Stresses in the soil

Soils do not form continous,

uniform mass, they are
made up of a skeleton
of solid grains
Loads induce intergranular
forces (with normal and
tangential components;
N,T)
Effective and neutral stresses in saturated soils
Total stress = Effective stress + neutral stress
Effective Effective stress stress: :
!ntergranular !ntergranular pressure pressure; ; weight weight carried carried
by by the the soil soil particles particles
Neutral Neutral stress stress: :
Pore Pore water water pressure pressure; ; weight weight carried carried
by by the the water water
'
t
h =
w w
h u =
u + =
Stresses due self weight under static condition
(effective & neutral stresses)
Water flow Energy equation
Water flow occurs when the energy of the
water differs at various points within the soil
mass.
The total energy of the water:
Where:
h: total head
z: elevation head
u: water pressure

w
: unit weight of water
v: velocity
g: acceleration due to gravity
Difference in the potential between two points
water flow
Hydraulic gradient:
g
v u
z h
w
2
2
+ + =

v
u
z h potential
g
v

+ = : 0
2
2
l
h
i

=
Stresses due to downward flow
Stresses due to downward flow
The The pore pore water water pressure pressure ( (neutral neutral stress stress) ) decreases decreases by by h h: :
v v

The The effective effective stress stress increases increases by by this this value value

Effective Effective stress stress in in case case of of downward downward vertical vertical flow flow
Where Where: : i i* *
v v
= =i i
p p
- - seepage seepage force force
( )
w sat w sat w sat
i h
h
h
h h h + =

+ = + = ' ' '

Stresses due to upward flow
Stresses due to upward flow
!n case of upward flow !n case of upward flow - - similarly to the case of downward flow similarly to the case of downward flow - - the the
effective stress is: effective stress is:
The forces acting on the soil due to upward flow: The forces acting on the soil due to upward flow:
Critical state: Critical state:
!n this case the !n this case the resul result tant of the body forces is zero. ant of the body forces is zero.
!t !t is is called called , ,quick quick condition condition" "
( )
w sat w sat w sat
i h
h
h
h h h =

= = ' ' '

w
i
w

sat

= = =
w
w sat
crit w crit w sat
i i

0
Water flow in soils
small voids
small velocity

laminar flow
Darcys law:
where:
k: coefficient of permeability
i: hydraulic gradient
v: velocity
i k v =
laboratory tests
constant head test
falling head test
permeability test in the field
pumping test
in situ permeameters
empirical relations
Kozeny
Jky
Terzaghi
Determination of coefficient of permeability
Laboratory determination of coefficient of permeability
Constant head test
Soils to analyze:
10
-2
m/s k 10
2
m/s
The coefficient of permeability can be
calculated with thw followig formula:
h t A
l Q
i
v
k

= =
where where: :
Q: Q: volume volume of of water water collected collected
l: l: length length of of flow flow ( (height height of of soil soil sample sample) )
A: A: cross cross sectional sectional area area of of the the soil soil sample sample
t: t: duration duration of of water water collection collection
h: h: difference difference in in the the water water level level
Laboratory determination of coefficient of permeability
Falling head test
Soils to analyze
Low permeability soils
10
-9
m/s k 10
-1
m/s
Vizsglat:
1. Minta beksztse az alulrl szitaszvettel
elltott kiszrhengerbe.
2. Minta teltse kapillris ton.
3. A szivrgs megindulsa utna klnbz
idpontokban nyomsmagassg leolvassa.
4. A minta mreteibl valamint a leolvasott
adatokbl k rtke meghatrozhat:
2
1
1 2
ln
1
h
h
t t
l
A
a
k

=
ahol ahol
a: a: cross cross sectional sectional area area of of the the tube tube, , where where
the the water water level level decreases decreases
A: A: cross cross sectional sectional area area of of the the soil soil sample sample
h h
1 1
: : the the head head difference difference at at t t
1 1
=0 =0
h h
2 2
: : the the head head difference difference at at t t
2 2
l: l: length length of of the the water water flow flow
Laboratory determination of coefficient of permeability
Falling head test
Soils to analyze
Low permeability soils
10-9 m/s k 10-1 m/s
Estimation of coefficient of permeability
Hazen:
Terzaghi:
Kozeny:
( )
2
10
5 . 1 0 . 1 d k =
2
2
10
200 e d k =
e
e
d C k
v
+
=
1
3
2
10

( )
( )
2
3
1
1
3
2
1 2
1
1
e e
e e
k k
+
+
=