Question

A site is underlain by a 10 meter layer of saturated gravel with unit weight = 20 kN/m3. Point A is located 5 meters below the ground surface. The horizontal effective stress at point A is 30 kPa. Determine the lateral stress ratio of the soil at point A.

Answer 1

Answer:

The lateral stress ratio of the soil at point A is 0.3

Explanation:

given that; Unit weight = 20 kNm⁻³ at point A 5m below the ground surface,

vertical stress ($V_{stress}$) = 20 kNm⁻³ × 5m ⇒ 100 kNm⁻²

vertical stress ($V_{stress}$) = 100kPa

note that; Horizontal Stress ($H_{stress}$) is given by k($V_{stress}$)

where "k" is the lateral stress ratio

$H_{stress}$ = k($V_{stress}$)

k = $H_{stress}$ ÷ $V_{stress}$

k = 30 kPa ÷ 100 kPa

k = 0.3