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8 Stress Distribution 2024 - 01
8 Stress Distribution 2024 - 01
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Distribution of Applied Stresses
As the depth increases, the foundation load P stays the
same, the area over which the load is distributed, A,
increases and the stress, q decreases.
P Area A
P/A=q (psf)
A increases, P stays
the same, q decreases
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Distribution of Applied Stresses
• The applied loads produce corresponding increases in the
vertical stress, σv in the soil.
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Distribution of Applied Stresses
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Distribution of Applied Stresses
Contact Pressure and Settlement in clay
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Distribution of Applied Stresses
Contact Pressure and Settlement in Sand
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Stresses in a Soil Mass
Stresses at a point in a soil layer are caused by:
‐ Self weight of the soil layers (overburden stress)
‐ Applied load (from buildings, bridges, dams etc)
Load types;
- Point loads e.g. electricity poles, light stands,
columns etc
- Lines loads e.g. rail tracks, strip foundations
- Rectangular loads e.g. rafts or rectangular footings
- Circular loads e.g. tanks
- Earth embankment loads e.g. road, railway, soil fill
etc.
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Determination of Vertical Stress Increase
Assumptions
• Uniform distribution of contact pressure is assumed.
• Soil is assumed to have elastic behaviour (linear
stress-strain relationship).
• The soil mass is assumed to be:
- homogeneous, and
- isotropic.
• Soil is assumed to be semi infinite – extends
infinitely in all directions from the ground surface.
(the only boundary is the ground surface)
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Boussinesq’s Equation
• The stress distribution in soil is estimated based on a theory
by Boussinesq.
• In 1885, Boussinesq derived a relationship for the stress at a
point beneath the location of a point load on the surface of
the mass.
• Developed an equation to model the stress at any point in a
mass due to the point load.
• The equation was based on an elastic, homogeneous and
isotropic material.
• The relationship he developed is used to obtain the stresses
at different depths in a soil.
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Boussinesq’s Equation
Point Load
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Boussinesq’s Equation
where :
P = Surface point load applied at the ground
sz = Vertical stress increase at any depth z and
distances in directions x and y from the point
load
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Point Load
From;
If : x2 + y2 + z2 = R2
then:
where:
R = the distance from the point of loading
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Point Load
From;
Then;
Or:
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Point Load
Boussinesq equation is reduced to;
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Vertical stress distribution under a concentrated load
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FIGURE 2 Vertical stress versus depth.
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Vertical stress versus r. 20
Stress due to a Uniform Line Load
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Stress due to a Uniform Line Load
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Distributed Loads / Stresses
Strip Loads (L >> B)
– Wall Footings
– Embankments
Rectangular Loads (B x L)
– Spread Footings (rectangular, square)
– Mat/Raft Foundations
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Uniformly Loaded Rectangular Strip
z
q
z sin cos( 2 ) q I
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Table 3 Influence factors for vertical stress due to a uniform strip load
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Uniformly Loaded Triangular Strip
q x 1
z c 2 sin 2 ) q I
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Table 4 Influence factors for vertical stress due to a triangular strip load
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Long embankment
- To determine the vertical stress increase, sv beneath the centre of
a long embankment.
- Split the embankment down the middle and use the chart for
determining stress beneath one half of an embankment.
Point of interest 29
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Long embankment
Multiply by 2 the final result obtained from using the charts. (i.e.,
for two parts of the embankment).
Point of interest 31
Directly below the centre of a Circular Area
z
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Directly below the centre of a Circular Area
z
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Points away from the centre of a Circular Area
2r
qo
z
x
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Below the corner of a Rectangular Area
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Below the corner of a Rectangular Area
sv = q·I3
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Below the corner of a Rectangular Area
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Below a point within the Rectangular Area
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Below a point within the Rectangular Area
The vertical stress below a point within and outside a uniformly
loaded rectangular area of width B and length L
sv = q·I4
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