Effective Stress

Total Stress, Effective Stress, Pore Pressure

The vertical normal stresses induced in soil due to

self weight or overburden

where σv = vertical geostatic stress

γ = unit weight of soil
z = depth under consideration

The vertical geostatic stress, thus, varies linearly with depth in

this case
 Total Stress, Effective Stress, Neutral Stress
Total stress – The stresses induced either due to self-weight of the
soil or due to external applied forces or due to both, at any point
inside a soil mass is resisted by the soil grains as also by water
present in the pores or void spaces in the case of a saturated soil .
σ = γsat . z

Neutral stress - The stress carried by the pore water. This is also
called ‘pore water pressure’ and is designated by u.

u = γw. z
 Total Stress, Effective Stress, Neutral Stress
Effective stress- Defined as the difference between the total
stress and the neutral stress ; this is also referred to as the
intergranular pressure and is denoted by

σ‫ = ׳‬σ – u
σ‫( = ׳‬σ – u) = γsat. z – γw . z = z(γsat – γw)

σ = γ ′. z
 Mechanical Behaviour due to Effective Stress
and significance to geotechnical engineering
• Effective stress increases - soil compresses - ground surface
settles
• Effective stress decreases- soil swells - ground surface
heaves. The following problems may then occur
– surface flooding
– flooding of basements built when GWL lowered
– uplift of buildings
– failure of retaining structures
– failures due to reductions in bearing capacity
 Definition of Total and Effective Stress
Vertical Force
v  Vertical Stress  (1)
Cross Sectional Area
 Definition of Total and Effective Stress
Vertical Force
v  Vertical Stress  (1)
Cross Sectional Area

Effective vertical stress  v '   v  uw (2)

 Definition of Total and Effective Stress
Vertical Force
v  Vertical Stress  (1)
Cross Sectional Area

Effective vertical stress  v '   v  uw (2)

v uw   v´
C a se (a ) W 0 W
A A
 Definition of Total and Effective Stress
Vertical Force
v  Vertical Stress  (1)
Cross Sectional Area

Effective vertical stress  v '   v  uw (2)

v uw   v´
C a se (a ) W 0 W
A A
C a se (b ) W W 0
A A
 Calculation of Effective Stress

Surcharge q

Layer 1  bulk   1 d1

Layer 2  bulk   2 z d2

Layer 3  bulk   3
d3
v

Fig 3 Soil Profile

 Calculation of Total Vertical Stress
Elevation
q
Force on base = Force on top + Weight of soil

d1

z d2

v

Plan

A
 Calculation of Total Vertical Stress
Elevation
q
Force on base = Force on top + Weight of soil

A v = A q + A 1 d1 + A 2 d2 + d1

A 3 ( z - d1 - d2 )
z d2

v

Plan

A
 Calculation of Total Vertical Stress
Elevation
q
Force on base = Force on top + Weight of soil

A v = A q + A 1 d1 + A 2 d2 + d1

A 3 ( z - d1 - d2 )
z d2

v = q + 1 d1 + 2 d2 +3 ( z - d1 - d2 ) (4)

v

Plan

A
 Calculation of pore water pressure

Water table

P u w (P)   wH (5)

Fig 4 Soil with a static water table

 Calculation of pore water pressure

Water table

P u w (P)   wH (5)

Fig 4 Soil with a static water table

• The water table is the level of the water surface in a borehole.

 Calculation of pore water pressure

Water table

P u w (P)   wH (5)

Fig 4 Soil with a static water table

• The water table is the level of the water surface in a borehole.

• It is the level at which the pore water pressure uw = 0
 Example: determining the effective stress

Step 1: Draw ground profile showing soil stratigraphy

and water table

Dry  bulk   dry 2m

Gs = 2.7
e = 0.7  bulk   sat 3m
Saturated

Fig 5 Soil Stratigraphy

 Example
Step 2: Calculation of relevant bulk unit weights

Vv=e Vs
Voids = 0.7m3

Solid Vs= 1m3

Distribution by
Volume
 Example
Step 2: Calculation of relevant bulk unit weights

Vv=e Vs W= 0
Voids = 0.7m3
Ws  Vs  Gs   w
Vs= 1m3  1  2.7  98
. kN
Solid
 2646
. kN

Distribution by Distribution by weight

Volume for the dry soil
 Example
Step 2: Calculation of relevant bulk unit weights

Ww  Vv   w kN
Vv=e Vs W= 0  0.7  9.8 kN
Voids = 0.7m3  6.86 kN

Ws  Vs  Gs   w Ws  Vs  G s   w
 1  2.7  98
. kN  1  2.7  9.8 kN
Solid Vs= 1m3
 2646
. kN  26.46 kN

Distribution by Distribution by weight Distribution by weight

Volume for the dry soil for the saturated soil
 Example
Step 2: Calculation of relevant bulk unit weights

Ww  Vv   w kN
Vv=e Vs Ww=0  0.7  9.8 kN
Voids = 0.7m3  6.86 kN

Ws  Vs  Gs   w Ws  Vs  G s   w
 1  2.7  98
. kN  1  2.7  9.8 kN
Solid Vs= 1m3
 2646
. kN  26.46 kN

Distribution by Distribution by weight Distribution by weight

Volume for the dry soil for the saturated soil
26.46 kN Gs  w
 dry   1556
. kN / m 3 
. m3
170 1+ e
 Example
Step 2: Calculation of relevant bulk unit weights

Ww  Vv   w kN
Vv=e Vs Ww=0  0.7  9.8 kN
Voids = 0.7m3  6.86 kN

Ws  Vs  Gs   w Ws  Vs  G s   w
 1  2.7  98
. kN  1  2.7  9.8 kN
Solid Vs= 1m3
 2646
. kN  26.46 kN

Distribution by Distribution by weight Distribution by weight

Volume for the dry soil for the saturated soil
26.46 kN Gs  w
 dry   1556
. kN / m 3

. m3
170 1+ e

(26.46 + 6.86) kN  w (G s + e )
 sat   19.60 kN / m 3 
. m3
170 1+ e
 Example

Step 3 Calculate total stress

 v  15.56  2 + 19.60  3  89.92 kPa ( kN / m 2 )

2m

3m
 Example

Step 3 Calculate total stress

 v  15.56  2 + 19.60  3  89.92 kPa ( kN / m 2 )

2m Step 4 Calculate pore water pressure

3m u w  3  9 .8  29 .40 kPa
 Example

Step 3 Calculate total stress

 v  15.56  2 + 19.60  3  89.92 kPa ( kN / m 2 )

2m Step 4 Calculate pore water pressure

3m u w  3  9 .8  29 .40 kPa

Step 5 Calculate effective stress

 v   v  u w  89.92  29.40  60.52 kPa

 Vertical stress and pore pressure variation
0 50 100 150 kPa
0m

2m

4m
Total
Stress (5m)
pore water
6m pressure Effective
Depth stress
8m
 Stresses acting on a soil element
 zz
z z
 yz
 zy
 xz

 zx  yy y

 yx  xy
x x
 xx

Fig 7 Definition of Stress Components

 Principle of Effective Stress

Effective stress relations for general stress states

 xx   xx  u w ;  yz   yz
 yy   yy  u w ;  zx   zx (10)
 zz   zz  u w ;  xy   xy
 Example
Initial GWL 1m 3m
Lowered GWL
z
Clay

Rock aquifer
 Example
Initial GWL 1m 3m
Lowered GWL
z
Clay

Rock aquifer

Initial GWL Lowered GWL

v bulk z bulk z

u w (z - 1) w (z - 3)

 v´ bulk - w )z + w bulk - w )z + 3 w