5/27/2021

Bossinessq Formula and

Westergaard Formula
POINT LOAD
Vertical stress increase due to various type of
Loading

2. Line load: Strip Load

BOSSINESS
FORMULA
Q
POINT LOAD

Q
y r
z L
P
x
r P

1
 5/27/2021

The vertical stress due to point load Q:

Q
𝜎 =
( ) Assumption:
1. The soil mass is elastic, isotropic,
Let: homogenous and semi infinite.
2. The soil is weightless. z L
𝐼 =
( ) 3. The load is a point on the surface.
r P
𝑄
𝜎 = [𝐼 ]
𝑧
Where:
Q= Point Load
r= radius of the point at which stress is requires.
z= depth at which stress is required.

If r=0 then, 𝜎 =
The IB has a maximum value of 0.48 at
1 r/z=0 that indicate the stress is a
𝜎 𝛼( )
𝑧 Maximum below the point load
𝜎 𝑧
=
𝜎 𝑧

WESTERGAARD
FORMULA
POINT LOAD

2
 5/27/2021

( )

𝜎 = ( )
( )

𝜇= the poisson’s ratio (for practical purposes 𝜇 is equal to zero

𝜎 =
( )

Let:
1
𝐼 = 𝜋
𝑟
1 + 2( )
𝑧

𝑄
𝜎 = [𝐼 ]
𝑧
The 𝐼 has a value of 0.32 at r/z =0 which is less
than that of 𝐼 by 33%

Problem 1:

A concentrated load of 1000KN is applied at the ground surface. Compute the vertical pressure a.) at a
4m depth below the load b.) at a distance of 3m at the same depth. Use Boussinesq’s and
Westergaard’s Equation
Bossinesq Formula
a.) r=0
𝑄
Q=1000KN Z=4 𝜎 = [𝐼 ]
𝜎 = 𝑧
( )
1000
𝜎 = [0.48]
4
The IB has a maximum value of 0.48at r/z=0 that
z=4 indicate the stress is a Maximum below the point 𝜎 =30Kpa
load
P

b.)
Q=1000KN 𝜎 =
( )

( )
𝜎 =
( )
z=4

r=3 𝜎 = 9.778𝐾𝑁/𝑚
P

3
 5/27/2021

Cont…
 Westergaard Formula: a.)

𝜎 = Q=1000KN
( )

The 𝐼 has a value of 0.32 at r/z=0 which is less

than that of 𝐼 by 33%
z=4
𝑄
𝜎 = [𝐼 ] P
𝑧

1000 b.)
𝜎 = [0.33]
4 Q=1000KN
𝜎 ≈20Kpa

b.) 𝜎 = z=4
( )

r=3 P
𝜎 =
( )

𝜎 = 6.42Kpa

Problem 2: Two Point load

Find stress at P due to both load 100KN and 200KN using
Bossinesq’ formula and Westergaard Formula.

 Bossinessq’s Formula
2m ∑𝜎 =
( )
Q=100KN Q=200KN
100 3(200) 1 1
𝜎 = 0.48 +
3 2𝜋 3 2
1+( )
3
𝜎 = 9.56KN/m^2
z=3m
P  Westergaard Formula:

∑𝜎 =
( )

∑𝜎 = [0.32]+
( )

4.72Kpa.

4
 5/27/2021

Problem 3: A structure load is transmitted through four columns

which are at four corners of a square at size 3m. The total load Q=250KN
of the structure is 1000KN. Find the stress At center of the four Q=250KN
columns at a distance of 2m below of Ground Level
Q=250KN
Q=250KN
3m

Q=250KN Q=250KN

z=2m 3m
3m
r
1.5
3m P 3m 𝑟= 𝑥 +𝑦
1.5
𝜎 = 4𝑥
( )
𝑟= 1.5 + 1.5
3m
𝑟 = 1.5 2 ( )
𝜎 = 4𝑥 .
( )
Try Using Westergaard Formula 𝜎 = 18.13𝐾𝑝𝑎
𝜎 = 13.58𝐾𝑝𝑎

Problem 4:

A rectangular raft size 30x12 m founded at a depth of 2.5m below the ground surface is subjected to
a uniform pressure of 150Kpa. Assume the center of the area is in the origin coordinate (0,0) and the
corners have coordinate of (6,15). Calculate stresses at a depth of 20m below the foundation level
by the methods of a.) Bossinesq coordinates of (0,00)(0,015),(6,0),(6,15) and (10,25). Neglect the
effect of foundation depth of the stresses.
Location r/z IB 𝝈𝒛
Bossinesq Formula
𝑄 0,0 0 0.48 65Kpa
𝜎 = [𝐼 ] 6,0
𝑧
0,15
𝐼 =
( ) 6,15
10,25
q=150Kpa q=
6,15 6,15
,
150= ;Q=54,000KN = =135KN
( )

a.) (0,0) 0,15 0,15

r=0, z=20 0,0
r/z=0
𝐼 = = 0.48 6,15 6,15

10,25

5
 5/27/2021

,
= =135KN
 Continuation 6,15 6,0 6,15
Location r/z IB 𝝈𝒛
0,0 0 0.48 65Kpa
6,0 0.39 0,15 0,15
0.3 52.65KPa 0,0
0,15 0.75 0.16 22Kpa r= 15 + 6
6,15 0.18 0.14 19Kpa 6,15 6,15
10,25 6,0
10,25
b.) (6,0) 𝑄 c.) (0,15) c.) (6,15)
𝜎 = [𝐼 ]
𝑧
r=6m z=20m r=15m z=20m r=3 29m z=20m
𝜎 = 135 0.39 = 52.65𝐾𝑃𝑎
𝐼 = 𝐼 =
𝐼 = ( ) ( )
( )

𝐼 = 0.16 𝐼 = 0.14
𝑄 𝑄
𝐼 = 𝜎 = [𝐼 ] 𝜎 = [𝐼 ]
( ) 𝑧 𝑧

𝐼 = 0.39 𝜎 = 135 0.16 = 22𝐾𝑝𝑎 𝜎 = 135 0.14 = 19 𝐾𝑝𝑎

 Continuation 6,15 6,0 6,15

Location r/z IB 𝝈𝒛
0,0 0 0.48 65Kpa
0,15 0,15
6,0 0.3 0.39 53KPa 0,0
0,15 0.75 0.16 22KPa r= 10 + 25
6,15 0.81 0.14 19KPa 6,15 6,15
6,0
10,25 1.35 0.036 5Kpa
10,25

c.) (10,25)

r=5 29 m z=20m

𝐼 =
( )

𝐼 = 0.036
𝑄
𝜎 = [𝐼 ]
𝑧
𝜎 = 135(0.036) = 5𝐾𝑝𝑎

6
 5/27/2021

BOSSINESS
FORMULA
P
LINE LOADING

 Vertical Stress, 𝜎

𝜎 = [ ]
𝜎

Let Iz: 2
𝐼 = 𝜋
𝜎 𝑥
1+
𝑧

𝑞
𝜎 = [𝐼 ]
𝑧

The 𝐼 is the influence factor

equal to 0.637 at x/z=0
Where:
q= load per unit length (KN/m)
z= depth
x= distance from line load

7
 5/27/2021

Problem: 1
Three parallel strip footing 3m wide each and 5m apart center to center transmit contact pressure
of 200,150, and 100KN/m respectively. Calculate the vertical stress due to combined loads
beneath the center of each footing at a depth of 2m below the ground surface. Use Boussinesq’s
methods for line loads.

5m 5m

200 150 100

3m 3m 3m

3m

A B C

 Vertical Stress, 𝜎

𝜎 = [

 Vertical stress at point A

∑𝜎 = [
2
100 𝜋
[ + 3 [  Vertical stress at point C
𝜎 = [ + 10
1+
3 ∑𝜎 = [
2
𝜎 = 45KPa 100 𝜋
𝜎 = [ + [ + 3
[
0
1+
3
 Vertical stress at point B
∑𝜎 = [ 𝜎 = 24KPa
2
100 𝜋
𝜎 = [ + [ + 3
[
𝜎 = 36KPa
5
1+
3

8
 5/27/2021

BOSSINESS
FORMULA
STRIP LOADING

 Vertical Stress, 𝜎
𝜎 = [tan − tan − ]

1. ) tan 𝑎𝑛𝑑tan are in radian,

2. for point P, if x=0 to ≤ : tan becomes 𝜋 +
𝜎 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒, 𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎
𝑡𝑎𝑛 − 𝑥
𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑥 > .
3. B=2b
𝜎

9
 5/27/2021

Problem 1:

Referring to the figure: B=4m and q=100Kpa. For

point P. z =1m and x=1m
Determine the vertical stress at 𝜎 at point P.

Solution:
X=1m z=1m, B=4m B=2b b= 2m

Check:
if x=0 to ≤ : B/2 =2

tan becomes (𝜋 + tan ) 𝜎

 Vertical Stress, 𝜎
𝜎 = [𝜋 + tan − tan − ] 𝜎

( )( )
𝜎 = [𝜋 + tan − tan − ]
( )

𝜎 = 90Kpa

10