GATE CE 2017 Set 1 — Question 11
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Geotechnical Engineering → Stress Distribution in Soils → Boussinesq's Theory
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Question
A uniformly distributed line load of is acting on the ground surface. Based on Boussinesq's theory, the ratio of vertical stress at a depth to that at , right below the line of loading, is
Correct answer
(C) 2.0
Solution
The vertical stress at a depth directly below a line load is given by Boussinesq's equation for a line load:Since the load is constant, the vertical stress is inversely proportional to the depth: .
The ratio of the vertical stress at depth to the vertical stress at depth is calculated as:
The ratio of the vertical stress at depth to the vertical stress at depth is calculated as:
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