Boussinesq's case l'/z Westergaardns case rlz, (lbr Lr =0

00 0, ()00 0,000
01 0,27 0 0.343
(J,2
0,40 I 0.530
03 0,5 lg 0.721
0.4 0,637 0,943
05 0,7 66 1.227
0.6 0.91 g 1,620
0.7 1,110 2.249
08 1 387 3,464
0.9 1.909 7,036
10 oo

Table 6.1 Relationship between <JT,IqanJrlz for Boussinesq's case and Westergaard's case.
It may be observed fi'om Table 6.1 the difference between any two c onsecutive s tress
ratio values (a/q) is equal to 0.1, A series of concentric circles can be drawn with difierent
values of radius for a particular depth (z). (Fig 6,$ Now, each ring fogneC by two consecutive
concentric circles exerts a vertical stress 0.lq at the centre of the circle (q is the load intensity at
the surface), which is eqrial to 0.1q.

If the series of rings are subdivided into a number of sectors by drawing radial lines from
the centre, and let 'n' be the nurnber of blocks between two concentric circles.
Then, the vertical stress produced at the centre by each block

=Ir.g
'n' blocks, ,z' is given
area occupies then the vertical stress at any depth by cz:
(6.13)
6.4.2 CONSTRUCTION OF NEWMARK CHART:
(i) Select some definite scale to represent the depth. This circle is denoted by a length .AE!' and
is shown at one comer of the chart.

Thus AB in (cm) : Z in "metres"

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tltt4()91(t
l1

(ii) Drar,r conccntrlc cttclcs b)'cllculatirrg the respective radit'

F'r.cxlrnrple, thc;aclius (1.8r'o1'11",s silcle corresponding to $ilq= 0-8 is equa! to 1.387.r

AB fbr l]oussinesq case attd 3.464 x AB I'or Westergtrat'cl's crtsc.

(iii) Divirje thc irnnular-spirco hctwcclr the circles, into bl0cks l-ry chilurirrg radiitl hnes fl'orn the

centl'e .

Tltus, il'tlie rtunlbct'ol'blocks is 2 0, Ir = I20 = 0'005'

6.4.3 UST, OII NE\ryh,IARK CIIARI.

l.hc InI.lLrel-rce char-t is used tc-r compute the stless L\n an elcttreni r-il'soil beneath a footing

for different putterls. 'fhe footing patteJr rs dt-awn to a scale of 'Z

= length AB as shown in the

chart (Fig 6.9). 'l"he Plan is to t-re placecl on the inflLtence clrart sut:h that i.he point P below which

the strcss is requirecl, is ntacle to coincicle rvith the centre oi the cir,:ics. T'he units (blocks (or)
partial blocks) clccupiecl b,v the footing (s)/or loaded arer iue coui.llccl iN) and the vertical sit'ess at

:, depth Z is conrputed b1' 8q.6. l3'

Tbe main disadvantage of this rnelhr.-rd is thrrt a separitte Dlnrr h;ts ttl be drawn for eaclt

.different depth. Fig 6.9 slrows a typical Newtnark chart l'or Bor"rssinescl's case'
:.. -.-:--i,----

\,
I
\
I' \
I

i ...
\
\
\
t
.'
i
\
I \\
\_
I
I \
I
I

I
I
\
\.\,/_/
i''.-
t'.
i \,
I /
i

i
/
I

it
I

tt
I
/\
l* J'"

tt I
I
I

i_l
_-+-- I

t\\--
t\
I
I

r
I

--Y
I
I
)\
t,
I

l,/
I
I
I
I

i
I

I
I

ltl/
I
I

=--_ .---

F Newnl
ig,6 .9N nlarkts stress

(ti

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c8409/6
1Z
6.5 CONTACT PRESSURIS:
corrtact pressure is tlre
vertical pressure that acts
at tre base trrat is, the
between the base of the surface or.co'ract
sfrucrure ancl the underlying
soil.
A common assumption in foundation
design and pressure distributio,
tlre contact pressLtfe can lrc carculatio' is that
consirjerecj as unjforrn.
This however is nol con.ect.
causes a dish-shaped pattern A unjfi:nn stress
of settlentent' in order to
procruce a uniftrnn
settrement, t.e contact

ililr;;ilffi"*il jff::" orloarlerr area and decrease'ear

the cenrrar rine provided

The contact pressrrre rlistribution

is affected by the fbrowing
(i) factors;
Flexural rigidityof the footing.
(ii) Elastic properties of the
supporting soil.
(iii)Size and shape of the
footing.
(iv)Depth of the base
of footing below the ground
level. \.
(v) Magnitude and clistribution
of load.
6.5.1 Contact pressure on
Base of Flexural footings:
A flexible footing is free to deflect
to the form of a bowr
due to a unifonnly
load' I'he contact pressure clistribution distr:ibuted
is uniform inespecti e
6.10) of the una.rtuirl
, tg naterial (FiS

Fig 6.10 Contact pressure:

Under flexible footing
6.5.2 Contact prtissurC on
Base of Rigid footings:
Since the settlement of the
base of a perfectly rigid
footing has got to be
contact pressure distribution uniform, the
shourd be in such a miurner
that wourd produce uniforrn
of the loaded area, settlement

If
the footing is supported
by a homogeneous and erastic
contact pressure will be
medium (such as clay),
the
' minirnum at the centre and increases towards
the edge of the footing
6'l1a)' This is because' in order @ig
to obtain uniform settlement,
''from the apartof the load has to be
centre towards the edges shifted
of the footing. on the
oth.. hund, if a sandy
the footing , the settlement soil is supporting
is more at the edges than
at the centre. Uniform
setilement can be

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l3
'CIr40 9l(t

ft'r:m a tnztximum itl

distr.ibution is suctr that its intensity r-lccrenses
obtaittccl onlY rvhcn the load
eclges (paraholic). At thc outet'cclgcs
lio resiStane:e 1o defornration
thc i-:t)ntl-c tcl a minimunr at the
result (Fig
the conl,act pressltl'c nevel cxceecls Zero as a
is ol'l'crcd bi' a coiresiorriess soil and
(r.lllrt
soil
materiar that is in.c.'recliate a purely cohesive
Iriur a 1-ooring supportccr rry a subgracle

an tl pttr.clycclhesionlesssoil,thecontactpl.essufeclistributionwilllreashorvnirrFig(6.1tc)'
Lt

ltom the centle l'ou'arcls the edges (cufve Cr)'

As
A t stll all loads, the contact pIeSSuIe inct'eases
erJges remain unaltered
at the centfe increases' while that at the'
tl're lo ircj increases, the pressure

(C:) Wlrenthelootrrrgisloadedtoitstiltirnate\,{llue,ttrelrre-ssrueattlrecentreincrcases:while
at thc cdges it still remains tlie sarne (Cr)' ,

a-*r/ \.r-----.';;
',lli'" \i ll H{
\,1
iiii iI L

ril
Ll' \ii
'\,i

(a) (a;

pressure at the buse of a smootlt rigid fboting

Fig.6.11 Distrihution of contact
(a) clayey soil (b) cohesionless soil (c) C $ soil'
-

inrespect<rl'colresivesoil,thesttessintensityisirrfinrteatt.hr:eciges,theoreticalll,.Butin
practice,)ocalyiolrtingorshear.ingotsoilintheregionsofhislrcontactplessureoccurswlrich
.il plessure at the edge.s to ti'ite varues.
in re.spect of s:rnds' there is n.
results a reciuction of the

confiningpressurer]uetoor,etbur.denanclhencenoshearsfiengtli.lthisresultsinZ.et.oconteict
pressufeattheeclges.Flowever,ifthefounclationisbelowthesurfaceofthesand'slrearstrength
eclges with the resuit that pressure
distribution tends to be unifomr'
<ievelops at the

6.6 WORKE,D trXAh{PI,IlS :.

with rl roacl 400kN/ml. compute the
is uniforrnly loaded
6.(i.1 A square footing of 3mx3m
6m below il poinr T50nrm irrside each of
the
intensityofvefticalstressata depth of
a4iacenl sides

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-{Ltt, e'(J .L \
{:h"4$gl6 14

-t---* *f
I

,lt2 t * 5nt
I

f-* r . Snrd
I,-igu t'e

lozided area is divided into 4 r:clulal prarts. Each part is a sqr.iirt i., of sit.le i.5m.

i.e 1.5< !:--:q ==-/a1.

fJence Equirralent point Irxrcl rnethod is applicable .

ioad on each scluare - I .5 x I .5 x 400

: 9(i0 kiti
Square No.
=f,rTG;i z(n) t-:;;-_
r.-i;\Iil'
1'"(;l j
1 6r-+ 6 0,41 0

L ffit 6 I oss4 ,..1.

_{ 55
-.1

-) t5 6 0.2s 0.41 0

4 0 6 0 0.477

rIts - r "652
oz =r Ir,
900
36

- 41 .3 kN/m2
{i.6.2 Compute the stress under centre of the footing shown in figure at a depth of lOm. The
loading intensity diagram is shown at top and the plan of the ioaded ar ea below that.

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(F,1091{, t5

nrl

i.l

! - ui*-
.. 1.-_*_
c
----tB,'0..-J
i*-- /4n-t-i 6rn i"-- t+n,----A I

ft'igurr:
(t) Cor:srder rccilrngie AiICD u'iilr the lroint 'P'., it is cii ,,,ide,J of l6rnx(rm sizc
witli a loar-l intc',i,sity 150 ki\ii ln2. '['lie llclint 'F' i'orrrils ihc four reciilnglcs.
This concli ticxi rs rei-lLrireii tc use Fadirfij's cl'ilrrt (Fig{r 5).
(ii) Consider figure FlFGli. 'fliis can also be divided into fclui rectangles ol'size 6rnx4ln. IJere
also, P l'oi:nts tlre comel ior: thcse lbur teciengles. T'he ioaci inrerlr:,ii:1, ili this po(iorr is ,i50-
150 = 200 i..Ninr?.

For the first case

L - 18 -1.8:-E:: -5 =0.6
21 r0 7. l0
Fronr Fig 6.5; Isr = 0.1-5

For the second cast:

[. 6 n_ tJ ,\
= =: 0.6 : = t,t.ttr
Z ]O Z
Front Fi-e 6.5 ) lrsz- 0.08 .

Gz = ci.In

- I50 (4x0. l5) -i- 200 (4x0"08)

= 90 4- 6i[

= 154ki\ini2
')
6.6.3 r\ ooting 2mx2m can'ies
_ ......
f a Llnifr:lrn iotrding intensity 500 kli/rir 'r\ nat wi il be tire i;tl'r:ss
indLlced at a ciepti'i clf 8nr Usr: 2 : I approximate tnethod.

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cE 40et6
I6

G%Erk|'.ts..-_.1F

- -.1L___{' Lvn l**- {I

t,

Figure
The size of the footing =2mx2m
Load at base level of the footing : J 00x2x2
:2000 kN
At a depth of 8m, the base arcawill be : l0x l0 : 100m2

Load intensity at a clepth of grn

6'6'4 An elevated structure with a total weight

of 10,000 kN is supported on a tower with 4 legs.
The legs rest on piers loaded at the corners of
a square 6m on a side. what is the vertical
stress increment due to this loading at a point
7m beneath the centre of structure ?

I
2500KN
A to
alB
I

I
6wt I

I g.n

k4'r41
Figure
Weight transfened to each pier
10000 _.,
4
-
1500 kN

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,cli40g/6
17

The load ciln lrc approxInt;rte cl Io il point load actingg al l"he cornel's of' a srlllare of 6rn srde. l'he
ve rtical strcs:s ls t o lrc c irlcu l irle cl at J m depth be lov,,. Florizclntal distancc r- l}om eetch tlf' the loacl
is equal to

.:.4T - 4243rrt
l- j:lt
rl
,3Q

2r[ 7-,2

Lr=2500 l(N'^ Z-Jnt:

Venical stress increase duer l-o is equnl to

=4x11.143
= 44.5'7 KN/nrr.
6.7 ASSIGNMENTS
6.1.1 An excavatton upto 5rn depth was made for a builcling whoscr plan clinrensions are 60rn x
40rn. Theexcavatecl soil hadaunitweightof lgkNimt. Fincltherecluctioninverticll strcssclue
to the removai o1'sc-;il l-r1, sxg41z21lon at a point 20m below the gr-ouncl level (a) Uncler the
centre of the building (b) Llncier the corner of a building.

6,7.2 A footing 4m x 4n't exerts a uniform prcssurc of 200 kN'rnr2 on tlie surface of a slr-atifiecl
deposit of soil. Find the vertical stress due to the fboting at a point situated at a depth of lOm

below the centre of the footing, by Westergaard's method.

[Hint: Use the equil,alent point load rnethod. Assume p = 0].

6.7.3 Four
;,,
column loads, 1000 kN each are spaced to fbrm a squarc 4mx4m. Determine tlre
vertical stress jncrement at a depth of lOm belorv the centre o1' the sqllal'e using Boussinesq
Theory.

6,7.4 Tlrree concentrated loacis of dOOO KN, 1000 KN and 2000 KN, spacecl at 4.5m and 3.5m

betrveen the llrst ancl second and second and third loads, are actirrg jn one vertical plarre at the
surface of a soii mass. Calucate the resultant stress procluced by tirese ioads on a horizontal plane

1.5m below the surface, at points dir:ectly belolv the loads and also half-way between them. Plot

the curve showing tlre vertjcal stress distribr:tion.

**{<

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