Soil Mechanics Assignment No : 3 Submission Date : 12th March 2012 (Monday) Problems 1.

Calculate the effective stress for a soil element at depth 5 m in a uniform deposit of soil, as shown in Figure.

2. A borehole at a site reveals the soil profile shown in Figure. Plot the distribution of vertical total, neutral and effective stresses with depth.

3. A soil pro le is shown in Figure. Calculate and plot the total stress, pore water pressure, and effective stress at points A, B, C, and D.

4. A soil profile is shown in Figure. Calculate and plot the total stress, pore water pressure, and effective stress at points A, B, C, and D. We are given the values in the table.

5. Repeat the last Problem with the following details.

6. Refer to the soil profile shown in Figure. Given H1 = 4 m and H2= 3 m. If the ground water table rises to 2 m below the ground surface, what will be the net change in effective stress at the bottom of the clay layer?

7. Example

8. Example

9. A 8 m-thick layer of stiff saturated clay is underlain by a layer of sand (Figure 6.26). The sand is under artesian pressure. Calculate the maxi-mum depth of cut, H, that can be made in the clay. Hint : Refer Examples 7 and 8.

10. Determine the total, neutral and effective stress at a depth of 16 m below the ground level for the following conditions: Water table is 3 m below ground level ; Gs = 2.68; e = 0.72; average water content of the soil above water table is 8%. 11. Sketch the variation in total stress, effective stress, and pore water pressure up to a depth of 6 m below ground level, given the following data. The water table is 2 m below ground level. The dry density of the soil is 17.66 3 , water content is 12%; specific gravity is 2.65. What would be the change in these stresses, if watertable drops by 1.0 m ? 12. Compute the total, effective and pore pressure at a depth of 15 m below the bottom of a lake 6 m deep. The bottom of the lake consists of soft clay with a thickness of more than 15 m. The average water content of the clay is 40% and the specific gravity of soils may be assumed to be 2.65.

Essential points Effective Stress 1. The effective stress represents the average stress carried by the soil solids and is the difference between the total stress and the porewater pressure. 2. The effective stress principle applies only to normal stresses and not to shear stresses. 3. Deformations of soils are due to effective, not total, stress. 4. Soils, especially silts and fine sands, can be affected by capillary action. 5. Capillary action results in negative porewater pressures and increases the effective stresses. 6. Downward seepage increases the resultant effective stress; upward seepage decreases the resultant effective stress.