Effective stress in soil worksheet with answers

Free printable Effective stress in soil worksheet: 6 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy
sandγsat​ = 20 kN/m³8 mwater tableXz = 4 m

For the soil profile shown, find the vertical effective stress σ′ at point X.

z = 4 mzw = 0 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γsat = 20 kN/m³
σ′ = kPa
2.Easy
sandγsat​ = 19 kN/m³5 mwater tableXz = 2 m

For the soil profile shown, find the pore water pressure u at point X.

z = 2 mzw = 0 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γsat = 19 kN/m³
u = kPa
3.Medium
sandγd​ = 15 kN/m³γsat​ = 20 kN/m³14 mwater tableXz = 3 m

For the soil profile shown, find the total vertical stress σ at point X.

z = 3 mzw = 2 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γd = 15 kN/m³sand: γsat = 20 kN/m³
σ = kPa
4.Medium
sandγd​ = 15.5 kN/m³γsat​ = 20.5 kN/m³12 mwater tableXz = 6 m

For the soil profile shown, find the vertical effective stress σ′ at point X.

z = 6 mzw = 3 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γd = 15.5 kN/m³sand: γsat = 20.5 kN/m³
σ′ = kPa
5.Hard
sandγd​ = 16 kN/m³γsat​ = 19.5 kN/m³3 mclayγsat​ = 18.5 kN/m³7 mwater tableXz = 6.5 m

For the soil profile shown, find the vertical effective stress σ′ at point X.

z = 6.5 mzw = 1 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γd = 16 kN/m³sand: γsat = 19.5 kN/m³clay: γsat = 18.5 kN/m³
σ′ = kPa
6.Hard
sandγd​ = 15 kN/m³γsat​ = 18.5 kN/m³3 mclayγsat​ = 17.5 kN/m³7 mwater tableXz = 6.5 m

For the soil profile shown, find the vertical effective stress σ′ at point X.

z = 6.5 mzw = 1 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γd = 15 kN/m³sand: γsat = 18.5 kN/m³clay: γsat = 17.5 kN/m³
σ′ = kPa

Answer key

  1. 1. σ′ = 40.76 kPa
  2. 2. u = 19.62 kPa
  3. 3. σ = 50 kPa
  4. 4. σ′ = 78.57 kPa
  5. 5. σ′ = 65.79 kPa
  6. 6. σ′ = 59.29 kPa

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