Enter the total stress and pore water pressure into the calculator to determine the effective stress, or enter the effective stress and pore water pressure to determine the total stress, or enter the effective stress and total stress to determine the pore water pressure.
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Effective Stress Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the effective stress for a given total stress and pore water pressure.
σ' = σ - u
Variables:
- σ’ is the effective stress
- σ is the total stress
- u is the pore water pressure
To calculate the effective stress, subtract the pore water pressure from the total stress.
What is Effective Stress?
Effective stress is a concept in soil mechanics that represents the stress carried by the soil skeleton. It is a crucial parameter in geotechnical engineering as it influences the strength and deformation behavior of soils. Effective stress is the difference between the total stress applied to the soil and the pore water pressure within the soil. This concept helps engineers understand how soils will behave under different loading conditions and is essential for designing stable foundations, retaining structures, and other geotechnical systems.
How to Calculate Effective Stress?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Effective Stress.
- First, determine the total stress (σ) applied to the soil.
- Next, determine the pore water pressure (u) within the soil.
- Finally, calculate the effective stress using the formula σ’ = σ – u.
- After inserting the values and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem :
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
Total Stress (σ) = 100 kPa
Pore Water Pressure (u) = 30 kPa