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​ = 18.5 kN/m³5 mwater tableXz = 2 m

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

z = 2 mzw = 0 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γsat = 18.5 kN/m³
σ = kPa
2.Easy
sandγsat​ = 20 kN/m³10 mwater tableXz = 8 m

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

z = 8 mzw = 0 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γsat = 20 kN/m³
σ′ = kPa
3.Medium
sandγd​ = 15.5 kN/m³γsat​ = 19.5 kN/m³11 mwater tableXz = 9 m

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

z = 9 mzw = 4 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γd = 15.5 kN/m³sand: γsat = 19.5 kN/m³
u = kPa
4.Medium
sandγd​ = 15.5 kN/m³γsat​ = 19.5 kN/m³10 mwater tableXz = 8 m

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

z = 8 mzw = 4 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γd = 15.5 kN/m³sand: γsat = 19.5 kN/m³
u = kPa
5.Hard
sandγd​ = 15 kN/m³γsat​ = 19 kN/m³3 mclayγsat​ = 18 kN/m³4 mwater tableXz = 5 m

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

z = 5 mzw = 1 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γd = 15 kN/m³sand: γsat = 19 kN/m³clay: γsat = 18 kN/m³
σ = kPa
6.Hard
sandγd​ = 16 kN/m³γsat​ = 19 kN/m³5 mclayγsat​ = 17.5 kN/m³7 mwater tableXz = 8.5 m

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

z = 8.5 mzw = 4 mγw = 9.81 kN/m³sand: γd = 16 kN/m³sand: γsat = 19 kN/m³clay: γsat = 17.5 kN/m³
σ′ = kPa

Answer key

  1. 1. σ = 37 kPa
  2. 2. σ′ = 81.52 kPa
  3. 3. u = 49.05 kPa
  4. 4. u = 39.24 kPa
  5. 5. σ = 89 kPa
  6. 6. σ′ = 100.1 kPa

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