Published Resources Details
Journal Article
- Title
- Stress systems with simple slopes of granular materials
- In
- Civil Engineering Transactions
- Imprint
- vol. CE1, Mar 1959, pp. 18-
- Abstract
Despite many advances in the field of Soil Mechanics, one of the problems which has remained unsolved is that of the stress distribution
within a soil mass due to its own weight. During the past few years a theory has been developed which seeks to provide an answer to this problem.
The theory involves consideration of the possible modes of statical equilibrium of idealised arrangements of rigid spheres, and has been called the Systematic Arching Theory. It is particularly easy to use, because once the appropriate arrangement of spheres is decided upon the solution is obtained merely by counting rows of spheres. The present paper describes the application of this theory to the case of a simple slope in granular material.
Experimental evidence in support of the theory is quoted from the results of an investigation of the vertical pressure distribution across the base of model sand slopes. The experimental investigation formed the topic of an undergraduate thesis in the Civil Engineering Department of the University of Melbourne.
The last section of the paper describes the application of the theoretical work to problems of practical importance. Included are the stress distributions at the base of an embankment and an examination of the stability of slopes. A new method of analysing the stability of a slope which rests on a compressible foundation is given. This method is of particular interest because its derivation is based on a solution where it has been found possible to take account of stress redistribution following plastic yield within the slope.
Finally, it is suggested that the theoretical argument may give rise to a new appraisal of the problem of the long term stability of slopes in stiff-fissured clays.