What is the effect of water table on the effective stress in soil?
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the effect of water table on the effective stress in soil?
Increases effective stress
Decreases effective stress
No effect
Increases total stress
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the effect of water table on the effective stress in soil?
Step 1: Understand what the water table is. The water table is the level below which the ground is saturated with water.
Step 2: Know what effective stress means. Effective stress is the stress that contributes to the strength and stability of soil, calculated as total stress minus pore water pressure.
Step 3: Recognize that when the water table is present, water fills the spaces between soil particles.
Step 4: Realize that the water exerts pressure on the soil, which is called pore water pressure.
Step 5: Understand that effective stress is reduced because the pore water pressure pushes against the soil particles, making them feel lighter.
Step 6: Conclude that the presence of the water table decreases effective stress in soil due to this buoyant effect of water.
