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Hydraulic gradient, i = h/H2

h1 = i x z1 = i(h/H2)
At point A:

p = w H 1
pw = w H 1
p =p p w =0

At point B:

p = sat z 1 + w H 1
pw = w ( z 1 + H 1h1 )
p =p p w = b z1 + w h1

At point C:

p = sat H 2 + w H 1
pw = w ( z 1 +H 1h)
p =p p = b H 2 + w h

EFFECT OF CAPILLARY RISE TO SOIL STRESS

Capillary rise in soil is demonstrated on the following figure. A sandy soil is placed in
contact with water. After a certain period, water rises and the variation of the
degree of saturation with the height of the soil column caused by capillary rise is
approximately given in the figure.
The degree of saturation is about 100% up to a height ht. Beyond the height ht,
water can ocuppy only the smaller voids, hence the degree of saturation is less than
100%
The approximate height of capillary rise is given by Hazen as:

h2=

C
e D 10

where D10 = effective grain size, e = void ratio, and C = a constant that varies from
10 to 50 mm2.

The pore water pressure, pw at a point in the layer of soil fully saturated by capillary
rise is:

pw = w h
where h is the height of the point under consideration measured from the ground
water table.

If a partial saturation is caused by capillary action, the pore water pressure pw can
be approximated as

pw =S w h
where S is the degree of saturation at the point under consideration
At point A:
Total stress,

p = 1 h1 + 2 h2

Pore water stress,

At point B
Total stress,

p = 1 h1 + 2 h

Pore water stress,

At point C
Total stress,

pw =S w h3

pw =0

p = 1 h1 + 2 h+ 3 h4

Pore water stress,

pw = w h4

PROBLEM 04.1 (CE NOVEMBER 1998)

20 Nov 98. A clay layer 4 m thick rests beneath a deposit of submerged sand 8 m
thick. The top of the sand is located 3 m below the surface of a lake. The saturated
unit weight of sand is 25 kN/cu. m and of clay 20 kN/cu. m. Determine the total
vertical (P) at mid-height of the clay layer.
Solution:

p
[ = sat h+ w hw ]

p =20 ( 2 )+25 ( 8 )+ 9.82(3)

p =269.43 kPa
PROBLEM 04.2 (CE NOVEMBER 2000)
A clay layer 25 feet thick is overlain with 50 feet thick sand (GI = 2.71). The water
table is 20 feet below the sand (ground0 surface. The saturated unit weight of clay
is 141 pcf. The sand below the water table has a unit weight of clay is 141 pcf. The
sand below the water table has a unit weight of 28 pcf. The sand above the water
table has average moisture content of 20%. After drying, the sand was found to
have a dry unit weight of 92 pcf. Determine the effective stress at the mid-height of
the clay layer.
Solution:
For the sand above the water table

[ dry=

92=

G
]
1+e w

2.71
(64)
1+ e

e = 0.838

[ dry=

G
]
1+e w

PROBLEM 04.3 (CE NOVEMBER 2001)

A ground profile consists of 2 m of silty sand underlain by 3 m of clay. The ground
water table is 3 m below the ground surface. The sand has a unit weight of 14
kN/cu. m. The clay has a unit weight 16 kN/cu. m above the water table and 20
kN/cu. m below the water table. Determine the total stress at the bottom of the clay
layer.
Solution:

p = clay h silt + c h c + 3 h3
p =20 ( 2 )+16 ( 1 ) +14 ( 2 )
p =84 kPa

PROBLEM 04.4 (CE MAY 2002)

The soil shown in the Figure has a void ratio of 0.50 and G = 2.70, h1 = 1.5 m, h2 =
3m
a.) What is the effective unit weight of sand in kN/cu. m
b.) What is the effective stress at point A in kPa
c.) What is the critical hydraulic gradient of sand (for quick condition)