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 = 2 m

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

z = 2 mzw = 0 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γsat = 20 kN/m³
σ′ = kPa
2.Easy
sandγsat​ = 20.5 kN/m³12 mwater tableXz = 10 m

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

z = 10 mzw = 0 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γsat = 20.5 kN/m³
σ = kPa
3.Medium
sandγd​ = 16 kN/m³γsat​ = 19 kN/m³14 mwater tableXz = 5 m

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

z = 5 mzw = 2 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γd = 16 kN/m³sand: γsat = 19 kN/m³
u = kPa
4.Medium
sandγd​ = 17 kN/m³γsat​ = 19 kN/m³12 mwater tableXz = 11 m

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

z = 11 mzw = 4 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γd = 17 kN/m³sand: γsat = 19 kN/m³
σ′ = kPa
5.Hard
sandγd​ = 16 kN/m³γsat​ = 19 kN/m³4 mclayγsat​ = 18 kN/m³4 mwater tableXz = 6 m

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

z = 6 mzw = 2 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γd = 16 kN/m³sand: γsat = 19 kN/m³clay: γsat = 18 kN/m³
σ′ = kPa
6.Hard
sandγd​ = 16.5 kN/m³γsat​ = 19 kN/m³4 mclayγsat​ = 18.5 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 = 2 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γd = 16.5 kN/m³sand: γsat = 19 kN/m³clay: γsat = 18.5 kN/m³
σ′ = kPa

Answer key

  1. 1. σ′ = 20.38 kPa
  2. 2. σ = 205 kPa
  3. 3. u = 29.43 kPa
  4. 4. σ′ = 132.3 kPa
  5. 5. σ′ = 66.76 kPa
  6. 6. σ′ = 73.1 kPa

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