7/15/2017 Total, Effective & Natural Stress

Total, Effective & Natural Stress

As mention before, the soil consist of the solid particles which distributed randomly with void spaces in between, the void spaces are
occupied by water and/or air. We need to known the cross section of soil profile.

Under Ground Surface (GS) or (G.L) ground level to calculate the stresses on the element. It means the column of the soil weight in
the nature case as shown in fig. (1).There are many types of stresses the total stress, natural stress and effective stress.

At point (A) in fig.(1).

sT = h

where:

sT : Total stress at point A

: Unit weight of soil

h : The high of the soil column

For Multi layer soil

In this case as shown in Fig (2)

sT = 1h1 + 2h2 + 3h3

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In case, the soil is define under the water, the total stress at point A can be obtained from the saturated unit weight of the soil and unit
weight of water.

sT = h1. W + h2. Sat

where:

h1 : High of the water

h2 : High of the soil

W : Unit weight of water

Sat : Saturated unit weight of soil

sT : Total stress on the soil at point A

There are different kind of stresses beside the total stress, as natural stress and effective stress.

Show fig (4) there are (G.W.L) ground water level at (G.S) ground surface. Total stress at point A

sT = Sat . h

uA = W . h

se = Sub . h

where:
uA : Natural Stress at Point A Equal Uplift

se : Effective stress at point A

We can say that

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se = sT U

At point B as shown in fig.(5).

sT = dry . h1 + wet . h2 + Sat . h3

uB = w . h4

se = sT u

= dry . h1 + wet . h2 + Sat . h3 W . h4

= dry . h1 + wet . h2 + Sat (h3 - h4) - Sub . h4

Profile of the stress on soil:

The stress profile shown in fig. (6).

At point (1):

Total stress sT = 1.h1

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Natural stress u1 =0

Effective stress se = 1.h1

At point (2):

Total stress sT = 1.h1 + h2. 2Sat

Natural stress u2 = W.h2

Effective stress se = 1.h1 + h2. 2sub

At point (A):

Total stress sT = 1.h1 + h2. 2Sat + h3. 3Sat

Natural stress uA = W. (h2 + h3)

Effective stress se = 1.h1 + h2. 2sub + h3. 3sub

Example:

Find out the natural and effective stress at depth of 15 meter

below the ground surface for the following condition. Water table 3.0
m below the ground level for the soil GS = 2.65, e = 0.7, average
moisture content of the soil above the water table 5%.

Solution:

Above the G.W.T:

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= = 1.56 ton/m3

wet = dry (1 + WC)

= 1.56 (1 + 0.05)

= 1.64 ton/m3

Under Ground water table

= 0.97 ton/m3

At point (A):

se = 1.h1 + sub. h2

= 1.64 3 + 0.97 12

= 16.57 ton/ m3

uA = W . h

= 1 12

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= 12 ton/m3

Relative Density:

The relative density is commonly used to indicate the in situ denseness or looseness of granular soil it is defined as:

Dr =

Where:

Dr : Relative density, usually given as a percentage.

ef : in situ void ratio of the soil.

emax : Its max. void ratio it is happen at loosest condition

emin : Its min. void ratio it is happen at densest condition

emax dry min

emin dry max

Range of the value of Dr may vary from a minimum of zero for very loose soil to max of 100 % for very dense soil.

At Dr = 0 ef = emax very loose

At Dr = 100 % ef = emax very dense

Dr % Description of soil
0 15 Very loose
15 50 Loose

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50 70 Medium
70 85 Dense
85 100 Very dense

Example:

For a given sandy soil emax = 0.72, emin = 0.46 & GS = 2.68 what will be the unit weight of soil in the field if Dr = 78 % and WC =
9 %.

Solution:

emax = 0.72 emin = 0.46 Dr = 78 %

GS = 2.68 WC = 9 % req f = p.s

Dr =

0.78 =

e = 0.5172

WC.GS = Sr. e

0.09 2.68 = Sr. 0.5172

Sr = 0.466

p.s =

p.s =

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= 1.93 ton/m3

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