EMBANK_STRESS

USER MANUAL

By: Miguel ngel Mnica Malcom

EMBANK_STRESS
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................1
2. PROGRAM OPERATION ................................................................1
2.1. Module 1 - Input data ..........................................................3
2.2. Module 2 Stress increments in specific points .......................5
2.3. Module 3 Stress increments throught a line .........................6
2.4. Module 4 Stress increment contour map .............................7
2.5. Exporting results .................................................................9
3. REFERENCES ............................................................................ 10

EMBANK_STRESS
1. INTRODUCTION

EMBANK_STRESS is an application built in MATLAB for calculating stress

increments due to an embankment load, in order to assist with
settlement computations. The program only needs as input data three
characteristic dimensions of the embankment and its specific weight,
and

allow

determining the

vertical, horizontal

and shear

stress

increments in any location of the soil deposit. We can obtain results 1)

in specific coordinates, 2) through a line, or 3) in a contour map.
Equations employed to build EMBANK_STRESS are given elsewhere
[1,2]. These equations consider the embankment as a load proportional
to its height and apply normal to the surface of a homogeneous elastic
half-space. Versatility of the program lies in the fact that we can directly
obtained the stress increments due to the whole embankment, without
adding or subtracting different portions, as it is common for this
problem.
EMBANK_STRESS is not intended to overcome more developed
numerical tools, and was implemented to be an alternative when there
are not enough resources for more advance software, or to perform
rapid preliminary analyses.

2. PROGRAM OPERATION

The program EMBANK_STRESS is organized in four different modules:

Module 1 Input data.

Module 2 Stress increment at specific points.

Module 3 Stress increment through a line.

Module 4 Stress increment contour map.

EMBANK_STRESS
Figure 1 shows the location of the modules in the main screen of the
program.

Figure 1. Organization of EMBANK_STRESS

To ease the description of each module, the example shown in Figure

2 will be solved step by step. All the features of the program will be
described though this example.

Figure 2. Analyzed example [2]

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2.1. Module 1 - Input data

This first module has to be correctly completed for obtaining results in

the remaining modules. Here we indicate the input parameters of the
embankment under consideration. We have to complete the following
information:

Unit weight.- This refers to the unit weight of the material that
constitutes the embankment [kN/m]. This value cannot be equal
or less than zero, so an error message will appear indicating this
mistake. Also if you enter an unrealistic unit weight value (<10
kN/m or >30 kN/m), a warning message will appear.

h (height).- This refer to the height of the main body of the

embankment (Figure 3). Again, this value cannot be less or equal
than zero, so an error message will appear if this happen.

a (shoulder dimension).- As seen in Figure 3, this is the horizontal

dimension of the embankment shoulder. This value cannot be less
than zero, so an error message will appear if this happen. This
value can be equal than zero, representing the case of a
rectangular load.

b (half dimension).- This value is measured horizontally from the

toe of the shoulder, to the symmetry axis of the embankment, i.e.
one half of the total horizontal dimension (Figure 3). It cannot be
less or equal than zero, and cannot be less than a. The program
allows momentarily b value less than a with no error message, but
this message will appear when clicking Calculate in any of the
other three modules.

EMBANK_STRESS

Figure 3. Variables for stress increments due to an embankment load [2]

The input data in our example will be the following:

Unit weight = 20.0 kN/m

h = 5.0 m

a = 7.5 m

b = 15.0 m

Figure 4 shows a screenshot of the first module with our input data.

Figure 4. Module 1 Input data

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2.2. Module 2 Stress increment at specific points

After introducing input data, the remaining modules work independently.

Module 2 allows us to compute stress increments in specific points. This
is particularly helpful for calculating settlements in stratified deposits,
where we need the stress increments in some particular elevations.
The program allows us to obtain stress increment in 50 points
simultaneously. We only need to specify the coordinates of the desired
points by filling the columns X [m] and Z [m]. It is import to mention
that the origin is located in the left end of the embankment and Z is
positive in the downward direction. Z cannot be a negative value. After
introducing the coordinates, we only need to click on Calculate.
For our example, the desired coordinates will be the following:
X [m]

Z [m]

15.0

0.0

15.0

5.0

15.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

After introducing these coordinates and clicking Calculate, we obtain

the results shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5. Module 2 Stress increment in specific coordinates

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2.3. Module 3 Stress increment through a line

With Module 3 we can obtain stress increment through a line. The

position of this line is specified by giving the coordinates of the initial
and final points as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6. Position of the analyzed line

In the box #Points we indicate the number of segments in which the

line will be divided; the higher number of points, the higher resolution in
the graph. #Points must be an integer and greater or equal than 3. In
the popup menu we indicate the type of stress (vertical, horizontal and
shear). If the data is correct, after clicking Calculate the graph will
appear in the lower part of the module; the horizontal axis corresponds
to distance from point 1 to point 2, and the vertical axis to the stress
increment value.
For our example we consider a vertical line in the central position of
the embankment, and from the surface to 100 m depth. The line is
divided in 50 segments and we ask for the vertical stress increment.
Figure 7 shows the necessary input and the obtained results.

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Figure 7. Module 3 Stress increment through a line

2.4. Module 4 Stress increment contour map

With the Module 4 we can obtain stress increments as a contour map.

The zone of interest is specified with the values Xmin, Xmax, Zmin and
Zmax; which are indicated in Figure 8. Then we have to specify the
number of segment in which the zone will be divided. Again, the higher
number of points, the higher resolution in the graph. It is recommended
that Equation (1) is satisfied in order to obtain the same resolution in
both directions.
X max X min Z max Z min

# Po int sX
# Po int sZ

(1)

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Figure 8. Indication of the zone of interest

In the popup menu we indicate the type of stress (vertical, horizontal

and shear). If the data is correct, after clicking Calculate the contour
map will appear in the lower part of the module. Horizontal and vertical
axes correspond to the X and Z coordinates respectively, and the stress
increments are indicated with a color scale. Zmax and Zmin cannot be
less than zero, and Zmax cannot be equal or less than Zmin. Also, Xmax
cannot be equal or less than Xmin. #Points must be an integer and
greater or equal than 3.
For our example we considered a zone limited with the following
values:

Xmin = -50.0

Xmax = 80.0

Zmin = 0.0

Zmax = 100.0
Figure 9 shows the resulting contour map for the vertical stress

increments.

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Figure 9. Module 4 Stress increment contour map

2.5. Exporting results

Results obtained from Modules 2, 3 and 4 can be exported to a text file.

We can do this by clicking on the Export menu, located in upper left
corner of the program (Figure 10). Here we can chose if we want to
export the information of the Modules 1, 2 or 3. Then we will be asked
for the path and file name. A text file, as the one shown in Figure 11,
will be created.

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Figure 10. Export menu

Figure 11. Exported results in a text file

3. REFERENCES

[1] M.A. Mnica. Incremento de Esfuerzos Producido por un Terrapln,

in Memorias de la XXVI Reunin Nacional de Mecnica de Suelos e
Ingeniera Geotcnica, Cancn, Mxico, 399-403, 2012.

[2] M.A. Mnica, E. Botero. Stress Increments due to an Embankment

Load, in Proceedings of The Second International Conference on
Railway Technology Ajaccio, Corsica, France, 2014.

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