CHAPTER 10:

STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

FUNDAMENTALS OF
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS
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10.1 INTRODUCTION

Construction of a foundation causes changes in the stress, usually

a net increase. The net stress increase in the soil depends on the
load per unit area to which the foundation is subjected, the
depth below the foundation at which the stress estimation is
desired, and other factors. It is necessary to estimate the net
increase of vertical stress in soil that occurs as a result of the
construction of a foundation so that settlement can be calculated.
CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS
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10.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter discusses the principles of estimation of vertical stress increase in soil caused
by various types of loading, based on the theory of elasticity. It includes:

 Determination of normal and shear stresses on an inclined plane with known stresses on a two-
dimensional stress element
 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
 Uniformly loaded circular area
 Uniformly loaded rectangular area
CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.2 Normal and Shear Stresses on a Plane

CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.2 Normal and Shear Stresses on a Plane

CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.2 Normal and Shear Stresses on a Plane

CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.2 Normal and Shear Stresses on a Plane

CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.2 Normal and Shear Stresses on a Plane (Mohr’s Circle)

The normal stress and shear stress
that act on any plane can also be
determined by plotting a Mohr’s
circle, as shown in Figure 10.2. The
following sign conventions are used
in Mohr’s circles: Compressive
normal stresses are taken as positive,
and shear stresses are considered
positive if they act on opposite faces
of the element in such a way that
they tend to produce a
counterclockwise rotation.

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.2 Normal and Shear Stresses on a Plane (Mohr’s Circle)

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.2 Normal and Shear Stresses on a Plane (Mohr’s Circle)

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.2 Normal and Shear Stresses on a Plane (Mohr’s Circle)

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.2 Normal and Shear Stresses on a Plane (Mohr’s Circle)

Example 10. 2 Find the principal Stress, Maximum Shear
Stress and the stresses along the failure plan as shown.

80kPa 80kPa

25 deg

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.2 Normal and Shear Stresses on a Plane (Mohr’s Circle)

Example 10. 3

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.4 STRESSES DUE TO POINT LOAD

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.4 STRESSES DUE TO POINT LOAD

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.4 STRESSES DUE TO POINT LOAD

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.4 STRESSES DUE TO POINT LOAD

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.5 Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Line Load

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.5 Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Line Load

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10.6 Vertical Stress Caused by A Horizontal Line Load

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.6 Vertical Stress Caused by A Horizontal Line Load

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.7 Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Strip Load (Finite Width

and Infinite Length)

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.7 Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Strip Load (Finite Width

and Infinite Length)

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.7 Vertical Stress Caused by a Vertical Strip Load (Finite Width

and Infinite Length)

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.8 Vertical Stress Caused by a Linearly Increasing Vertical

Loading on an Infinite Strip

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.8 Vertical Stress Caused by a Linearly Increasing Vertical

Loading on an Infinite Strip

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.11 Vertical Stress at any point below a Uniformly Loaded

Circular Area

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.11 Vertical Stress at any point below a Uniformly Loaded

Circular Area

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.11 Vertical Stress at any point below a Uniformly Loaded

Circular Area

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.11 Vertical Stress at any point below a Uniformly Loaded

Circular Area

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.11 Vertical Stress at any point below a Uniformly Loaded

Circular Area

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.11 Vertical Stress at any point below a Uniformly Loaded

Circular Area

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.12 Vertical Stress at any point below a Rectangularly

Loaded Area
Boussinesq’s solution can also be used to
calculate the vertical stress increase below a
flexible rectangular load area, as shown in the
figure below.

The loaded area is located at the ground surface

and has length L and width B.

The uniformly distributed load per unit area is

equal to q.

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.12 Vertical Stress at any point below a Rectangularly

Loaded Area
The increase in the stress at point A caused by the
entire loaded area can now be determined the equation:

1  2m' n' m'2  n'2  1  m'2  n'2  2    ' '

1 2m n m'2  n'2  1 
I3   '2 '2  '2 '2    tan  '2 '2 
4 2 '2
 m  n  m ' n  1  m  n  1   m  n  m '2 '2
n  1 
 

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.12 Vertical Stress at any point below a Rectangularly

Loaded Area
The loaded area can be divided into four rectangles as
shown below.

The total stress increase caused by the entire loaded area

can be given by

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.12 Vertical Stress at any point below a Rectangularly

Loaded Area

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.12 Vertical Stress at any point below a Rectangularly

Loaded Area

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.12 Vertical Stress at any point below a Rectangularly

Loaded Area

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CHAPTER 10: STRESSES IN SOIL MASS

10.12 Vertical Stress at any point below a Rectangularly

Loaded Area

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