Lesson IV - Stresses in Soil

In a given volume of soil, the solid particles are distributed randomly with void spaces between. The
void spaces are continuous and are occupied by water and/or air. To analyze problems such as
compressibility of soils, bearing capacity of foundations, stability of embankments, and lateral pressure
on earth-retaining structures, we need to know the nature of the distribution of stress along a given
cross section of the soil profile.

In-Situ Stresses in Soil

a. Intergranular Stress, pE (Effective Stress) - is the stress resulting from particle to particle
contact of soil.
pE = pT - pW

b. Pore Water Pressure, pW (Neutral Stress) - the stress induced by water-pressure

pW = ��ℎ�

c. Total Stress, pT - the sum of the effective and neutral stresses

pT = pW + pE

1. Stress in Soil Without Seepage

At point A:
Total stress, �� = �� ℎ4 + �
Neutral stress, �� = 0
Effective stress, �� = �� − ��

At point B
Total stress, �� = ����1 ℎ5 + �� ℎ1 + �
Neutral stress, �� = �� ℎ5
Effective stress, �� = �� − �� = ��1 ℎ5 + �� ℎ1 + �

At point C
Total stress, �� = ����3 ℎ3 + ����1 ℎ2 + �� ℎ1 + �
Neutral stress, �� = �� ℎ6
Effective stress, �� = �� − �� = ��2 ℎ3 + ��1 ℎ2 + �� ℎ1 + �

2. Stress in Saturated Soil with Seepage

2.1 Upward Seepage
Hydraulic gradient, i = h/H2
h1 = i x z1 = i(h/H2)

The seepage force per unit volume of soil is:

F = i��

At point A:
Total stress, �� = �� �1
Neutral stress, �� = �� �1
Effective stress, �� = �� − �� = 0

At point B
Total stress, �� = ���� �1 + ���1
Neutral stress, �� = �� (�1 + �1 + ℎ1 )
 Effective stress, �� = �� − �� = �� �1 − �� ℎ1

At point C
Total stress, �� = ���� �2 + �� �1
Neutral stress, �� = �� (�2 + �1 + ℎ)
Effective stress, �� = �� − �� = �� �2 − ��ℎ

2.2 Downward Seepage

Hydraulic gradient, i = h/H2
h1 = i x z1 = i(h/H2)

At point A:
Total stress, �� = �� �1
Neutral stress, �� = �� �1
Effective stress, �� = �� − �� = 0

At point B
Total stress, �� = ���� �1 + ���1
Neutral stress, �� = �� (�1 + �1 − ℎ1 )
Effective stress, �� = �� − �� = �� �1 + �� ℎ1

At point C
Total stress, �� = ���� �2 + �� �1
Neutral stress, �� = �� (�2 + �1 − ℎ)
Effective stress, �� = �� − �� = �� �2 + ��ℎ

Effect of Capillary Rise to Soil Stress

Capillary rise in soil is demonstrated on the following figure. A sandy soil is placed in contact with water.
After a certain period, water rises and the variation of the degree of saturation with the height of the
soil column caused by capillary rise is approximately given in the figure.

The degree of saturation is about 100% up to a height h1. Beyond the height h1, water can occupy only
the smaller voids, hence the degree of saturation is less than 100%.
The approximate height of capillary rise is given by Hazen as:

�
ℎ2 =
��10
where D10 = effective grain size, e = void ratio, and C = a constant that varies from 10 to 50 mm2.

The pore water pressure, pw at a point in the layer of soil fully saturated by capillary rise is:

�� =− �� ℎ

Where h is the height of the point under consideration measured from the ground water table.

If a partial saturation is caused by capillary action, the pore water pressure, pW, can be approximated as:

�� =− ���ℎ

Where S is the degree of saturation at the point under consideration.

Consider the soil layer shown in the figure.

At point A:
Total stress, �� = �1 ℎ1 + �2 ℎ2
Neutral stress, �� = −��� ℎ3

At point B
Total stress, �� = �1 ℎ1 + �2 ℎ
Neutral stress, �� = 0

At point C
Total stress, �� = �1 ℎ1 + �2 ℎ + �3 ℎ4
Neutral stress, �� = �� ℎ4

Example:
1. The ground water level in a thick, very fine sand deposit is located 2.0m below the ground surface.
Above the free ground water line, the sand is saturated by capillary action. The unit weight of the
saturated sand is 20.3kN/m3.
a. What is the total stress in kPa on a horizontal plane A located 4.5m below the ground surface?
b. What is the pore water pressure in kPa at this plane?
c. What is the effective vertical stress in kPa in plane A?

Solution:
a. Total stress in A
pT = 20.3(2.5) + 20.3(2)
pT = 91.35kPa

b. Pore water pressure in A

pW = 9.81(2.5)
pW = 24.525kPa

c. Effective stress in A
pE = pT - pw
pE = 91.35 - 24.525
pE = 66.825kPa
2. A dense silt layer has the following properties: void ratio = 0.40, effective diameter d10 = 10 μ m,
capillary constant C = 0.20 cm2. Free ground water level is 8m below the ground surface.
a. Find the height of capillary rise the silt. Capillary rise is given as h = C/eD10.
b. Find the vertical effective stress in kPa at 5m depth. Assume unit weight of solids =
26.5kN/m3 and that the soil above the capillary action rise and ground surface is partially
saturated is 50%.
c. Find the vertical effective stress at 10m depth. Assume unit weight of solids = 26.5kN/m3 and
that the soil above the capillary action rise and ground surface is partially saturated at 50%.

Solution:
a. Capillary rise
C 0.20
h = eD = 0.4(10x10−4 ) = 500cm = ��
10

b. Vertical effective stress at 5m depth

Solving for �1 and ����
-Solve for the specific gravity of the soil
�� = �� �
26.5 = 9.81G
G = 2.701

�+��
�1 = �
1+� �
2.701+0.5(0.4)
�1 = 1+0.4
(9.81)
�1 = 20.33kN/m3

�+�
���� = 1+� ��
2.701+(0.4)
���� = 1+0.4 (9.81)
���� = 21.73kN/m3

Vertical effective stress at A:

Total stress at A:
pT = 21.73(2) + 20.33(3)
pT = 104.45kPa

Pore water stress at A (within capillary rise)

pW = -9.81(3)
pW = -29.43kPa

�� = �� + ��
104.45 = pE + (-29.43)
pE = 133.88kPa

c. Vertical effective stress at B

pE = (21.73 - 9.81)(2) + 21.73(5) + 20.33(3)
pE = 193.48kPa
3. Consider the upward flow of water through a layer of sand in a tank shown in the figure. For the sand,
the following properties are given: e = 0.40, G = 2.67.
a. Calculate the effective stress at point A.
b. Calculate the effective stress at point B.
c. Calculate the upward seepage force per unit volume of soil.

Solution:
�+�
a. ���� = 1+� ��
2.67+0.4
���� = 1+0.4 (9.81)
���� = 21.51kN/m3

h
i=H
2
1.5
i= 2
i = 0.75

Effective stress at point A:

pT = 21.51(1) + 9.81(0.7)
pT = 28.377kPa

pW = 9.81hA
hA = 1 + 0.7 + h’
hA = 1 + 0.7 + iz
hA = 1 + 0.7 + 0.75(1)
hA = 2.45m

pW = 9.81(2.45)
pW = 24.0345kPa

�� = �� − ��
�� = 28.377 − 24.0345
pE = 4.343kPa

b. Effective stress at point B

pT = 21.51(2) + 9.81(0.7)
pT = 49.887kPa

pW = 9.81(2 + 0.7 + 1.5)

pW = 41.202kPa

�� = �� − ��
�� = 49.887 − 41.202
pE = 8.865kPa

c. Seepage force per unit volume of soil = iγw

i = h/L = 1.5/2 = 0.75
Seepage force per unit volume of soil = 0.75(9.81) = 7.3575kN/m3
4. Consider the downward flow of water through a layer of sand in a tank shown in the figure. For the
sand, the following properties are given: e = 0.48, G = 2.7
a. Determine the saturated unit weight of sand in kN/m3.
b. Determine the effective stress at point A in kPa.
c. Determine the effective stress at point B in kPa.

Solution:
a. i = h/L = i1/L1 = 1.2/2.5 = 0.48
�+�
���� = �
1+� �
2.7+0.48
���� = (9.81)
1+0.48
���� = ��. �����/��

b. Effective stress at A
h2 = iL2 = 0.48(0.8) = 0.384m

y2 = 0.6 + 0.8 - 0.384 = 1.016m

pT = 21.078(0.8) + 9.81(0.6)
pT = 22.748kPa

pE = pT - pW
pE = 22.748 - 9.81(1.016)
pE = 12.78kPa

c. Effective stress at point B

y1 = 0.6 + 2.5 - 1.2 = 1.9m

pT = 21.078(2.5) + 9.81(0.6)
pT = 58.581kPa

pE = pT - pW
pE = 58.581 - 9.81(1.9)
pE = 39.942kPa