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.

New worksheetPractise online with hints

For teachers: free to print, copy and use in class. Every new worksheet has new values and its own answer key. A link to ExamProblems on your course page is appreciated.

Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy
sandγsat​ = 18.5 kN/m³4 mwater tableXz = 3 m

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

z = 3 mzw = 0 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γsat = 18.5 kN/m³
σ = kPa
2.Easy
sandγsat​ = 19.5 kN/m³5 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 = 19.5 kN/m³
σ′ = kPa
3.Medium
sandγd​ = 16 kN/m³γsat​ = 18.5 kN/m³12 mwater tableXz = 11 m

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

z = 11 mzw = 1 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γd = 16 kN/m³sand: γsat = 18.5 kN/m³
u = kPa
4.Medium
sandγd​ = 16 kN/m³γsat​ = 20 kN/m³9 mwater tableXz = 9 m

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

z = 9 mzw = 2 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γd = 16 kN/m³sand: γsat = 20 kN/m³
u = kPa
5.Hard
sandγd​ = 16 kN/m³γsat​ = 19 kN/m³5 mclayγsat​ = 18.5 kN/m³4 mwater tableXz = 7 m

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

z = 7 mzw = 3 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γd = 16 kN/m³sand: γsat = 19 kN/m³clay: γsat = 18.5 kN/m³
σ′ = kPa
6.Hard
sandγd​ = 17 kN/m³γsat​ = 19.5 kN/m³4 mclayγsat​ = 17 kN/m³5 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 = 17 kN/m³sand: γsat = 19.5 kN/m³clay: γsat = 17 kN/m³
σ′ = kPa

Answer key

  1. 1. σ = 55.5 kPa
  2. 2. σ′ = 38.76 kPa
  3. 3. u = 98.1 kPa
  4. 4. u = 68.67 kPa
  5. 5. σ′ = 83.76 kPa
  6. 6. σ′ = 64.04 kPa

Full step-by-step solutions: practise this topic on examproblems.com.