CVG3109 Fall 2016

SOIL MECHANICS (I)

Course Instructor

Zhong Han PhD, EIT

CBY A019
nicholas.han@hotmail.com
(613)562-5800 Ext. 6197

B.C > Load

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Temporary prestressing rings

Temporary Counterweight
(7000 kN)

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Typical relationship

Elastic-perfectly plastic

Rigid-perfectly plastic model

Elastic-strain hardening, softening

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 The elastic theory studies have shown that vertical stress

increment at a given point below the surface due to foundation
loading is insensitive to a relatively wide range of soil
characteristics such as heterogeneity, anisotropy, and
nonlinearity of the stress versus strain relationships
Isotropic soil: identical elastic properties throughout the mass
and in every direction through any point
Homogeneous soil: identical elastic properties at every point of
mass in identical directions

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 Common assumptions in elastic

theories (Boussinesqs analysis)
Soil mass is an elastic medium (E is
constant)

Soil mass is isotropic and

homogeneous
Soil mass is semi-infinite in nature
(i.e., it extends indefinitely in all
directions below a level surface)

Above assumptions are valid for

most soils, except for loose sands
and soft clays

Joseph Valentin Boussinesq

(1842 - 1929)

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 The stresses within a semi-infinite, homogeneous, isotropic

mass, with a linear stressstrain relationship, due to a point
load on the surface, were determined by Boussinesq in 1885
5/2

3Q 1
z

2 z 2 r 2
1
z

Q 3r 2 z
1 2

2.5
2 r 2 z 2
r2 z2 z r2 z2

Q
z
1

1 2 2 2 1.5 2 2
2
r z
r z z r2 z2

3Q
rz 2

rz
2

2 r z 2 2.5

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5/2

Q
3Q 1
z 2 IQ
z

2 z 2 r 2
z
1
z
IQ: Boussinesq's Influence
3
I

Q
factor (function of r/z)
2

5/2

2
1 r
z

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 Directly below the point load

0.478 Q
z2

Vertical stress at z = 0: infinite

Variation of vertical total stress

induced by point load
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 The stresses due to surface loads distributed over a particular

area (e.g. a footing) can be obtained by integration from the
point load solutions.
The stresses at a point due to more than one surface load are
obtained by superposition.
In practice, loads are not usually applied directly on the surface,
but the results for surface loading can be applied conservatively
in problems concerning loads at a shallow depth.

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 The vertical stress at point X due to a line load of Q per unit

length on the surface

2Q
z3

z
2
x2 z 2

2Q x 2 z
x
x 2 z 2 2

2Q xz 2
y
x 2 z 2 2

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 Estimation of the lateral pressure on an earth retaining structure

and thrust due to a line load on the surface of the backfill

2Q

1
Px
m2 1

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 Example 1
Determine the increase in the stress at point A due to the two line
loads.

z
Q2 = 10 kN/m
2m

z1 z 2

Q1 = 15 kN/m
2m

1.5 m

Superposition

3
2Q1
z13
2
Q
z
2
2

2
2
x12 z12 x2 2 z2 2

3
2 15 1.53
2

10
1.5

2
2
22 1.52
42 1.52

0.825 0.065 0.89kPa

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 Superposing a series of point loads acting over an area of width

B, it can be shown that the stresses at point X due to a uniform
pressure q on a strip area of width B and infinite length are given
in terms of the angles a and defined in the figure

a sin a cos a 2

q
x a sin a cos a 2

sin a sin a 2

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 Superposing a series of point loads acting over an area of width

B, it can be shown that the stresses at point X due to a uniform
pressure q on a strip area of width B and infinite length are given
in terms of the angles a and defined in the figure

a sin a cos a 2

q
x a sin a cos a 2

sin a sin a 2

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 The vertical stress at depth z

under the center of a circular
area of diameter D = 2R
carrying a uniform pressure q
3/2

qI c
z q 1
2
1 R / z

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 A solution has been obtained for the vertical stress induced at

depth z under a corner of a rectangular area of dimensions mz
and nz carrying a uniform pressure q

z qI qr
1
I qr
4

2
2
2mn m 2 n 2 1 m 2 n 2 2
2
mn
m

n
1
1

tan
2 2
2 2
2 2
2
2
2 2
m

m
n

1
m

1
m

m
n 1

(Influence of factor)

m L / z;n B / z

(m and n are interchangeable)

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 n = for rectangular area of infinite length, n = m for a square

area
Rectangle boundaries for the four basic cases of load
superposition

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 Isobar Diagram
Contour connecting all points below the ground surface of
equal pressure
Curved surface of the shape of a bulb
A number of isobars corresponding to the different pressure
intensities
The zone lying inside the vertical stress contour of value 0.2q is
described as the bulb of pressure, and represents the zone of
soil which is expected to contribute significantly to the
settlement of the foundation under the applied bearing
pressure

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Contours of equal vertical stress: (a) under a strip area, (b) under a square area
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 Example 2
Given:
A 5 x 10 m area uniformly loaded with 100 kPa
Required
Find the stress at a depth of 5 m under point A

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(L)
(B)

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 Example 3
A flexible area shown below is uniformly loaded. Determine the
vertical stress increase at point A
r

m and n
3/2

1
z q 1
2
2
R

1
z

q Ic

(half) Circle

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 Approximate method (2:1 method)

Reasonably accurate (compared with Boussinesqs elastic
solution) when Z > B
Geotechnical engineers often use this approximate method in
preliminary analyses

q0 B L
z
B z L z

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 Newmarks Influence Chart

Newmark extended Boussinesq solution to determine vertical
stress at any point below any area of any shape carrying a
uniform pressure, q

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 Newmarks Influence Chart

a. Set the scale, shown on the chart, equal to the depth at which
the increase in vertical stress is required (depth scale)
b. Identify the point on the loaded area below which the stress is
required
c. Plot the loaded area using the depth scale with point A at the
center of the chart
d. Count the number of the segments (N)

e. Calculate the increase in vertical stress

z I N N q

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 Example 4
Find the increase in vertical
stress produced by the
column footing at point A.

660
z ( I N )( N ) q0 0.005 48.5
17.78 kPa
3

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